Venus Optics Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro Reviews
Great once learned
By Harvey John
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-08-27
Great after mastering the learning curve. Since it is a manual focus lens, you need to ascertain that your eyepiece viewer is adjusted to your vision. Once it is properly calibrated to your vision, it is sharp as a tack. And is affordable, light weight and well built. Well worth the investment if you can master manual focus.
Incredibly Sharp and fun.
By Spencer
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-29
The lens is heftier than I anticipated, but is still within reason. I imagine it is similar to the much more expensive Sony 90mm macro. Video after video of comparisons, the Laowa holds a bright candle to the Sony.
Admittedly I haven't personally experienced the comparison, but I am more than pleased with this lens. I've been practicing some time with manual focusing and have been able to capture some really cool shots. The 2x magnification shows some incredible detail if you can get the light in the shot.
My only concern is when going all the way to the 2x magnification, the internal element sounds like its tapping against the front element. I don't know if the glass is making contact or some other hardware inside, so I have been exceptionally careful not to turn the focus ring too fast on the off-chance I accidentally xenomorph through my front element. Outside of that, couldn't be happier.
Great lens !
By Richie
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-03-02
I received mine with the box still plastic wrapped. This is how new lenses should come as.
This is a great lens! It's sharp even at f2.8. The focusing ring is smooth. I wish it had at least contacts to tell the camera what aperture it's at.
This 90mm is a lot better than the 100mm version. It's shorter and lighter, and the focusing ring has more throw and smoother.
perfect
By Michael
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-01-26
I could not be happier with this lens. It is extremely sharp. Well built, with very smooth focus ring, perfect amount of resistance, like butter. I chose this over the Canon RF 100mm macro (which I have experience using) for several reasons: 1) much greater magnification (I like fairly extreme macro) 2) the price 3) I decided I don't need autofocus -- for my macro subjects, I am nearly always unhappy with what AF decides to focus on, and prefer to manage that myself -- on a flower, on moss, on an insect, AF is highly unlikely to identify the focal plane I think is ideal, so I would end up just switching to manual anyway. I also often use a focusing rail, which eliminates any need for AF. My test photos with this lens are sharper than ones I got with Canon 100mm, and that's using this Laowa lens handheld (with manual flash). Every tiny fiber of fabric of fabric is visible and razor sharp.
An amazing lens for the money
By Michael
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-18
Just worked with it a bit but found out immediately that any, and I mean any, dust on the sensor will show on the image so beware. Also, you need at least a monopod but other than that it exceeds my expectations. Plant photos were taken indoors under artificial light with a monopod and a Sony AR7II. No touch up, just some cropping and shrinkage of the image. Group of flowers about 1 to 1, single flower 2 to 1.
Great macro lens for the money
By Cyril
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-12-01
It's easy to focus and is sharp. I used two sets of 16mm and 10mm Viltrox extension rings (all together 4 rings) with this lens to get a magnification of approximately 3.6X. Very happy with the purchase.
Very High quality for the pric
By Kaleb
Rated 4 out of 5
Date: 2023-05-15
Extremely sharp. Seemingly very well-made feels good and heavy in the hand.
My first macro. So far so good.
By Robert.Edward.Photography
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2023-04-23
Have only been using it for the past few days on my Sony A7RIV but so far I'm impressed! Build quality is fantastic - definitely feels more high-end than what its pricetag would suggest. I should note that this is my first macro lens and it's been quite a while since I've had to manually focus so I'm still learning best practices/techniques. However, I spent some time taking it for a spin on some coins. You definitely need a lot of light if you're stopping down to f22 which evidently seems to be the only aperture usable on small objects if you wanna get everything in frame nice and sharp. I'm looking forward to capturing some colorful critters :)
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