A Look At The Laowa 50mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro Lens For Micro Four Thirds Cameras

[@ScrattleGG]

I applaud you. You can keep attention for the entire video without music or screaming. It's absolutely the essential information delivered well phrased with a bit of wit in-between

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks! There are some good reviewer out there but some are just so...in your face!

[@Stone1108]

David, if you’re looking down on us, you’re humour still makes me laugh, that’s priceless, thanks, your still giving to so many. Might buy this lens by the way. great review, as always. 🤝

[@philbrown8181]

Great review as always, concise and informative with, as normal, your gentle humour. This one goes up to two as well, you hussy. Thank you for making and posting, it's always a genuine delight to hear from you David.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks, Phil, glad you feel that way.

[@rudolfabelin383]

Thank you David! An astonishing ability to view into the future that my interest for this lens would rise even though you now are working for higher spheres. Thanks in retrospect David! I will always come back to your videos!

[@SpaghettiPaparazzi]

Yes, "it's 1 louder!" thank you 😊 for another proper review!.

[@lowbudgetproduction]

"It's one closer"

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

😀 thank you!

[@photobillyexplores]

Another very easy to watch informative video with that touch of comedy 👌 10 out of 10

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@datapro007]

I always learn something watching your videos Dave. Great review, thank you.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad to hear it! Thanks.

[@johnwest6141]

Many thanks for a very helpful video David. I am still a relative beginner and I am just getting started with macro photography. I got a Canon 60D when I retired a few years ago and, more recently, I bought a Panasonic Lumix GX80 for travel. I find this easier for macro photography because of focus peaking. I have been using a cheap 2:1 macro lens, that I bought for my Canon 60D, on my GX80 with an adapter. This is quite cumbersome so I was thinking of replacing it with the Laowa 50mm MFT macro lens. However, in the end I went for the Olympus 60mm macro lens because I thought autofocus would be useful for close ups of flowers and butterflies etc. when full 1:1 macro magnification was not required. Also, the Olympus has a greater working distance (approx. 8 cm at 1:1) than the Laowa (5.6 cm at 1:1) and I thought this would be helpful when photographing insects that are easily scared away. I was also disappointed that the Laowa 50mm lens seems more expensive in the UK (£409) than the USA price that I saw advertised earlier ($399 excluding sales tax). Incidentally, when you say you say you prefer a “shorter throw” for manual focusing, is this the amount you have to turn the focus ring?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, I mean the amount of ring turning necessary. The Olympus 60mm is one of my most used lenses, most of the 'product' shots in my videos are done on it. It is sharp, doesn't distort and has, as you say a good working distance. And the AF is there for when it is useful. The Laowa is more specialist - for what you are doing the Olympus is the better choice without a doubt.

[@johnwest6141]

@@DavidThorpeMFT Thanks David.

[@clintjohnson5914]

If I'm honest, I have been making due with the close focusing (not true macro) of the 12-50 Olympus'"dog thingy"... after you brought it up again on your year in review video I have spent the lock down putting it to the test.... It actually does a great job for most of my close-up needs..This Laowa lens may make me look twice at getting a true macro/portrait combo lens..I did dig out my Minolta 100mm 2.8 macro and an adapter and tried that too..Very large and heavy coupled with a GX-8,,,but it reminded me of how much I used to enjoy the real macro dimension...Thanks again for posting this.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Hi Clint - I had a 100mm f/2.8 Sigma macro which I used for a long time with an adapter. It was excellent but a bit clumsy in use and while the focal length was handy for some things, it was a bit too long for others. Macro's lovely , isn't it? I've just been out this morning to take pix of dew covered spider webs, indescribably beautiful. Thinking about it, I hardy ever use full 1:1 macro - the 12-50 does very nicely.

[@tobiasdavid3096]

Always love your humour. Thanks for the video and the work you put in it.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks, Tobias. Nice of you to take the trouble to tell me.

[@himwo.]

Sounds like a fun lens! I've adapted my old Minolta AF bayonet Sigma 70-210 F4-5.6 to my GX80, the same things you said hold true there as well - put it on a tripod, don't ever touch the shutter, use the cameras WiFi+your phone instead..

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Tricky, isn't it. In my house the floorboards are a bit creaky. If I set the focus and walk away, at 2:1 my tip-toe steps are still enough to alter the focus. What is nice is that with the camera tethered or connected to the app, you can alter the focus manually because it has those contacts.

[@MichaelGerrard]

Thanks for this review David. This is an impressive lens. It is the first time in many years that the 60mm has had a real fight on its hands! I already have the 60mm, I wonder if I can justify getting this one? ;-) M43 is a rich system, we have so many choices.

[@peterlemke3468]

You know you can lol.

[@hauke3644]

The thought came through my mind, too. But on very small subjects I often like to do focus stacking, so that I can have the depth of field exactly like I want it. But for that I need AF and will stick with the M.Zuiko 60mm, which is a very nice lens anyway. And the Laowa will even not replace my loved Zuiko Digital 50mm/f2, which is more versatile due to it's large aperture and nice bokeh. Both Olympus lenses "only" allow 1:1, but that's close enough for my needs.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, these are quite specialist lenses, really. It's nice that Micro Four Thirds is getting them for those that want them.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

My experience of justifying things is that I will if I want to 😂

[@rjkral]

David Thorpe put that on a mug or t-shirt and sell it!!

[@chadwelch3579]

Love your review style. You've convinced me too.

[@brianb6603]

Excellent as usual!!! Nice review of an interesting lens...

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks, Brian.

[@willjohnsnow]

David - a great review as always, but even better news - now you can review their new 2.5-5x ultra macro! 😁 I see it doesn't come natively with an MFT but rather a converter for the Nikon/Canon mounts, would be interesting to see how well this works. No need to do anything flashy, just the usual jumping spider from a tropical rainforest, the odd brochesia nano-chameleon from Madagascar ... maybe even the fairy wasp which measures in at a whopping 0.139mm - you know, just the usual run-of-the-mill test subjects...

[@tonypower9315]

Cool, been a while sir. I already have the Olympus as it was the best option to date so I won’t be shelling out again for another. But it looks very good. They seem to be rapidly growing their reputation Lowa. Wish they would make some good cheap fixed primes at the right price.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, they do some good primes for FF, I believe. So they might extend the range, maybe.

[@OscarAbarcaChinchilla]

Tony Power the 17mm f1.8 is very good in my opinion.

[@tonypower9315]

Oscar Abarca Chinchilla thank you will look it up..

[@impatrickt]

1:35 when the shrooms kick in

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Just an old hippie, me😮

[@Kelkschiz]

"...if you photograph your partner and wish to live." lol

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

😀

[@garryneil753]

I’m very tempted by this lens because of the magnification and reasonable price.I do have rail.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

It's certain that a rail is the way to handle these big magnifications. At 1:1 too, really.

[@MrHasherd]

Thanks for your videos David and best wishes.

[@rjkral]

NOWHERE ELSE ON THE ENTIRE INTERNET can you hear someone say both “This one goes up to TWO! And refer to the Queen as a Hussy!! 😂😂 Great review, astonishing lens and photography!!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks so much, Robert. I am glad you laughed at my hussy remark , though that is also the reason I write this from a cold and draughty cell in the Tower of London 😁

[@andrear9500]

Really good performance compared to the Olympus. I own the Meike 85mm 1.5 macro which is a bit bigger, well built and with a bit longer working distance. I am very happy but the laowa looks very strong indeed

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, very tough construction not unlike the Nikkor film lenses .

[@cescobianchi]

thanks for the video! could this lens fit on panasonic GH5 for photographing jewelry (diamond rings etc.) in a lightbox? or is another type of lens recommended? thanks so much!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, it would be fine on a GH5 (or any Micro Four Thirds body, in fact). I don't think you'd need 2:1, though. Any 1:1 macro would do the job for jewellery, filling the frame with an item justv17mm across. You'd need 45mm or more focal length so that you could light the jewellery properly.

[@emudojo]

How is the focus throw for portraits?, Also vs The olympus do you lose more stops of light as you zoom in? At the same apperture?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

The focus throw for portraits is quite tight, which I like. I find peaking invaluable and for focusing on eyes it latches on to the eyelashes very easily. Yes, the loss of effective aperture is an optical factor so going from 1:1 to 2:1 will change the effective aperture the same amount for any lens. At 1:1 an f/2.8 lens is effectively f/5.6.

[@stefanschmid495]

very good video as always from you, thanks. I got a mft camera for two years and now I would like to digitize some of my old negatives which I made as a teanager decades ago with my Nikon FM. Would recommend the Laowa 50mm for this purpose or is there another reasonabely priced option (f.e. Meike 85mm)? Any recommendation?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I think a ":1 macro like this is not necessary for what you want, Stefan. A normal 1:1 will be more than enough and will enable you to crop the neg if you wish. Given that your camera will need to be on a tripod and you will want to be stopped down to f/5.6 or so, any macro lens will do what you want. Alternatively think of using some extension tubes with a lens you already have.

[@stefanschmid495]

Ok thank you very much.

[@erikvalkman9640]

Thank you David for another educating and entertaining video! I do have one question: regarding focus stacking wouldn't the Olympus lens be much easier to use (in combination with the right camera of course)?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, it would. Stacking can be done in camera with the Olympus lens. For exacting work you can get better results by doing it in Photoshop but it's nice to have the in-camera option.

[@bjnslc]

I use the Panasonic post-focus and in-camera stacking to get 6K handheld stacks with my Panasonic G9 and the Olympus 60mm. That's handy for social media jpegs, but not the workflow to get the best image quality. Focus bracketing can also be used for handheld stacking post-process, but at the slower frame rate it's more difficult get a good stack. Of course the best results are with camera support and a stationary subject, but in that case manual focus, or better, shifting the camera with a focusing rail work best.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

@@bjnslc Thanks for the info! It's a tricky business and requires practise whichever way you do it, that's for sure.

[@marilouthomas8055]

Can someone tell me if the in-built focus stacking will work with Laowa?

[@oscarlopez2052]

I need your help I have an Olympus em5 mark ll and I want to scan my 35mm negatives I would like to know what magnification I need in a macro lens to fill the entire censor of the micro 4/3, you recommend a dedicated macro lens or some extension tubes with a 50mm lens, would I get good quality with extension tubes? thanks for your help

[@JerryWilliam63]

There abouts .5x, a dedicated macro lenses will generally give better results, however, extension tubes get the job done; try a 14mm extension on a 25mm should get you there.

[@juankamilo]

Baded on the x2 width at 8.3mm, would you say this lens works for digitizing 35mm neagtives?

[@JerryWilliam63]

Unfortunately he is not with us any longer to answer. But maybe I can help. Yes is can be done, however bear this in mind. At 2x, to digitize 35mm film, you would need 25 exposures in a 5x5 matrix, stitch them together in the software of your choosing, the end result would be a rather large +120 Mpix file. but, this is also really hard, as David pointed out, depth of field is non-existent, critical focus is everything and consistency in focus is next to impossible, even on a copy stand.

[@northlandspotter883]

David, I'm looking to get my first macro lens for Model Railroad photography, and have both an EM1ii and a G9 at my disposal. If you could only have one MFT macro in your bag, what would it be? What would give me the most headroom to learn?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'd have to say the Olympus 60mm. It'll work great with both bodies and has along enough focal length to allow you to light the close-ups. It's my basic lens for bread and butter work, most of what I do.

[@yourtallness]

Interesting lens, though Christopher Frost found it to have rather extreme pincussion distortion at non-macro ranges.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I didn't see that but I didn't use it for anything critical at non-macro ranges. Landscapes and portraits I found it very good.

[@catrionathomson8981]

Thanks for a great review David. I now understand why macro lenses are good for wide field astrophotography and that is the flatness of the image. Like yourself I prefer closer so putting these two things together perhaps Olympus or Meike or Panasonic could produce a 12mm f2.8 (or even 3.5 to keep the weight down)!macro lens with a focusing distance of 0.95m. Wouldn’t that be innovative? And wouldn’t that be a lens to own for the macro and astro junkies. I bet it’d sell. Ps if you’re worried about portraiture sharpness keep using the 60mm as it is guaranteed to go soft!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'm going to tell Olympus what you said, Catriona! Your lens, just keep waiting, It'll probably happen.

[@gordon4385]

Sounds like a great lens. I had been thinking about the oly 60mm, but if the laowa were cheaper it would have been an easier decision. From what I can tell, theyre pretty much the same price.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, pretty similar. A straight choice, really. For non macro, portrait etc I prefer the 50mm focal length but it's not a big thing.

[@keithwwalker]

Of course the question with all Laowa m43 lenses, does it focus beyond infinity like thier 7.5mm?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Just about all my lenses focus past infinity. It's to make allowances for focus shift cased by extreme temperatures, I am told.

[@keithwwalker]

@@DavidThorpeMFT A little bit past infinity yes, too much past infinity is a bad thing.

[@williampegram]

Great info as always, the entertainment is the icing ;-)

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks, William!

[@gmaas1418]

Does not the 60mm Olympus support focus bracketing&stacking, where the Laowa can never do this?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

That's right. In reality at these extremes of magnification for focus stacking you'd need a focusing rail, plenty of images and dedicated software or Photoshop.

[@spacekatze3958]

Have to get this lens! It looks really nice!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

It is!

[@JonPYbanez]

excellent review. keep up the great work.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad you liked it, Jon!

[@unbroken1010]

Did they make like a 35 or 30 mm macro 1 to 1 I saw a couple reviews it looks like a pretty wild lens

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

To my knowledge, they don't make such a lens. They have some pretty wild stuff, though!

[@unbroken1010]

@@DavidThorpeMFT yeah they made one I think 30 mm it weird and cool and macro

[@ricardorgomez]

It's great that you showcase some of the lesser known brands. I mean, there is some really good stuff out there! But, I really come on here to learn how to be funny and clever. I fail miserably. 😜

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, loads of good stuff around. As for being funny and clever, I'd like that too.🙂

[@diegoscopia]

Would a 35mm/full frame 1:1 macro lens not give a 2:1 aspect ratio when adapted to m43 anyway? I'm always quite confused when it comes to this type of conversions, but If so, I guess it wouldn't be fair to say it's the first 2:1 macro lens as I've read in other sites.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

No, 1:1 is life sized on the sensor so if you adapt it to Micro Four Thirds it remains life sized but the smaller sensor will only encompass half the object. If you wanted to get the same framing as the FF camera at 1:1 you'd need to be twice as far away, so the object would be at 1:2, or half life sized. Confusing hardly describes it, does it? 🙄

[@larbueno]

@@DavidThorpeMFT So David, if a FF 1:1 macro lens is adapted onto my Olympus or Panasonic m43 camera, the cropping of image circle effectively renders a FOV of 2:1...right? Another dandy review as ALWAYS from you.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

@@larbueno Thanks, Larry! Things get messy at macro sizes! Basically 1:1 renders the same size image whatever format you are on. If you photograph a ruler with a macro lens for a FF camera , you will get 36mm of the ruler in frame and a 1 cm segment will be 1cm across on the sensor. If you photograph at 1:1 with an Micro Four Thirds camera, you will get 17mm of the ruler in shot but the 1cm segment remains 1cm across. If you want to get the same field of view as the FF camera, you need to get twice as far away. This will give you a view of 36mm of the ruler but since you are twice as far away it will be 1/2 life size.

[@CrisisGarden]

Ha ha! I’ve just returned from a holiday in Greece where I was given endless amounts of grief by my partner due to the sharpness of the Panasonic 50mm f1.7. Should have tried manual focus.. We’re all so critical of portraits of ourselves... sorry for digression, great review and an interesting lens...

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Nothing new under the sun. Back in the 80s, using my Hasselblad, I'd use a soft focus filter sometimes when doing portraits. The 150mm f/4 Sonnar was merciless!

[@soundknight]

I was going this would be your next protect

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad to be of service, Brian!

[@bryancranberyy2598]

You forgot to add the Oly 60mm is weather sealed too

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks for the info, Bryan.

[@saintsi6997]

solid

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks!

[@videoguyla]

New slogan "Chose Life over Focus"

[@Paul_anderson_creative]

Or 'Chose life over sharpness'....

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

😄

[@garryneil753]

Nice. I wish Olympus would have done a 2:1 autofocus before they went belly up.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

They aren't belly up, yet, Gary! I can't see them doing a 2:1, maybe a bit too niche for them.

[@garryneil753]

David Thorpe I can’t see it either, but if they aren’t/weren’t niche, who is? You’re right they aren’t officially out of the camera biz yet, but It’s amazing that everyone seems to have forgotten the June news.

[@closeshot7161]

Lack of autofocus for focus bracketing/stacking and weather sealing is a deal breaker for me.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Not so much choice with this type of lens. Certainly no native Micro Four Thirds lenses do 2:1. Some tubes and the 60mm, maybe.

[@johnhaynes9910]

David, will you be reprising your "musical talents" on the next review ? :)

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'll spare you that, John. I am a compassionate man 😁

[@johnhaynes9910]

@@DavidThorpeMFT Not even an "ode to 4/3rds :)

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

@@johnhaynes9910 😁

[@cyrillusventus1]

i have this lens :) so good for my G9

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, a good combination with the big EVF.

[@Clickumentary]

when you need that extra push over the cliff, ours goes to 2!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Exactly!

[@peterlemke3468]

Nicely reviewed David including your dry humour. So the DoF can be as shallow as a bee's dick. Perfect for those Anthophila macro shots then.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

😄 Thanks, Peter!

[@fredio54]

1/10 for incorrect spinal tap reference. Though working in an 11 would have been tough, I'll give you that. :-D I have one of these on the way, looking forward to studying the surface finish of metals and woods that I've butchered with various tools in inappropriate ways :-D

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

As you say, working 11 in would have been difficult. I did try. But I spoke to my producer, Steven (Spielberg) and he said it was OK as it was so I went ahead. Good to have him around but I do wish he's start making his own KZbin stuff. At the 40x and more mag you get on screen with this lens, I don't think anyone's finish would look good, would it?

[@fredio54]

@@DavidThorpeMFT I guess we'll soon see! I have some precision tools made in the US and Europe and Japan that I could look at, and some of my own lapped steel surfaces :-)

[@jesoby]

With only MF you can’t use built in focus stacking. If you can afford it the Olympus 90mm does x2 and has AF

[@gordon4385]

First! Yesss!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'd like to offer a large cash prize but I can't so I will just say thanks you for your enthusiasm, Gordon. It means a lot to me.