Laowa has introduced GFX and XCD mount options for its 8-15mm f/2.8 Full-Frame Zoom Fisheye lens.
Originally crafted for full-frame systems, this lens now brings its signature circular fisheye effect to Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XCD medium-format cameras.
While the image doesn’t fully cover the larger sensor area, photographers can creatively crop to achieve their desired composition–unlocking fresh possibilities for imaginative framing and bold visual storytelling.
The Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye is a full-frame lens designed to deliver creative flexibility through its dual fisheye capabilities.
Offering both a 180° circular fisheye and a diagonal fisheye effect, users can switch between two visual styles to suit their artistic vision.
Laowa said in a press release: “With a constant f/2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, the lens performs brilliantly in low-light environments and enables faster shutter speeds–ideal for capturing dynamic scenes such as sports or action shots.
“Its close 16cm (6.3″) minimum focusing distance empowers photographers and videographers to get up close and personal with their subjects, producing dramatic compositions with bold fisheye distortion and immersive visual impact.”
Previously available in full-frame mounts including Sony E, Nikon Z, L mount, and Canon RF, the lens is now expanding its compatibility with the addition of GFX and XCD mount options for medium-format users.
Despite the new mounts, the lens remains lightweight and compact, measuring 101.2mm × Ø76.4mm (GFX) and 96.36mm × Ø76.4mm (XCD), with a weight of approximately 650g.
Performance on medium-format cameras
When paired with medium-format systems like Fujifilm GFX or Hasselblad XCD, the Laowa 8-15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye delivers a “unique visual experience”, Laowa has claimed–producing a bold circular fisheye image at 8mm and a broader diagonal fisheye effect at 15mm.
As the lens was originally designed for full-frame cameras, its image circle doesn’t fully cover the larger medium-format sensor, resulting in a circular or partially cropped frame.
Photographers can embrace this aesthetic or crop the image to suit their desired composition, unlocking fresh opportunities for playful framing and creative exploration on medium-format platforms.
Cropping possibilities
In addition to its distinctive fisheye rendering, the Laowa 8–15mm f/2.8 FF Zoom Fisheye “opens up a world of creative cropping options for medium-format users”, Laowa said.
“One standout choice is the XPan-style 65:24 panoramic crop, a favourite among GFX and XCD shooters for transforming circular fisheye images into cinematic, widescreen compositions.” Photographers can also experiment with classic aspect ratios like 4:3, 1:1, and 16:9–each offering a unique interplay of scale, framing, and perspective.
Thanks to the high-resolution capabilities of modern medium-format sensors and the lens’s “superb” optical performance, these crops are said to retain remarkable detail while inviting fresh interpretations of fisheye photography.
“Whether aiming for dramatic panoramas or balanced square frames, users can craft visuals that are both technically sharp and artistically bold,” Laowa concluded.
