Macro lens specialist Venus Optics has unveiled the Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO; a small, lightweight lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras that offers twice life-size magnification. By using a shorter focal length and smaller maximum aperture, it’s about half the weight of the firm’s existing Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO and two-thirds of the length. Initially it’ll be available in Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E and Leica M mounts, with the latter version being rangefinder-coupled, but more expensive as a result.
Optically the lens employs a completely new design, with 13 elements in 9 groups, including 3 made from extra-low dispersion glass. According to Venus Optics, this allows colour fringing due to chromatic aberration to be essentially eliminated – hence the APO designation. The lens employs an internal focus design, with a minimum focus distance of just 16.3cm. Both focusing and aperture setting are manual.
Physically, the lens is remarkably compact, at 81mm long, 53mm in diameter, and weighing just 291g in its E-mount incarnation (RF and Z versions are fractionally larger and heavier). It uses filters a mere 46mm in diameter. The Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO is available to pre-order now in RF, Z and E-mount versions for £449.
Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO full specifications
- Price £449 (RF, Z, FE mounts)
- Filter Diameter 46mm
- Lens Elements 13 (including 4 ED glass)
- Groups 9
- Diaphragm blades 7
- Aperture f/5.6 – f/22
- Minimum focus 16.3cm
- Length 81mm
- Diameter 53mm
- Weight 291g
- Lens Mount Canon RF, Leica M, Nikon Z, Sony E
- Included accessories Front and rear caps, hood