Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Macro lens review - for mirrorless cameras
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- Keith looks at the Laowa 90mm macro lens from Venus Optics, for mirrorless cameras. Showing examples and how it differs from the Laowa 58mm macro.
Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO - A Full Frame 2X Macro lens for mirrorless cameras. The lens is newly launched by Venus Lens. It is a full manual lens, internally focusing.
It's available in 4 mount options: Sony E / Canon R / Nikon Z / L mount and a price of USD499.
For more info on the lens see Keith's notes at:
www.northlight-images.co.uk/9...
There is a review of the flash shown, at
www.northlight-images.co.uk/l...
Keith's 3 part article about focus stacking is at
www.northlight-images.co.uk/h... - Фільми й анімація
Great Review, thank you, respect.
Thanks - glad it's of interest!
Thank you for another excellent review Keith. I recently bought this lens having dabbled in close up photography using nisi close up lens and enjoying the results. You mentioned ‘not pushing extension tubes too far’… I have an R6 a d have found the fotodiox pro tubes for RF recommended. They make a 15mm and 35mm, and I wonder if you could give me any guidance on which would be best to buy? I intend to use it for plant/lichen and possibly slime mould ohotography, but am really only just starting on my macro journey. I’d welcome any thoughts.thank you.
I have a cheap set of eBay RF mount extension tubes [16mm + 11mm] which are fine. Even these are overkill for the 90mm, since they have electronic connections.
I won't ever buy expensive tubes - as someone told me years ago - cheap eBay air is as effective optically as expensive Canon/Nikon air...
I've just added an example using tubes to the main [written] review www.northlight-images.co.uk/90mm-2x-macro-laowa/
@@KeithCooper ah that’s brilliant advice, thank you Keith!
Thanks
Thanks!
Soo knowledgeable 👍
Thanks a lot
Thank you for the excellent review! I do photography for my work too, my subjects are mostly plants and in studio like you. My pictures are currently not great and I want to change my old camera. I am trying to figure out the best lenses, this is one of my targets. I have a newbie question though, could I use something like the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 to do macro? on paper it has a 2.7 magnification ratio, but it is not marketed as a macro lens. So what would be the advantage for me to have a specific lens like the Laowa 90mm? Only the increased working distance? thank you
Thanks. I don't know that lens at all I'm afraid - you also don't mention the camera system [sensor size]
The version I found listed has an MFD of 7.1" and magnification of 0.37x - hardly 'macro'
Since 1/0.37 is ~2.7, I suspect you have misread the specs - this is not a macro lens
See my 'does focal length matter' video for more info about the 90/58mm macro lenses
ua-cam.com/video/KW0XA9NfRd0/v-deo.html
@@KeithCooper Thank you for taking the time to reply. Indeed I misread the ratio and it is 0.37x, which is 5.4x less magnification than the 2x, so now I can see what is the advantage. I might even get the Laowa 25mm 2.5-5X lens but since I would normally use a microscope to go this small I want to see what I can get with the 2x. I am aiming at a Sony a7r3 or a7r4 for the body, since the high resolution enables me to crop and enlarge, to artificially magnify a bit more. I'll definitely use focus stacking. I will keep following your channel in the future, this is very helpful!
I can very highly recommend the Voigtländer Macro APO-Lanthar 110mm 2.5 which is build like a tank an has outstanding optical image quality.
Maybe, but I've never had a Sony camera to test anything with - I believe it's only made for E mount?
@@KeithCooper I meant to recommend it for all Sony users.
Yes - I thought, "ooh that's nice", then I saw it was Sony only...
Sony are the only mfr. who won't put me on even their press release list - something I said years ago perhaps? ;-) :-)
@@KeithCooper It is so good to have a Sony Camera with all the Lenses you can get, lots of fun to play with. Used Sony Cameras are very cheap at the moment, so perhaps a late X-mas gift for yourself ☺ Merry X-mas 🎅
Thanks - but I've no plans [or money] to try such things...
There are sound economic reasons I get almost everything I review on loan.
How would you compare this 90mm to the 85mm f5.6 if only using it for macro? Does the 85mm win because of size and weight?
Ah, there is no 'win' for me in this, since size/weight doesn't matter for my uses ;-) It's aimed at a market I'm simply not in...
Look at the 85mm page on the Laowa site - it leads with its small size ;-)
www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-85mm-f-5-6-2x-ultra-macro-apo/
The 90 is a more flexible [but bigger] lens
Hi Keith! I liked that photo of diode. It remains me from my first crystal receiver. In my opinion you could make a video of photographing of electronic components. Alhough don't know would any one else be interested in such ... :) Br, Eeli
Thanks - I've got some macro stuff on the 'to do' list, for next time I get a lens to test.
Good review . I think the best Macro is Nikon 200mm f/4 AF-D Macro but I dont have that lens. I will get one when I can afford a 2nd hand lens.
Nope, that's just close focus - I want proper macro, so Canon MP-E65 or perhaps the Laowa 2.5-5x macro or even the 24mm macro probe lens
@@KeithCooper Why not a 2nd hand Leica Microscope 2-50ggr with a camera attachment? I used it when I documented fault on microwave integrated circuits. 25mm Laowa 2.5-5x macro has no focus ring and its dark so it need flash but its cheap and I may get one for the few cases that I need a macro photo that AFS 60mm F2.8 G Macro and Zeiss 100mmF2.0 macro is not enouth when I start with my infra structure project.
Because it's a microscope, not a macro lens... The MP-E and Laowa do not have focus rings - that makes them 'real' macro lenses :-) ;-)
I have reviews of both...
Thanks Keith. Do you know if I could ad a 1.4TC on Nikon Z to get to 2.8X?
An extension tube should work - but not tried anything on Nikon...
Thanks. I was asking about a TC, but just got my Viltrox extensions & they get me to 3:1. I'm just waiting for snow now.@@KeithCooper
Yes a TC may work [they sometimes have difficulties for close-up stuff], but tubes are the usual way to go with macro.
I would never again buy a macro lens that doesn't have at least the option to use a tripod ring. Without it it is not worth a cent in my opinion as then you lose a lot of the compositional freedoms that are needed if your subjects are alive.
Fair enough, this lens is not for you...
I actually take the tripod ring off my MP-E65 fro most of my macro work...
@@KeithCooper You have subjects you can freely position and solve the problem on the other side of the photo. My subjects are alive and I have to position the camera accordingly and often have to react fast if they reposition - thus a tripod ring is an absolute must while for you some clamps and the like are vital. Still that means that the lens is a design failure because the tripod ring wouldn't invalidate it for you while for me its absence means the lens is a complete and utter dud.
@@karlgunterwunsch1950 Still a good quality lens though...
For ethical reasons all of my macro insect or spider etc photos are of living creatures. I've never needed a tripod ring though, I just use a flash so I can use a narrow aperture to get as much of them in focus in one shot as I can.
@@bodinian I haven't used nor missed a flash in the last 15 years that I photograph living insects out in the field - with tripod, tripod ring and diffusors to moderate the light.
That enabled me to photograph bees that clean themselves after being trapped in ladyslipper orchids, courting butterflies that perform elaborate "dances" with their feelers, preying mantis capturing their prey, etc. All things that a flash would completely ruin because its first use will alter the behaviour dramatically.