Laowa 65mm Macro Lens Announced

Macro_Cosmos · Post by **Macro_Cosmos** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:33 pm

Likely an updated version of their 60mm macro lens that does x2, with copies sold all over the place.

Seems interesting.

Macro_Cosmos · Post by **Macro_Cosmos** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:43 pm

Ehhhhh... the lens is designed for mirrorless bodies!

Pretty sure it's a shot at the Voigtlander "Apo-Lanthar" lens which is one stop faster but only does 1:2, also very pricey.

It's said to be "Apo" as well. Seems interesting.

enricosavazzi · Post by **enricosavazzi** » Tue Sep 10, 2019 6:53 am

A new lens, not a repackaging of the old 65 mm f/2.8 2x. Maximum magnification is 2:1 or 2x, not 1:2 like the Apo Lanthar. The front element of the new lens is much wider than the old one. See more images of the lens at https://www.fujirumors.com/new-venus-op ... this-year/.

The reflection from the front element seems to have curved lines, so it is likely a refracting lens rather than a protecting filter. This element is fixed in place (with more elements moving behind it), so the optical scheme is different from the old one. Gone is also the front rectangular baffle.

The pictures show it on a full-frame Sony mirrorless, so this new lens might also cover full frame* (the old one displays extreme distortion on full frame). 60 mm FL is short-ish on full frame, although OK at magnifications between 1x and 2x. The rear element is shown very close to the rear lens mount, so it cannot be used on a DSLR.

* Although https://fujiaddict.com/2019/09/09/new-v ... g-soonish/ describes it as an APS-C lens.

chris_ma · Post by **chris_ma** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 7:38 am

it's officially on sale now:
https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa ... macro-apo/

MTF curves look pretty spectacular, but APS-C coverage only.
chris

Macro_Cosmos · Post by **Macro_Cosmos** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:32 am

There's 2 review videos.

Chris Frost:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fL7Aa2QCcI

Here's one from a macro shooter, Michael:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E26KCGFKTEU

The Laowa 60mm 2x for dslrs cover FX when being used as a macro lens. This one doesn't it seems.

Less distortion than the original one, some might love it. $399... is such a great package. Too bad I'm a DSLR guy, can't get it... or I can go buy a Nikon Z50

enricosavazzi · Post by **enricosavazzi** » Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:55 am

Macro_Cosmos wrote:[...]The Laowa 60mm 2x for dslrs cover FX when being used as a macro lens.[...]

It does cover full frame in the macro range, but at the expense of dark corners at all apertures, substantial transversal CA and major pincushion distortion. Pincushion distortion is still quite obvious on APS-C as well. The following example is at 2x, f/11, on full frame (Sony Alpha R II):

To be fair, Laowa never promised full-frame coverage for this lens. It is sometimes assumed to do this because the illumination circle "almost" covers full frame in the macro range, but lens performance is another story. I don't know whether Laowa further restricted the size of the image circle in the newer 60 mm Apo, to make it clearer that this is not a full-frame lens and to preempt criticism by users.

I believe I posted on this in the past, but cannot find my old post right now.

PS - Full-frame users have the choice of the Laowa 100 mm Apo macro.