AstrHori 25mm F2.8 2-5x Ultra Macro Review | 5x Macro on the Cheap!

Photographer Dustin Abbott shares a thorough, real world review of the inexpensive AstrHori 25mm F2.8 2-5x Ultra Macro lens | Read the Text Review: tinyurl.com/2-5xMacroDA | Visit the Image Gallery: tinyurl.com/2-5xMacroPics | Purchase the AstrHori 25mm F2.8 2-5x Macro @ AstrHori Store tinyurl.com/BuyAH25macro | B&H Photo bhpho.to/3HrXv4A | Amazon amzn.to/48WXCB0 | Amazon Canada amzn.to/3HvdZJa | Amazon UK amzn.to/3U1IsWY | Amazon Germany amzn.to/3U7Bvng
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Table of Contents:
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0:00​ - intro
0:54 - Build and Features
2:59 - Super Macro Aperture
5:15 - Tips for Using the Lens
6:48 - Optical Overview
8:55 - Conclusion and Pricing
10:25 - Optical Deep Dive
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Keywords: AstrHori, 25mm, F2.8, 2-5x, 2:1, 5:1, Macro, Ultra Macro Full Frame, Review, Sony Alpha 1, Sony a7RV, Review, Hands On, Dustin Abbott, Real World, Comparison, Sharpness, Bokeh, Flare Resistance, Autofocus, Image Quality, Sample Images, Video, Photography, let the light in, weathersealing, #letthelightin, DA

[@KEHA14]

Great review!

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@glennn.3464]

Great lens review as usual. I think you do the most comprehensive lens testing, both subjectively and objectively that I’ve seen. I would say though that I’ve seen other macro photography specific channels use macro lenses like this that are 2x and beyond with incredible results handheld outdoors with the right technique using a flash. So it’s not absolutely necessary to be restricted to very controlled shots with a tripod. Good handholding technique and proper use of a flash with a good diffuser is key.

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

That's fair, though there's definitely still some skill involved with nailing handheld - mostly in holding things still enough to compose.

[@oldpothead420Photography]

Thanks for video. By any chance have you used the Venus Laowo 25mm 2.5-5x macro? if so how do you think there compare in photo sharpness?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

I haven't, actually.

[@dougsmit1]

Repeatedly you say this lens is not the sharpest in your experience but you also point out that diffraction limits performance at almost all settings even from f/2.8. What lenses are you saying will defeat the diffraction limits or improve on the AstrHori? The only fair competition I can see is the Laowa 25mm which could be compared in a head to head, fair fight. You can not be comparing it to macros that stop at 1:1 or even 2:1. Are you talking about infinity corrected microscope lenses? Currently, for example, I can achieve 3x in several ways using other lenses and extension tubes or NiSi auxiliary lenses. The 2-5x in one lens would be convenient but are you saying that the results would be worse than, for example, the Laowa 2:1 and NiSi 49mm, my old B&H 48mm (0.08) microscope lens or my old Leitz enlarging lens on a stack of tubes? What lenses did you fing better in the range here under discussion?

[@DustinAbbottTWI]

There really isn't any way around diffraction with normal photographic equipment. It's not to say it is worse with the AstrHori; it is the reality for any such lens with such high levels of magnification.