Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO Lens for Mirrorless Cameras Announced

Lens News

by Jakub HanJune 22^nd, 2022

The new Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens offers 2:1 magnification and focuses on infinity in combination with a relatively compact size (74x120mm) and low weight of 619g. Designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras it comes in four different versions – Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica L, and Canon RF – and costs $499.

The Chinese lens manufacturer Venus Optics has quite a lot of macro lenses in its portfolio already. They range from 15mm all the way to 100mm and are designed for different needs and purposes. Recently, the company launched a new version of the popular probe lens – the 24mm T14 Periprobe. Make sure to check out our first look review of this quirky lens in case you missed it.

Venus Optics also recently launched a more traditional new macro lens and that is the one I will be focusing on in this article. Let’s take a closer look at the new Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens.

Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens

As the manufacturer claims, this new macro lens has been designed specifically for full-frame mirrorless cameras to combine compact size and low weight with a fast aperture and 2:1 magnification. The new 90mm macro lens can focus on infinity, so it can be used for portraits or landscapes as well. It will be available for four lens mounts – Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica L, and Canon RF. The lens weighs 619g, has a diameter of 74mm, and is 120mm long.

The 90mm focal length results in a 27° angle of view on a full-frame sensor. It is a fully manual lens that features internal focusing, so the length does not change when changing focus. This also helps to prevent dust from getting into the lens. The lens has a 67mm front filter thread.

When it comes to the optical APO design of the lens, there are 13 elements in 10 groups including three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements that should suppress chromatic aberration, purple fringing, and ghosting throughout the aperture range. Talking about the aperture, it has 13 blades and is available between f/2.8 and f/22. The minimum focusing distance is 205mm.

Price and availability

The Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO lens is available for pre-order now and the price has been set to $499 for all its versions – Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica L, and Canon RF.

Do you often use macro lenses in your video or photography work? What do you think about the new Laowa 90mm 2x macro lens? Let us know in the comments section underneath the article.