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As we've already mentioned, the Venus Optics LAOWA 6 mm f/2 Zero-D MFT doesn't have any direct rivals among optical instruments designed for mirrorless cameras with sensors smaller than full frame. The following chart presents a comparison between the basic parameters of the tested lens and those of other lenses, mentioned in the previous chapter.

When it comes to instruments designed for full frame, you won't find many primes with an angle of view exceeding 120 degrees either and these which are present on the market usually don't impress you with their aperture fastness. Once again Laowa is here an unquestionable leader as they offer models with the 9,11, and 12 mm focal lengths. Our next chart, shows several of its full frame rivals; it also proves that the 6 mm f/2 Zero-D MFT is a very small instrument indeed.

Just glance at a photo above and you are sure that the new Laowa lens is tiny indeed. We positioned it deliberately between two other shapely ultra wide-angle instruments designed for APS-C cameras, the Sony E 11 mm f/1.8, presented not so long ago, and a bit older, manual version of the Samyang 12 mm f/2.

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Lately I criticized Laowa for lack of contacts in their lenses; I am very pleased to say that in this case I won't have to criticize anything. The tested lens starts with a metal mount which surrounds a flat, black bottom with embedded contacts; in the middle of it you see a rear element. This element is just 13 mm in diameter, it doesn't move, and is situated inside a black tube that sticks out a bit.

The proper body of the lens is made of metal; it starts with an immobile ring on which you can find a depth of field scale with markings by f/2.0, f/5.6, f/8.0, f/11, and f/16 (the f/8.0 aperture is marked as just a dash).

Another part of the lens, the biggest of all, is a manual focus ring, as wide as 24 mm, most of its surface covered by comfortable ribbing. Below the ring you see a distance scale expressed in meters and feet. The ring moves smoothly and is properly damped; its focus throw amounts to an angle of about 100 degrees.

Behind the manual focus ring the casing of the lens gets enlarged, featuring a blue stripe and a hood mount.

The front element of the lens doesn't move, is convex in shape and 26 mm in diameter. It is surrounded by a relatively matt, black, ribbed part of casing that ends with inscriptions stating the name of the producer, parameters of the lens, its serial number, and a non-rotating filter thread, 58 mm in diameter.

There is no classic aperture ring, and it is one of the reasons why the physical dimensions of this lens are so compact. As it features contacts, you control the aperture from the camera's menu level only.

When it comes to the optical construction you deal here with 13 elements positioned in 9 groups. Among them you can find as many as four elements made of low dispersion ED glass, and two aspherical elements. The front element is protected by hydrophobic Frog Eye Coatings (FEC); inside you can also find and aperture with just five diaphragm blades that can be closed down to a value of f/22 at the maximum.

Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, and a petal-type hood made of metal.