China P&E 2026: Viltrox Reveals Nine New Lenses Including Its First Tilt-Shift; Laowa Launches AF Ultra-Wides

China P&E Overview

The China International Photography Machinery and Imaging Equipment and Technology Expo (China P&E) is the largest photography trade show in China and has become an increasingly significant launch event for Chinese lens manufacturers as their products gain wider international distribution. The 2026 show opened on May 15 in Beijing.

In the days before the show, Viltrox, Laowa, and Meike all teased upcoming products, setting expectations for a significant batch of announcements. The actual reveals largely matched the scale of the pre-show teases.

Viltrox: Nine New Lenses

Viltrox unveiled nine new lenses at China P&E 2026, making it one of the company's largest single-event announcement batches. The headline product is the AF 35mm F/1.4 Pro, the first in a new Pro tier that Viltrox describes as targeting professional-grade optical performance at a price below Japanese OEM equivalents.

The most unusual announcement is the T/S 35mm F/2.8, Viltrox's first tilt-shift lens. Tilt-shift optics allow independent control of the plane of focus and perspective correction without software manipulation — tools used in architecture, product, and creative photography. Viltrox has not specified which mounts the lens will support at launch.

Additional announcements include L-mount versions of the AF 25mm F/1.7 Air and the AF 28mm F/4.5 "Chip" pancake lens, expanding Viltrox's presence in the L-mount ecosystem for Leica, Lumix, and Sigma L bodies. The AF 26mm F/2.8 for Sony E mount was shown as still in development — described as a more premium pancake option than the existing 28mm F/4.5.

New EVO portrait primes and APS-C Pro lenses were also shown, though specific focal lengths and mounts were not all confirmed at the show opening.

Laowa: AF Ultra-Wides and Fisheyes

Laowa — a brand known primarily for manual-focus macro and ultra-wide lenses — announced several new autofocus products at China P&E 2026, continuing a push toward AF glass that began with the company's CF series.

The announced lenses include the CF 4.5-10mm f/2.8 Fisheye Zoom, the AF 8-15mm f/2.8, the AF 7.5mm f/2.8, and the AF 35mm f/2.8. The CF 4.5-10mm fisheye zoom is a notably unusual product — fisheye zoom lenses with fast apertures are rare from any manufacturer. The AF 8-15mm f/2.8 covers an exceptionally wide rectilinear range.

Mount compatibility and pricing were not fully confirmed at the time of the show opening. Laowa typically supports Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and L-mount across its major lens lines.

Meike Announcements

Meike, which focuses on affordable cinema and photography optics, also had a presence at China P&E 2026. Specific product announcements from Meike were not fully detailed in initial show coverage, but the company was listed among those with new products to show.

Chinese Lens Market Context

The volume of Chinese lens announcements at China P&E 2026 reflects a broader market trend that has accelerated since 2023. Brands including Viltrox, Laowa, TTArtisan, 7Artisans, Meike, and Sigma's Chinese production partners have collectively expanded the available lens options across all major mirrorless mounts, often at prices substantially below Japanese OEM equivalents.

Autofocus quality and optical performance from Chinese manufacturers have improved significantly in recent years. Independent optical bench tests from sources such as LensRentals have found that several Viltrox and Laowa lenses match or approach the performance of more expensive alternatives at their respective focal lengths and apertures.