Compare lenses

Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM vs Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF

The Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and the Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM if you want optical stabilisation, which helps most on bodies without it; autofocus; more reach (to 30mm equivalent); coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too; and a lighter lens (390 g against 463 g). Pick the Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF if you want a brighter f/3.5 (0.7 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds; a wider view (from 12mm equivalent); a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter; and a fit on more cameras (106 against 18 in this guide).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM and the Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM	Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF
Maker	Canon	Laowa
Focal length	15-30mm (zoom)	8-16mm (zoom)
Full-frame equivalent	15-30mm	12-24mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/4.5-6.3	f/3.5-5brighter
Made for	Full frame	APS-C
Mounts	Canon RF	Sony E, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z, Canon RF
Stabilised	yesstabilised	no
Autofocus	yesautofocus	no, manual focus
Zoom range	2.0×	2.0×
Weight	390 glighter	463 g
Cameras it fits	18 in this guide	106 in this guidefits more cameras

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM: 15-30mm.

Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF: 8-16mm on APS-C, like 12-24mm.

Aperture

Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM: f/4.5 wide open.

Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF: f/3.5 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

18 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM fits 18 and the Laowa 8-16mm f/3.5-5 Zoom CF 106.