For those interested in macro photography or videography, the Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO, announced last year, has proven to be a top option for many. It’s the first Laowa tele-macro lens from Venus Optics and, overall, quite capable despite its compact, lightweight design.
The company is looking to expand the lens’ reach, so to speak, as new compatibility options are being released for Fujifilm X and Nikon F camera systems. Let’s look at what this Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO could offer for hybrid shooters and content creators looking for macro shots.
The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO
Announced roughly a year ago, the Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO is Venus Optics' first Laowa tele-macro lens, designed to bring a new option to the shooting format with its compact, lightweight build.
The lens has proven to be capable, with a pretty impressive 1.5:1 magnification ratio that works well for those looking to capture life-sized subjects with pristine detail. However, the lens is primarily designed to use its minimum focusing distance of 11.8”, along with a minimum working distance of just 5.8”, which should make it easier for shooters to move subjects and leave more room to properly light their scenes.
The lens also features a useful 180mm focal length that offers a narrow field of view suitable for both portraits and distant subjects, and its f/4.5 maximum aperture should help strike a good balance between brightness and portability.
Credit: B&H
The big news here is the Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO will now support manual focus for Canon RF and L mounts, as well as autofocus for Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon EF mounts, which should help to enable auto-focusing on subjects from 1.5m to infinity, while subject between 1.5m can be handed over to manual focus for precise macro control.
For more info on the lens, you can check out the full specs and purchase options here.
- Full-Frame | f/4.5 to f/32
- Ultra-Macro Medium Telephoto Prime
- 1.5:1 Maximum Magnification
- 11.8" Min. Focus, 5.8" Working Distance
- Apochromatic Optical Design
- Manual Focus Design
- Assignable Lens Function Button
- USB-C Port for Firmware Updates
Venus Optics Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO Lens
Offering the unique mixture of a long-reach telephoto field of view with greater-than-life-size macro capabilities, the Venus Optics Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO is built for capturing intricate details from both close-up and long distances.
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