Brightin Star AF 12mm F/2.8 Brings Autofocus to Ultra-Wide Sony E Shooters

Brightin Star has officially unveiled the new AF 12mm F/2.8 ultra-wide prime lens for Sony E-mount full-frame mirrorless cameras. After weeks of teasers, the lens is now available for pre-order and marks the company’s first autofocus-enabled full-frame ultra-wide lens.

The new 12mm F/2.8 delivers an expansive 120-degree field of view, making it ideal for landscapes, architecture, travel, astrophotography, and dramatic environmental shots. Its bright F/2.8 maximum aperture also makes it well-suited for shooting in low-light conditions and nightscapes.

Ultra-Wide Coverage With Autofocus

One of the biggest highlights of the new lens is its STM-powered autofocus system. Brightin Star claims the lens delivers “flagship-level autofocus,” which is an ambitious statement considering the strong autofocus performance of Sony’s first-party optics.

The lens can focus as close as 0.3 meters, allowing photographers to create exaggerated perspectives and dynamic close-up compositions with dramatic foreground emphasis.

Something Wider is finally here. 🌐

Introducing Brightin Star AF 12mm F2.8 — our new Ultra-Wide Autofocus Lens built to see more of the world.

Now available

✨Mounts: Sony E#brightinstar#autofocus#ultrawide#wideanglelens#photographers#photographygear#af12mm pic.twitter.com/JspKHwWiSX

— Brightin Star (@StarPr25106) May 22, 2026

Advanced Optical Design

The AF 12mm F/2.8 features a complex optical formula with 15 elements arranged in 11 groups. This includes two aspherical elements, two high-refraction elements, and two low-dispersion elements designed to improve sharpness while reducing chromatic aberrations and distortion.

Brightin Star also equipped the lens with IMC coating to suppress flare and ghosting for improved contrast in difficult lighting situations.

Additionally, the company says the lens uses Japan OPTORUN optical coating technology to enhance light transmission and anti-reflection performance, helping deliver cleaner and more natural-looking images.

Premium Build and Rear Filter Support

The lens features a weather-sealed design for protection against dust and moisture, making it suitable for outdoor shooting in changing conditions. A metal lens hood is also included to help minimize flare while protecting the bulbous front element.

Despite its fast aperture and ultra-wide design, the lens remains relatively compact and lightweight at 499 grams and 96.6mm in length.

Control interfaces include an aperture ring, manual focus ring, AF/MF switch, and a customizable function button for quicker operation.

Rear Filter System

Because of the bulbous front element, traditional front-mounted filters are not supported. Instead, Brightin Star designed the lens with a rear filter thread system that accepts compact custom filters approximately 30mm in diameter.

The rear filter solution keeps the setup lightweight and avoids the need for large external filter holder systems commonly required for ultra-wide lenses.

Pricing and Availability

The Brightin Star AF 12mm F/2.8 for Sony E-mount full-frame cameras is now available for pre-order for $659.99.

The lens can be purchased through the Brightin Star online store and major retailers, including B&H Photo. A Nikon Z-mount version is expected to be released soon. 

Sample Images with the Brightin Star AF 12mm F/2.8