A Review of the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x Lens

Venus Optics, recognized for creating distinct and unusual lenses with remarkable capabilities at budget-friendly prices, has long been respected for the unique offerings. The Laowa 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x is one such lens, standing out by providing double the magnification of standard macro lenses without a hefty price tag and being compatible with all major full frame mirrorless camera mounts. In this insightful video review, the lens is thoroughly examined, highlighting the performance and image quality it offers in real-world use.

Coming to you from Will Goodlet, this awesome video review takes a look at the Laowa 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x lens. Made for Sony E, Leica L, Canon RF, and Nikon Z mounts, the 90mm f/2.8 APO 2x is a particularly versatile option, offering double the magnification of traditional macro lenses at about half the price. And with that flattering medium telephoto focal length and ultra-sharp rendering, it doubles as an excellent portrait option. Of course, the one notable drawback is the lack of autofocus, but as long as you are not photographing fast action, you will probably find that the focusing aids on modern mirrorless cameras are highly effective and make the job much easier than in the past. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Goodlet. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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3 Comments

That is one of the most excellent lens review videos I have seen! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Laowa is really putting out some quality glass. I have their excellent 85mm 2x macro and, for me, it has the added advantage of being very small (because it's an f/5.6 lens) which makes it a no-brainer to toss into even my day bag for unexpected opportunities.

I would actually prefer f5.6 to f2.8, even if the price were the same.

For macro and super close-up work, I am always, yes, always, stopping way way down. So f2.8 isn't doing me any good if I am living at f8, f11, f16, and f22 ..... which of course most of us are when we do macro or "almost macro" work.