Here is the first review of the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra-Macro APO lens for DSLR cameras.
This new 100mm lens can cover full frame sensor size and focus from 2:1 magnification to infinity. The lens has a similar physical size to other 100mm Macro lens in the market but its wider magnification range allows macro photographers to capture subjects at any sizes. This 100mm f/2.8 lens can also focus to infinity and serve as a portrait lens with exceptional optics quality.
Venus Optics lenses are sold at Adorama and B&H .
Opticallimits published the first review of the new Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra-Macro APO lens
Check out their verdict:
“The manufacturers of macro lenses tend to have an easy win – macro lenses are pretty much always sharp thanks to a combination of a moderate max aperture and “easy” focal length. Thus it doesn’t really come as a surprise that the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Macro APO is capable of delivering very high-quality results straight from f/2.8. However, it has at least two advantages over your average 100mm macro lens – it can focus down to a magnification ratio of 2:1 and it has almost no bokeh fringing. The latter is quite an achievement actually. Lateral CAs are on a very moderate level and image distortions are low. The biggest weakness may be the amount of vignetting at f/2.8. Continuing on the positive side, we’d say that the bokeh is very pleasing overall.
The addition of electronic coupling (finally!) with a camera-controlled aperture as well as EXIF data is certainly a big thing for Laowa because it opens up some market potential. Of course, some users will shy away due to the lack of AF but at least macro enthusiasts may not care too much. The mechanical quality of the lens is pretty good and on par with the mainstream market.
Thus if you can live without AF and appreciate the extreme macro capabilities as well as a moderate price tag, you should have a closer look. Highly recommended!”
