Laowa 90mm f2.8 Macro Lens vs Sony 90mm Macro

[@viagensebabados]

I sold my sony 90mm in favor of the laowa. In my experience, the Sony did not get close enough to the subject. The laowa is sharper and the colour rendering is beautiful. That was my experience anyway.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

They’re both great lens for sure.

[@SuzyValentin]

Those photos were glistening! I can believe how stable your footage was without a tripod!!! You have such a steady hand. I had no idea the flash freezes the action!! Such great tips, even at 1:1 radio, they looked amazing!

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Thank you friend.

[@svenqing]

Hi Brain, I am your 461st follower. any recomendation for AF and MF macro lenths repsectively. I just got the a7m4 camera

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Since we’re both Sony shooters, I think both lens in this video would be great. The thing to focus on is: Are you using a flash with macro photography outdoors for insects. If yes, the Laowa is amazing. However, if you are shooting pics without a flash … then sometimes, having the lens stabilization of the Sony 90mm is powerful. If video matters, no question, get the Sony.

[@svenqing]

@@BrianGJohnsonPhotography big thanks

[@acouragefann]

I find even with just IBIS, I can get about 1/50 of a second in 1:1 macro with a non-stabilized lens if the body is set up properly - a lot of photographers shooting manual macro set the Ibis to (in this case) 90mm, but the jittering at that magnification level is much more similar to around 200-250mm. If you still have the laowa, give it a try, you might like the results better :) Going below 1/50 I find most flowers will slightly move if there is even a very gentle breeze without flash, so I never drop my SS belownit. For video, it's certainly a clear winner though.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

wow! That is amazing, thank you for sharing! I was at a similar level with butterflies indoors, however … I was using the Sony with lens stab. Sure is a fun hobby.

[@nora25908]

Thanks for the video! Been wondering if I made the right choice with the Laowa so it's good to hear your experience with both.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Glad it was helpful! it’s my go to for photos for sure.

[@CristianSGuedes]

Hi! Great review. I have one question: what flash were you using in this video? Thanks.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

For macro photos, I use: MEIKE MK-320S Mini TTL Speedlite Automatic Flash This video was shot in natural light.

[@CristianSGuedes]

@@BrianGJohnsonPhotography Thanks

[@Pranto8]

would you please tell me which camera and lens you use for this video?

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Sony A7S iii . Sony 20mm F1.8

[@awa.screen.productions5369]

Fantastic Review thank you. Whats the Name of the diffuser?

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

not even sure my friend, super cheap on amazon ….

[@jassenjackman3284]

Have you used extension tubes on the sony to get higher magnifcation with any success? I don't need to buy both of these lenses but they each have their advantages.

[@piyhaw]

Nice comparison! Whats the flash you using for macro?

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

The Flash really changes the game big time. I’m using the Meike MK320. It’s affordable costing less than $75.

[@piyhaw]

@@BrianGJohnsonPhotography Thanks. is it durable and reliable? I heard about it but was not sure of it, compared to may be Godox or Sony.

[@LukeMaximoBell1]

Great comparison. Thank you. I think the Sony is right for me.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

The Sony is an incredible lens for sure my friend.

[@sebastiana2328]

Excellent video thanks for sharing Quick question, what flash are you using ?

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Meike 320, cheap and works. Not perfect … but great value. amzn.to/46o9SJv (affiliate).

[@gregzarkodimos9711]

1 year later, did you have the chance to use any A7RV+90 macro combo? Did all the advanced focus algorithms work?

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

No on the A7RV w. 90 Maco. But, did shoot video and a few photos with the zve1 and the auto focus is amazing. Not full proof, but best in clase.

[@cameraprepper7938]

I have done macro photography since 1980 and I have never used a flash ! I like the natural light.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

great!

[@61merrick]

Great video. Thank you. Like you, I also have the Sony A1. Will the in-body stabilization with the Laowa work even though there is no electronic communication between lens and camera?

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Yes it will, no issues with photos. If you also want to do video at macro level, camera shake becomes an issue.

[@alonsogarrote8898]

Great video, very informative. Arent you supposed to hold your breath while shotting to reduce shake?

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Good tip!

[@hjones451]

I own the Sony A7iii & a6000 Cameras, plus the Sony 90mm f2.8 macro lens & the new Laowa 65mm equivalent. Owning the Sony lens has been a godsend during lockdown - the 2x magnification Laowa is a much bigger challenge.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

agreed, more magnification - more of a challenge for sure!

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Boy that’s the truth, two times magnification is on another level!

[@hjones451]

@@BrianGJohnsonPhotography Going dizzy eyed trying to use this lens so close to the subject - I'll mastered it by the time all the bugs have gone.

[@colintraveller]

I never use a diffuser .. I just use my normal built in Camera flash . On occasion it works better without a flash . I normally switch between with n without so i can check what works . On Sunny days more often i go without using the flash . With my Sigma with it having AF more often it would focus back if the intended target ..but it struggled bigtime with Flowers

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

interesting! Thanks for sharing!

[@robgerety]

Thanks for this. Good video. Not a Sony owner so I can't speak to the need for in lens stabilization. The Canon R5 IBIS works extremely well in my experience and I find zero need for in lens stabilization when shooting macro, or near macro, images. Also, I always focus manually when shooting macro. So, for me anyway, the 2:1 mag and the magnificent image quality of the Laowa 90 are paramount. Another issue though that I don't think you mentioned is that the Laowa does not have any weather sealing. So, you have to be careful to keep it protected from really bad weather. The other thing for Canon shooters is that the Canon 100mm RF macro is not quite the lens that your Sony is. So, for me as an R5 owner, that weighs in favor of the Laowa. Of course, there is the price.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Thanks for your information Robert I appreciate it!

[@iantaylor4115]

Thank you so much for doing this video, I sincerely appreciate your time and knowledge! New to photography, macro and every bit of info you said is helpful! Cheers!

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

My pleasure!

[@cameraprepper7938]

The Sony 90mm Macro Lens gives around half a stop of stabilization in the Lens at 1:1, the rest are in the Camera body, with the Laowa 90mm Macro Lens you can set the stabilization manual in the Sony Camera, so only half a stop difference at 1:1

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

it matters with video … as mentioned in the video.

[@cidron3843]

Greetings from Thailand. You did an excellent job comparing said lenses- enjoy!

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Awesome, thank you!

[@thomastuorto9929]

I wonder how the Canon MP-65MM 2.8 1-5X macro would do with an adapter on your camera? Nice work.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Possibly, you just never know.

[@roccosaya7163]

I use the Canon MPE-65 1-5X all the time with the Sony A1, with no problems at all. The adapter I use is the metabones IV (many years old now, but still works wonderful.) Very stable combination. Not as sharp as of course either of the lenses featured in this video, BUT, if you stack, images are plenty sharp enough!

[@isabellegauthier1254]

Thanks for your video. I'm gonna go with laowa, I'm old sckool so i like to do my own settings, i don't mind at all. Not into too many gadget.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Right on!

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

Sony doubles as a portrait lens with its autofocus. (And I have a manual Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 macro already.)

[@MichaelSuperbacker]

New Subscriber, great video!

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Thanks for the sub Michael, much appreciated.

[@wrrrarghh784]

new sony cameras have AI detect for insects, how does 90mm sony handle that on autofocus? i recently got the laowa but as im not very experienced i often get poor focus. also i think with sony you can put camera on tripod and just hit the button to take 30 pics at different focus and stack them together. on laowa you cannot do that

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Yep been thinking about that technology combined with my favorite macro lens which is still the classic 90 mm Sony because it has OSS built-in and I’m hybrid. Shooting video and photos. I haven’t tested it out myself but one day.

[@kunipshunfit]

Humming bird! Humming bird!!! This video hit my recommendations on home page.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Bam! Glad you made it pal.

[@coltoncyr2283]

Hummingbird??

[@kunipshunfit]

@@coltoncyr2283 You must not have watched the video completely?

[@TimSimpson]

Thanks for another fantastic video brother

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

You bet, thanks Tim.

[@minibuns5397]

I dig it, Cool content

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Thanks!!

[@StewartWoodArt]

This is awesome, I watched your other channel to learn to how to grow my youtube channel about macro photography... Thank you and I'll be keeping an eye on your new channel :)

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Funny Stewart! I’ve watched your channel! Thanks for the comment and the welcoming me to the photography community.

[@StewartWoodArt]

@@BrianGJohnsonPhotography Your welcome!

[@xstan79]

i was going to tell you to create a new KZbin channel at the time i was thinking about it i got this video in my recommendation

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

Welcome to the new slice

[@karelvanhaaster6251]

Sony 2.8-90 mm lens the best, i have this bautifall

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

its a great lens for sure.

[@samsen3965]

Nice clip and good demo, however... Sorry for the 2 points: 1- ( 2:25 ) Laowa 100mm F/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Canon EF Mount has electronically controlled aperture so no F stop ring on camera and the rest as you say, in addition to all the EXIF you hope to have 3:31 . 2- ( 3:45 ) Let's talk of IBIS and the fact that an expensive one can't really crush anyone who knows better! Lastly, 4:35, and please let's be not biased unfairly as merit is merit without your personal needs in the equation. 2X macro is the real merit of comparison here that can not be replicated by one of the contesters, the expensive but handicapped one! Let's stick & admit to the facts and not else. I see that you know it better and it is not about shutter speed on macro as a knowledgeable photographer knows it is the flash that is shutter speed, so why do you unfairly pass the points to Sony? And yes I hear you... "Macro Videographer". And again no. At that level, the videographer is not using a nonvideo dedicated body s.a. mirrorless! Sorry again and to me, MONEY MATTERS, and when quality is no different, I put my money on Laowa, the clear winner here that has crashed Sony or any other inflated big name both hands down & AT BEST.

[@BrianGJohnsonPhotography]

this video reviews the 90mm Laowa, not the 100mm. IBIS matters with video. Cheers.