Category Archives: Macro

Review: Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X APO

Introduction

While most popular macro lenses have been in the range of 90-105mm and Laowa themselves having all, an 85mm, a 90mm, and a 100mm macro 2X lens, they opted for making a 58mm lens too, as some macro photographers prefer a wider angle of view or use the lens both as macro and allround lens. Also the perspective might make a difference for some people as you can include more surroundings with a wider lens for the composition. Laowa has shown that they can produce very nice macro lenses during the past few years, let’s see if this one can match them!

Sample Images

Nikon Z6 | Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X | f/4 (stacked 38 images)
Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X | f/5.6 (stacked 34 images)
Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X | f/2.8
Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X | f/5.6 (stacked 39 images)
Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X | f/8

Continue reading Review: Laowa FFII 58mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X APO

Review: Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro

Introduction

We have seen macro lenses with 1:2 magnification, 1:1 magnification, and even with 2:1 magnification. What if you want to have a lens that goes further and has greater magnification? The cool thing about macro at 3x-5x is that you can take any random ordinary everyday object and make it highly interesting.

For a long time the only available lens that had a magnification greater than 1x was the Canon MP-E 65mm, and not only that, it also could go up to 5x magnification. A long time a matter of envy for all non-Canon users, until mirrorless cameras and adapters made it possible to adapt that lens to other brands, but it was the only option and expensive. This is where the Laowa 25mm f2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro comes in handy. A small lens that has a whopping 5X magnification, costs half and does not need any adapters as it comes in almost all popular mounts. Let’s see how good this little wonder is!

Sample Images

Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/5.6 (Stacked, 29 images)
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/8 (Stacked, 5 images)
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/5.6 (Stacked, 55 images)
Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro review sharpness bokeh coma vignetting 24mp nikon z6 z6ii 46mp nikon z7 z7ii Z8 Z9 D7200 D750 D600 D800 D7500
Nikon Z6 | Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro | f/5.6 (Stacked, 74 images)

Continue reading Review: Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro

Review: Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro (MF)

Introduction

sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro via Novoflex C/Y-E adapter on Sony A7rII

Many of us have been looking for a small yet capable tele lens in the ~200mm range and so far we have mostly failed. Is this often overlooked Sigma 180mm f/5.6 macro the lens we have actually been searching for?

Sample Images

sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sony A7III | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f/5.6
sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sony A7rII | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f/5.6
sigma 180mm 5.6 f/5.6 apo macro makro light tele lightweight small 200mm sony 42mp a7rii a7riv a7riii adapted contax review resolution sharpness contrast
Sony A7III | Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro | f/8.0

Continue reading Review: Sigma 180mm 5.6 Apo Macro (MF)

Laowa 100mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2x: A review

This lens costs $449. It’s a 100mm f2.8 macro, which focuses down to twice life-size. A feat no other lens in its class achieves. It also focuses to infinity. It claims to be apochromatic. How good can it be? Is it, as some suspected when they first heard about it, good for macro but only an emergency lens for infinity use? Or is it the deal of the century? I’m afraid I’m going to make you read further if you want to find out!

UPDATE at the end I have some info which might make the lens more attractive than most of my review suggests.

Samples

Continue reading Laowa 100mm f2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2x: A review