Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie § 03 Head to head
Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie vs Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III
Laowa 15mm f/5 is 113 g lighter. Voigtlander 15mm f/4.5 is 0.3 stops brighter maximum aperture.
Both lenses are made for the Leica M mount: the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie is a 15mm f/5 prime, and the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III is a 15mm f/4.5 prime. On paper the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie comes out ahead, 4 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.
Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie 
Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III 01
Key differences
Why is the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie better than the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III?
- 113 g lighter (134 g vs 247 g)
- Focuses 38 cm closer (0.12 m vs 0.5 m)
- Smaller filter thread (39 mm vs 58 mm)
- Newer design (2024 vs 2014)
Why is the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III better than the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie?
- 0.3 stops brighter maximum aperture (f/4.5 vs f/5)
- More aperture blades (10 vs 5)
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Which should you buy?
- landscape For landscape photography, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie has the edge: it is 113 g lighter to carry.
- architecture For architecture, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie has the edge: it is 113 g lighter to carry.
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Specification
| Specification | Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie | Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 15mm | 15mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/5 | f/4.5 ◆ |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Lens type | Prime lens | Prime lens |
| Format | Full frame | Full frame |
| Weight | 134 g ◆ | 247 g (8.71 oz) |
| Dimensions | 35.2 x 53 mm | 64.8 x 55.2 mm |
| Minimum focusing distance | 0.12 m ◆ | 0.50 m (19.69 inches) |
| Image stabilization | No | — |
| Aperture ring | Yes | Yes |
| Aperture blades | 5 | 10 ◆ |
| Optical construction | 13 elements / 9 groups | 11 elements / 9 groups |
| Filter size | 39 mm ◆ | 58 mm |
| Lens mount | Leica M, Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L-Mount | Leica M |
| Released | 2024 | 2014 |
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Size
- A · Venus
- B · Voigtlander
- 53 × 35.2 mm
- 55.2 × 64.8 mm
The Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III is 2 mm longer and 113 g heavier than the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie.
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Sample frames
Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III
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Video reviews
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Questions
- Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie or the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III?
- The Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III opens to f/4.5, against f/5 on the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie, 0.3 stops brighter.
- Which is lighter, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie or the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III?
- The Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie weighs 134 g, 113 g less than the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III (247 g).
- Which focuses closer, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie or the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III?
- The Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie focuses down to 0.12 m, against 0.5 m for the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III.
- Is the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie or the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III better for landscape photography?
- For landscape photography, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie has the edge: it is 113 g lighter to carry.
- Is the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie or the Voigtlander Heliar 15 mm f/4.5 Aspherical VM Type III better for architecture?
- For architecture, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 15 mm f/5.0 Cookie has the edge: it is 113 g lighter to carry.