Laowa Ranger Lite Cine Zoom Lens Kit (28–75mm + 75–180mm, EF/PL Mount)

Two cinema zooms. Zero compromise.

This lightweight cine zoom kit from Laowa covers a huge focal range — from wide establishing shots to distant pickups — without the size and weight typically associated with cinema zooms. Built for full-frame, fast to deploy, and perfectly at home on our Canon C300 or C70 setups, these lenses are our go-to when versatility is key.

We run the 28–75mm T2.9 and 75–180mm T2.9 combo, both from the “Lite” line — meaning they’re compact enough for fast-paced documentary production or leaner client shoots, but still deliver the goods with a sharp, consistent image and stunning cinematic falloff.

Why We Use Them

• Fast + Flexible: T2.9 across the zoom range makes these lenses solid for low light and gives beautiful separation when needed. Perfect for character-led interviews, fly-on-the-wall scenes, or stylish brand visuals.

• Zero Focus Breathing: Critical for interview setups where we might shift focal length mid-shot or during reframe — especially when paired with a dolly or gimbal.

• Compact & Light: Unlike many cinema zooms, these stay balanced on lighter tripods, shoulder rigs or our Dana Dolly. And when we’re working fast (say, chasing natural light in a Melbourne park), that matters.

• EF or PL Mount Options: All our Canon bodies are EF, but the lenses come default with a PL mount, so if you’re used to shooting on other systems, you’re covered.

• Matched Look Across the Range: From 28mm to 180mm, we get a consistent colour and contrast, making post production grading smoother — especially important when working across multiple setups.

Real-World Use Cases

We’ve used this combo across a wide variety of shoots:

• Corporate docos where we’re filming a subject from across a warehouse floor

• On-the-fly event coverage where we need to jump between wide shots and tight details quickly

• Brand films where shallow depth of field and polished bokeh elevate the story

We mount them up with follow focus systems, matte boxes or straight onto sticks depending on the shoot. And because they’re light, they’re easy to swap on and off throughout the day without slowing us down.