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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- This is my honest, long term review of one of my most used macro lenses, the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.-5-5x macro lens for extreme #macrophotography.
This is a specialised, niche lens, which gives you an impressive 2.5-5x magnification range but its usability in the field isn't suitable for complete beginners. In this video I elaborate on both the pros & cons of using this compact, yet powerful piece of glass that allows you to explore tiny subjects in amazing detail.
Fore more info on the lens:
www.venuslens.net/product/lao...
---Thank you note---
I'd like to thank Nicky Bay for allowing me to use the animated gif during our brief comparison of the Laowa 25mm ultra macro lens to the Canon MPE-65.
You can read the original article here:
petapixel.com/2018/03/21/the-...
Also please have a look at Nicky's website, his macro work is exceptional and very inspiring:
www.nickybay.com
His Instagram & Facebook accounts are as follows:
/ sgmacro
/ sgmacro
--------------------------------------------------
If you enjoyed the video & you're new here then please support the channel by subscribing. Thanks heaps!
/ @peterviragphoto
Instagram: / peterviragphoto
Facebook: / peterviragphoto
Twitter: / peterviragphoto
---Table of contents---
0:00 Intro
0:28 Lack of Aperture Coupling
1:01 Assist light & Ring light
1:29 Lack of Image Stabilisation
2:00 Lack of Auto Focus
3:04 Image quality past 4X Magnification
3:49 Steep Lurning Curve & Effective Aperture
4:28 Minimum Focus Distance
4:55 Build Quality & Portability
5:34 Usability in confined spaces
6:07 Image Quality
6:27 Stacked Images & Manual Macro Rail
6:54 Suitability for very small subjects
7:07 Price & where/when to buy
7:47 Who should buy this lens?
8:06 Summary
8:31 Sample Images
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----GEAR----
Camera body: Canon 80D
www.canon.com.au/cameras/eos-80d
Camera body: Canon 1DX Mark II
www.amazon.com.au/Canon-EOS-1...
Lens: Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro
www.venuslens.net/product/lao...
( I earn a small commission via the above affiliate link if you’d like to support me* )
Lens: Canon 100mm macro
www.amazon.com/Canon-100mm-Ma...
Macro Rail: Neewer Pro 4-Way Macro Focusing Focus Rail Slider
www.amazon.com.au/Focusing-Co...
Diffuser: Bonnet diffuser from Crafty Bells
photographyaccessories.com.au...
Light: Lumecube
www.amazon.com.au/Spider-Hols...
Boling P1 RGB LED light
www.amazon.com.au/2500k-8500k...
Tripod: Gitzo Mountaineer T3532 (Series 3, 3 Sections) with GH3382QD Center Ball Head
www.gitzo.com/au-en/tripod-mo...
www.gitzo.com/au-en/center-ba...
Flash:Canon 600 EX II-RT
www.amazon.com/Canon-1177C002...
If you want to buy the Laowa25mm ultra macro lens & support my small channel, then please use this link: www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-25mm-f-2-8-2-5-5x-ultra-macro-2/ref/894/
Thanks heaps for watching & don’t forget to subscribe! 🪲🦋🐛🪰 Let me know if you have any question in regard to the lens and/or if you’ve had any experience with the Laowa 25mm ultra macro. Get in touch and let’s connect as I love to look at other macrophotographers work. Thanks heaps for watching and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE! Cheers😉📸🪲🦋🐌🪳
Здравствуйте. Мне очень нравятся ваши видеоролики. Я новичок, но после обзора приобрёл объектив. Laowa 25mm macro очень крутой.
@@user-ec3cq1cq8r большое спасибо, очень мило с вашей стороны! веселиться. не забудь подписаться! Thanks:))
@@peterviragphoto подписался незамедлительно сразу, жду новые видео.
Excellent experience sharing. Thank you.
Thanks Vladimir. Have a great day!:)
Great review Peter! Very in-depth look at it, and very well explained mate. Great honesty in not recommending it for beginners. The sample images were stunning. Your work never ceases to amaze me! Unbelievable stuff 💪🏼👍🏼
Hey Kieran, thanks heaps buddy, really appreciate it. I think it would be a mistake to start with a lens like this for sure as most likely it would just put one off of macros for good🤣 Hope you’re having a great week mate! Looking fwd to your next video! Cheers:)
Great little lens Peter. I remember your other review on this lens. It's great for the price. You always get some awesome images with it as you've shown. Thanks for sharing mate 🙏🖖
Hey Adrian, thanks heaps mate. Yes, that was just a few weeks after I got it so felt like it was time for a more comprehensive review😀. Appreciate the feedback. Have a great week! Cheers😉
Completely mesmerising.
This footage is incredible
What an amazing little creature 😍😍😍
Brilliant Peter 👍👍👍
Thanks a lot mate, really appreciate the feedback!😊
In depth review and recommendations..thanks for investing time for us in making such videos.
Thank you very much!
Great review Peter as always very informative and helpful 👍👍👍
The nature looks amazing!!!
I like that part where you sitting between those trees 🌲 absolutely stunning 👍
Well done Peter
Hey buddy, thanks heaps for your kind feedback, glad to hear that you’ve found it useful & enjoyable! Cheers:)
Great video Peter! Sounds like a great lens in the hands of someone who is very skilled like yourself. It definitely does not sound like a good lens for an amateur. But a great honest review of it that should come in handy for anyone looking for a macro lens. Some amazing sample images in this one mate!
Thanks heaps Paul for watching. It is a great lens for sure for advanced macro shooters. Once you get used to how to maximise its potential, it can produce some decent images for sure! Hope you’re having a lovely day mate! Cheers
Great review. I have it and I have to say it’s a lot of fun when you get used to it. I didn’t get the ring light because I don’t like them - I’m glad your review confirms I made the right decision. I think Laowa is one of the best companies for innovative lenses. One day I’m going to get their probe lens - that looks really interesting.
I totally agree. There are a few scenarios when the ring light doesn’t produce thise unwanted sepcular highlights but adjustable assist lights that don’t get in the way might be better ( those have disadvantages too unfortunately with portability & usability ). The probe lens is pretty sick, would be fun to use for sure, especially underwater😍😀. Thanks for watchig Scott, have a good one! Cheers
Very good review Peter
Thanks a lot Andy, appreciate it. Took a while to put it together😂. Have a great day mate! Cheers
Like 2,👍👍👍👍👍👍Good very good my friend🇮🇩🙏
Thanks mate
Great review mate! I enjoyed your subscribe animation just as much! It’s funny how much birds interrupt our videos!
Haha thanks bud. They sure do 😂🤣😅 cheers
Useful and enjoyable video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks a lot mate! Cheers
THANK YOU!
No worries Norman!🙌👍
Omg your new subscribe graphic is awesome! 🤩 Haha! Very good thorough review again Peter, I like how you put this video together, lots of interest throughout. I really like that you have a 'who is this for' segment too. 👍🏻 Stunning images too mate 😲
Hey Rauri, thanks a lot haha, appreciate it mate! I tried to keep it fast-paced & as informative as possible without delving too much into each aspect/ point mentioned. Glad you liked the images. I’m about to fall asleep, spent 16 hours on this video yesterday, was gonna edit today but couldn’t help myself, had to finish yesterday 🤣🤣🤣. Hope Fuji-juice is on the mend🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞Have a great day bud!
@@peterviragphoto oh man that is a long edit! Well worth it though as it looks awesome 🤩. Still no news on the Fuji- hopefully it’s not a rotten Fuji Apple 😔
I feel so bummed for you mate, hope the repair will go well! Fuji should send you a whole lineup of lenses for review ( you could just say, sorry broke them all and never return them🤣🤣 )
Amazing review, mate. The main purpose of this lens is the biting midges. For anything bigger I would go with Laowa 24mm probe that I already own, and probably need to compliment it with Sony 90mm f/2.8 macro for Sony body.
Thanks a lot mate! The probe lens is amazing I’m sure:)
Great review.....sounds like a good little lens👍👍
Thanks mate, appreciate it, it is a niche lens but really good for sure for extreme macros! Cheers
Good stuff! Can you bump up your ISO just for focusing if there's not enough light? Your photos are fantastic!
Thanks mate. There is no aperture coupling and increasing ISO won’t make a difference through an optical viewfinder. If you were in live view yes, but then you’d have to dial it back down again before taking the image, it’s just not practical in most scenarios, I never shoot on a tripod when in the field ( except videos but for that I wouldn’t recommend this lens too much ). Cheers😉
@@peterviragphoto Keep in mind it does not apply to mirrorless cameras 🙂
I just received my Laowa 2.5-5x yesterday, I have taken some in door photos with led lights on both sides, it looks as though only the center of the photo is in focus, but the focus runs top to bottom like in a window. I see like lines on the photo top to bottom.
Hello Ray, thanks for your comment! What you’re describing sounds a bit weird as DOF would be horizontal and not vertical. I’d do more testing & document everything. What magnification ratio was this and what is your camera body?
@@peterviragphoto I will take some more photos today and see how they come out.
@@peterviragphoto I am using Z 6 II and it is 2.5 magnification. Could it be the shutter speed or the electronic shutter?
Thanks for sharing your techniques and review with us.
I have a Canon 90D and a Canon Macro EF100mm 2.8L IS USM and thinking of purchasing the Laowa macro, but I can’t decide which one to buy between the 25mm and 60mm, and the price for those lenses are the same $399.00 US. Can you advise me? I'll appreciate any help. I just subscribed to your channel. Thanks again and have a wonderful day.
Hey there Edy! Thanks a lot! If you’d like to be able to capture very small subjects where 2.5x+ magnification is necessary then I’d go for the Laowa 25 mm if I were you: www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-25mm-f-2-8-2-5-5x-ultra-macro-2/ref/894/
My favourite macro lens from Laowa right now is the 90mm 2X though which is more versatile as you can focus all the way to infinity and if I need more magnification, I just add e.g. the 49mm +9 diopter ring from NiSi. www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-90mm-f-2-8-2x-macro-apo/ref/894/
nisifilters.com.au/product/nisi-close-up-lens-kit-nc-49mm-with-62-and-67mm-adaptors/ref/peterviragphoto/
Hope this helps. Cheers
Thanks so much for your quick reply! I appreciate it ! Well, I definitely will take in consideration your opinion. As I have an apsc camera, your favorite macro lens won’t work on my canon 90d. Thank you so much Mr. Peter macro guy lol 😆love your videos and photos !
I use mine on the R7 and works perfectly. I forgot they didn’t release it for the EF mount bummer! Sorry:(
@@peterviragphotoI’m excited to buy the 25mm and test it. Still don’t know where to purchase from also I have been looking and the price is all the same $399.00. Yesterday I got a different diffuser which is the AK diffuser. Well, have a nice day Mr. Peter 😊
@@peterviragphoto Hi, Peter. How are you doing? Sorry to bother you again, I already asked a question in another video, but want to ask you here again about this lens. I have an APS-C camera (Canon 90D) and with the Laowa 25mm on a crop sensor, it will be 40mm, right? so, I'll have a little more focus distance, right? Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
Almost tempted to try macro photography again. Almost…
Haha🤣😁🪲🪳🪰
I got this lens used and paired it with my Canon R6, but for some reason it would NOT take pictures OR video 😩 I have no idea why. The images would show up on screen, but when I pushed the record button or tried to take a picture, it just wouldn’t respond 🤦🏽♂️
Hey thanks for dropping by. That’s very weird. So you’re using the RF version of this lens I presume and not the EF one via an adaptor. Sounds like a connection issue between the lens mount and the camera, can’t think of anything else. Have you tried it on a different body? If it’s not resolved maybe ask for a replacement asap in case it’s a faulty item. Good luck mate!
@@peterviragphoto The lens is EF I believe and I'm using an EF to RF adapter
I’d send a message to venus optics and inquire what’s going on . I’m sure it’s frustrating! Do you have an EF body as well for testing? ( just to eliminate the possibility that the lens is faulty ). If it functions properly then the adapter is messing something up….
@@peterviragphoto I have a friend that has an EF body. I could try that. Thank you so much 🙏🏽
All the best mate. Hope you’ll figure it out and get it to work!🤞🙏
I don't understand why amazon is selling this lens at such a higher price than venus optics themselves
Hey. That’s ridiculous:( I got mine during a black friday deal from a local dealer for around $400USD which is the same as the price at their online store at the moment.
Woooo camera friend
Haha thx:)
What i find astonishing is that you never even mentioned the Laowa 100mm x2 F2.8 , Bear in mind am not a Working FT Tog .. nor will i falsely claim to be a Professional Tog . It's a hobby to me .
I was looking at both Laowa's then the shop i usually buy from recommended the Sigma 105 which i bought [ Stupidly ] . IMO it's not a true Macro lense . it's more adapated to LS / Astro captures than it being a genuine lense for Macro . Then i bought the Laowa 100mm x2 F2.8 Excellent VFM, and a fraction of the price to what the ,, The canon macro lense at.. £1,249
Hi. I never mentioned any other lens as this was a review of the Laowa 25mm. The one you got is an excellent choice, very similar to the 90mm I use from Laowa these days. I still got my EF 100mm which is super versatile and great for macro videos too with reliable AF even beyond 1:1 when stacked with other close-up lenses. Main thing you’ve found what works best for you!👍👍