Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO Lens (Sony E) Review
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Our editorial take on the Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO Lens (Sony E)
The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO consistently impresses as a lens of compelling trade-offs. Its most celebrated feature is its incredibly compact and lightweight design, making it the smallest 2x full-frame macro lens available. This portability, combined with its unique 2:1 magnification capability, opens up a world of extreme close-up photography that is often reserved for much heavier and more cumbersome gear. The image quality is a standout, with excellent sharpness corner-to-corner and an apochromatic (APO) design that effectively suppresses chromatic aberration, resulting in clean, detailed images straight from the camera.
However, this powerful yet tiny package comes with significant compromises. The f/5.6 maximum aperture is relatively slow, demanding ample light, a tripod, or higher ISO settings, especially when pushing magnification to its 2x limit. The lens is also entirely manual, with no electronic contacts for autofocus or aperture control from the camera body. This makes the shooting process more deliberate and methodical, which may be a positive for dedicated macro enthusiasts but a potential hurdle for those accustomed to modern conveniences. Ultimately, this isn't a general-purpose telephoto, it is a specialized tool laser-focused on delivering high-magnification macro shots in the most portable form factor possible.
- Groundbreakingly compact and lightweight design
- Excellent 2:1 magnification ratio surpasses standard macro lenses
- Superb sharpness and overall image quality
- Apochromatic (APO) design minimizes chromatic aberrations
- Internal focusing mechanism prevents lens extension
- Affordable price for its specialized capabilities
- Slow f/5.6 maximum aperture requires significant light
- Fully manual focus and aperture control
- Short working distance at maximum magnification
Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.
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This gallery is a collection of samples straight from the Laowa 85mm F5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO, taken by the DPReview team.
After being released for Canon RF, Sony E, Nikon Z, and Leica M mirrorless mounts last November, the Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x ultra macro lens now gets an L-mount version for the users of Leica, Panasonic, and SIGMA full-frame cameras. The lightweight and compact macro lens is now available for $449.
The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO is a macro lens with a 28.55° angle of view for full-frame. According to Venus Optics, it is the smallest 2x full-frame macro lens on the market.
This year saw the release of three new hybrid primes—the RF 24mm f/1.4 L VCM, RF 35mm f/1.4 L VCM, and RF 50mm f/1.4 L VCM—and a new hybrid zoom, the RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z. These lenses are all design to limit focus breathing, offer smooth AF performance, and feature silent operation, including the option to de-click the manual aperture ring.
The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x is clearly a tiny and powerful beast, with its weight at less than half of that of most competitor lenses. The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 is very sharp, even with a dual-glass element Raynox DCR-250 attached. I would personally pair the Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x with a Raynox DCR-250.
Venus Optics has announced its Laowa 85mm F5.6 2x Ultra Macro lens is now available for L-mount. The lens was originally made available in Canon RF, Leica M, Nikon Z and Sony E mount versions.
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About this product
The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO from Venus Optics is a short-tele prime lens designed for high-magnification macro shooting with an impressive 2:1 reproduction ratio. This Sony E-mount lens features a sleek and lightweight design, can focus to infinity, and is suitable for walk-around use and portrait subjects.
Specs
- Weight
- 10.3 oz / 291 g
- Dimensions
- ø: 2.1 x L: 3.2" / ø: 53 x L: 81 mm
- Focus Type
- Manual Focus
- Lens Mount
- Sony E
- Filter Size
- 46 mm (Front)
- Focal Length
- 85mm
- Angle Of View
- 28.55°
- Magnification
- 2:1 Macro Reproduction Ratio 2x Magnification
- Optical Design
- 13 Elements in 9 Groups
- Maximum Aperture
- f/5.6
- Minimum Aperture
- f/22
- Image Stabilization
- No
- Aperture/Iris Blades
- 7
- Lens Format Coverage
- Full-Frame
- Minimum Focus Distance
- 6.4" / 16.3 cm
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