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Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D vs Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF
Short answer
The Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D and Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF cover the same 9mm on the Fujifilm X mount, which puts them in direct competition. Only the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF has weather sealing and autofocus.
Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF: 1 specs ahead
Side by side
| Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D | Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Laowa | Viltrox |
| Focal length | 9mm | 9mm |
| 35mm equivalent | 14mm | 14mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Fujifilm X | Fujifilm X |
| Autofocus | Manual focus | Yes |
| Weather resistant | — | Yes |
| Lens construction | — | 13 elements in 11 groups |
| Minimum focus | — | 0.13 m |
| Weight | — | 175 g |
| Filter thread | — | ⌀58 mm |
| Launch price | — | $199 |
Where each one is ahead
Reasons to choose the Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D
Nothing measurable in its favour.
Reasons to choose the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF
- Autofocus Yes vs Manual focus
Framing and reach
| Lens | Frames like | Horizontal view | Frame width at 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D | 14 mm | 105.1° | 26.1 m |
| Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF | 14 mm | 105.1° | 26.1 m |
Both lenses frame essentially the same view, so the choice comes down to aperture, size and handling rather than reach.
Angles and widths are calculated from focal length and sensor width, horizontally, on the native sensor of each mount.
What each one suits
| Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D | Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF | |
|---|---|---|
| Birds and wildlife | Poor | Poor |
| Sports | Poor | Poor |
| Portrait | Poor | Poor |
| Travel | Fair | Average |
| Street | Fair | Fair |
| Weddings | Fair | Average |
| Walk around | Fair | Average |
| Vlogging | Average | Very good |
| Landscape | Good | Excellent |
| Macro | Poor | Poor |
Scored from the published specifications — focal length, aperture, stabilisation, weather sealing and weight. Sharpness, bokeh and rendering are not in a spec sheet and are not scored here.
Cameras that take both
Both lenses fit every interchangeable-lens X Series body — 34 in our list. Fixed-lens models such as the X100 series cannot take them.
Common questions
Will both lenses fit my camera?
Both use the Fujifilm X mount, so they fit any X Series camera with interchangeable lenses. They do not fit fixed-lens models such as the X100 series or GFX bodies.
compare.faqTitle
Which is better, the Laowa 9mm F2.8 Zero-D or the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF?
On measurable specs the Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air XF leads, 1 wins against 0. That is a spec count, not a field test.
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Built from the specifications Fujifilm publishes.