Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro Lens Review & Sample Photos

[@MicaelWidell]

Thanks for watching! Buy the lens here: bit.ly/mwlaowa85 and check below for my other platforms. 💌 newsletter: mwroll.com 🌄 instagram: instagram.com/mwroll 🐦 twitter: twitter.com/micaelwidell 🎖patreon: patreon.com/micaelwidell 🖼 nfts: foundation.app/@micaelwidell / opensea.io/collection/resting-raindrops 💬 discord: bit.ly/widelldiscord

[@Peyre]

Thanks for all the content Micael. Your channel is basically the go-to place to learn about Laowa Macro lenses on KZbin!

[@IanWilkinson]

Laowa state that this lens has an apochromatic optical design, which accounts for the lack of chromatic aberration - just like the much more expensive Voigtlander Apo-Lanthars. You have some lovely sharp, contrasty, saturated example images, which show that this would make a very tempting addition to any macro lens collection. Nice review ;-)

[@ubeeh]

Ordered it today, BEFORE watching your video, which was great as always. Will sell my 60mm Laowa instead.

[@MicaelWidell]

I’m thinking about doing the same :)

[@ubeeh]

@@MicaelWidell But I will keep the 100 and 25mm Laowas :-)

[@IanHobday]

Ordered using your link! Hope you get a nice commission. Been waiting for this lens for quite a while, will now go about selling that huge Laowa 100/2.8 2x lens I have here.

[@MicaelWidell]

Thank you for using my link, very much appreciated :) Yeah I think this will be a very welcome upgrade for 100mm users - that lens is pretty heavy.

[@IanHobday]

@@MicaelWidell The new lens shipped out today, FedEx from China to Japan. Hopefully it arrives soon!

[@MicaelWidell]

@@IanHobday when I have ordered their lenses to Sweden I always received them within 3-4 days

[@IanHobday]

@@MicaelWidell Really exited to get it. I best get busy selling that 100 though or my wife is going to be none too happy with me.... I also have their STF lens which is really cool but I might let go too and use the money on flash gear...

[@IanHobday]

@@MicaelWidell BTW, always enjoy your videos! You were a big influence on me when I chose to get the 100/2.8 2x instead of the Sony 90/2.8 lens. Happy to finally have an extremely compact macro lens that won't be so hard to use on walks.

[@KfirIL]

Wow! It is actually smaller than the 65mm. Another great video, Micael, keep it up.

[@AddictedtoProjects]

Dangit! I literally just bought the Laowa 60mm a month ago, and I've been super impressed with it. And I'm too looking to reduce the weight of my gear.... My wife is going to kill me...... 😜

[@coltoncyr2283]

😆 I'm like, ok how can I order this, and keep it behind bars, or if the wife sees it, I got it a while ago so I can't return it.. oh sorrrry hahaha. Walking on glass!! But worth it?? 🤫

[@dakzer55]

I was very happy to see you created this Laowa 85mm f5.6 2x Macro lens review. But I amm disappointed that Laowa have not released a Fuji X Mount version of this lens when you lensguide recommended this lens to me 😢. Maybe they will reconsider adding Fuji X Mount for this lens if you ask them 😊. Thank you for the review

[@MicaelWidell]

There is no point at all in buying this lens for fujifilm. Buy the 65mm instead, as it is just as small but has a wider max aperture. My lens guide recommends the 65mm for Fujifilm cameras.

[@kaybatra]

Thanks, a very nice video as usual. This is gonna be my main macro lens on my future Nikon Z50. Cheers.

[@bartvanassche6174]

Most interesting! 😁👌 The only single thing I missed in your review was pricing. Whether or not it's it's worth the purchase cost is of course subjective, but still it would have been nice to hear it somewhere 😊

[@bennovp]

Pricing is at 00:45

[@bartvanassche6174]

@@bennovp I stand corrected, i didn't hear it but didn't notice it was written in 👌

[@myrmecofourmis]

Thanks for the great review. I shoot videos at high magnification with the 100mm 2X or the 25mm 5X and really looking forward to this lens being released now.

[@geminiwraith]

I love my 100mm Laowa, but the weight combined with the FTZ adapter and flash on my Nikon Z5 is cumbersome. This looks like a great option if I can make it work with my diffuser setup.

[@JoeMustang99]

I just added this lens to my Sony kit. It is tiny and light, just what I wanted. Now I can use full frame instead of taking the m43 Olympus gear out when I am shooting with the Sony anyway.

[@VietAnhNguyen-jp1tg]

As a field macro photographer, this is also my dream lens. Tiny with incredible magnification. I definitely would look into this for Chrismas :))) The only thing that could make it better would be a bit of weather sealing

[@douglasstemke2444]

Agree.

[@DirkDien]

AWESOME!! Will buy it asap 😍

[@IanHobday]

Make sure to use Micael's link! Gives him a bit of a commission and will encourage Laowa to send him more lenses to review!

[@seanconery8836]

Another great review from Micael !! Hi Micael, which Laowa full frame MACRO do you recommend (ease of use + largest DOF at f/11) : - Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro APO - Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO - Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO - Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO I use a Nikon Z7. Thanks for advice.

[@divyanshbadole6588]

Should I buy this for an aps c camera (a6400) over the 65mm ? Since, it's smaller than the 65mm and will also give a nice working distance.

[@MicaelWidell]

Tough decision. The image quality is the same. You have to decide if slightly smaller size or a wider max aperture is most important to you.

[@IanHobday]

Unless you are planning to move to FF soon I would get the APS-C lens for your APS-C camera. If you really want the 85 I'd at least wait for reviews of the lens by someone shooting with it on an APS-C body. The higher pixel densities and smaller sensors sometimes have unexpected results.

[@Karol.M]

@@IanHobday is less sharper on aps-c

[@ryanbeer5262]

Christopher Frost has a review with FF & CS cameras.

[@divyanshbadole6588]

Yes, saw that one, he said, "There are sharper options than this for aps c, like the 65mm". So ig it's a 'No' to this lens.

[@Tamura718]

Hi I Ilike to your channel. I decide to buy this lens. Thank you so much!!

[@dontgetmadgetwise4271]

And a single step-up ring allows a Raynox to connect directly, without vignetting on FF. nice.

[@BoboMedia007]

This lens looks awesome

[@jafargio]

Thanks for your review. I am thinking to start some of macro shots in the middle between this and 25mm macro 5x lens. Mainly I will use for insects and small objects.

[@MicaelWidell]

If it is your first macro lens I would recommend this one, and not the 25mm.

[@AnkitGupta12]

Hi, Thanks for a good review! I am curious to know how is it different from a regular zoom lens which can cover 85mm at f/5.6. Need to know how does manufacturers unlock close focal distance and magnification?

[@DanielVidal9530]

I ordered the Laowa 60mm yesterday, this lens look much better, damit

[@MicaelWidell]

Oh that’s bad timing :(

[@DanielVidal9530]

​@@MicaelWidell It's my fault for not subscribing on Patreon :( Thanks for all the videos! you are the best macro photography channel on youtube

[@MicaelWidell]

@@DanielVidal9530 thank you for your kind words :)

[@andylee5687]

Nice review of the Laowa 85 Macro....where did you get the reflector that goes around the lens to diffuse the strobe flash. I really like it and want one for my macro shooting.

[@MicaelWidell]

Hi, check this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX-tp6iGaNJsq8k

[@ag-108]

Hi! I have a question. Can you make a video and show us how to work with the meikke lamp? I still have problem with manual options. I think I am doing something wrong 😅 best regards from Poland

[@JimiCanRead]

Haven’t watched the whole video yet but I already want this lens and yet realise I will never be able to justify spending that much 🤪

[@Sanne013]

Just spend an hour looking at like 400, 500 and 600mm prime lenses, then come back to this one and you'll be like, yeah, I'll compromise, I won't buy a 600mm, but go with this cheap 85mm. 😂😂

[@SinaFarhat]

Fint! Detta är bevisat att om man finner sin specialitet i en redan hård konkurrens marknad så kan du skapa riktigt bra saker som fyller ett special syfte! :) Jag antar att DSLR gängets storhets tid är förbi då fler och fler tillverkare gå mot att skapa objektiv som drar nytta av fördelarna med mirrorless systemet!

[@MicaelWidell]

Jepp. Detta är vad jag gillar med Laowa - de hittar på objektiv som ingen annan har gjort och gör dem bra.

[@johnkanzler6646]

Great video, Micael. Do you suppose this can be adapted to micro four thirds?

[@MicaelWidell]

I don’t think so. And also I don’t see the point, as there already is a Laowa 2x macro lens for MFT: the 50mm. I think that one is even smaller than the 85mm. Check my review.

[@johnkanzler6646]

Micael Widell thanks!

[@Honkus]

Wow, that looks like a very tempting lens. What lighting were you using in those going pics? Diffuser and Godox flash?

[@MicaelWidell]

The outdoors shots I was using either a Meike MK320 flash with a sheet diffuser, or just natural light.

[@Honkus]

@@MicaelWidell Ah, thanks. I was referring to ~6:33 when you had a Godox trigger on and some large rectangular diffuser, and later there is a Godox with it's head in a globe diffuser. I am just looking for a remote flash solution and was curious what you were using.

[@MicaelWidell]

@@Honkus ah! That is the Godox tt685 flash with wireless trigger. I love this flash and it is great value for money.

[@leniehulse1621]

I think the large diffuser is just a plastic bottle and I think in a past video he had said that the round one on his flash was just a light globe from the hardware store.

[@knowyouryoga]

Hello I'm planning to buy a macro lens for A7iii and a flash would you recommend this one or your favourite 60mm? Thanks

[@ziramas]

Thanks for the review. I am considering the buy this lens, due to the size of this lens, do I have to use a small size flash ? Cos the TT685 which I am using is quite tall, I am worrying the angle of the flash.

[@MicaelWidell]

Yeah I would prefer a lower profile flash with this lens for the reason you stated. But you can always make a diffuser that leads the light to the right place, for example a Pringles diffuser.

[@ziramas]

Thank you Micael

[@douglasstemke2444]

I am thinking about getting this lens but am more interested how far you can stop the lens down to maximize DOV before you start to run into artifacts. F11? F16? useable?

[@MicaelWidell]

You are not going to get artifacts, but diffraction softness. How far you can stop down depends on the magnification and your tolerance for softness. But this diffraction softness is going to be the same regardless of what lens you use - it is due to laws of physics. At 1x magnification you can shoot at f/11, but if you use f/11 at 2x you are going to get some slight softness. I usually shoot at f/8 at 2x.

[@mzm4344]

Hello Micael, do you think an on flash diffuser would work just as the one you use?

[@MicaelWidell]

Yes works well as long as you have a smaller flash

[@satyarod]

Would this be ideal for a compact scanning rig to scan film negatives?

[@MicaelWidell]

Yes this lens would be perfect for that

[@ragewise6377]

seems this so good , maybe you shift your most favorite lens from 60mm f2.8 to this??

[@MicaelWidell]

Yes I just might!

[@AnkitGupta12]

Can you review lenses like 20-70 f/2.8 or 24-70 f/4 lenses for macro? (Inverted lens setup)

[@Schroeder3000]

hey Micael, thank you for the review :) where can i buy this - i think i will change my Laowa 60mm 2:1 into the 85 5.6 :)

[@MicaelWidell]

I recommend ordering it from Laowas homepage. Usually it is hard to find their lenses in stock in local resellers. Check links in the video description

[@Sandofoto]

Isn't it difficult to shoot handheld at 2 times mag without stabilisation? Even though I have the Canon R6 with ibis I'm a bit concerned.

[@MicaelWidell]

It's not that hard to be honest. Just takes a little practice. If you can do it at 1x you can do it at 2x or 3x.

[@patricketp8356]

A low light comparison between A6000 and A7III would be interesting. I´m struggling these black Fridays with myself, if I should level up to A7III. Sorry :D

[@MicaelWidell]

I am pretty sure that the A7iii would win big. It has one of the best dynamic range sensors in the world.

[@s.kalidas3676]

It would be great if you find an adapter for fuji x mount.

[@MicaelWidell]

Yeah it is a bit strange that they don’t offer it for Fuji. But you can buy the 65mm which is not that much bigger and also an excellent lens

[@s.kalidas3676]

@@MicaelWidell yeah but this for apsc could be excellent

[@andylee5687]

Since you are using the Sony bodies, how does the Laowa 85/5.6 other Laowa macros compare with the FE Sony 90/2.8 Macro?

[@MicaelWidell]

The Sony 90mm has only 1x magnification and costs 3x as much, that is why I prefer the Laowa lenses. But if you want autofocus and a wider max aperture, that is something the Sony lens has.

[@andylee5687]

@@MicaelWidell At the end of the day with only a F5.6 on the Laowa at 2x, does it out perform the Sony 90/2.8 resolution even at 1x. A resolution test chart should answer this. Typically, the larger the f-stop the greater the resolution.

[@ziramas]

Hi, may I know what kind of flash you used in this video, thanks.

[@MicaelWidell]

The two flashes I use the most is the Meike mk320 and Godox TT685

[@ttbirds1082]

What are your views on pairing the Leica M version of this f/5.6 85mm lens with Micro Four-Thirds camera instead of using the Laowa f/2.8 50mm native mft option?

[@MicaelWidell]

I have no idea why anyone would do that when the 50mm exists which is made especially for MFT

[@ttbirds1082]

@@MicaelWidell I see 2 reasons - 1) Probably better working distance to the subject (and this is what I am most interested in) and 2) Could adapt the 85mm M variant to many camera bodies (mft, Sony E etc.) with any inexpensive adapter.

[@simoney890]

do you suggest me to buy this lens for an a6600? just incase i choose to upgrade to ff in the future

[@MicaelWidell]

If you might upgrade to FF this is a great purchase!

[@simoney890]

@@MicaelWidellok so i'll take it, thank you!

[@MattMarcio]

this is very interesting lens !! 😀

[@HandswithCam]

6 months later, how would u say it compares to the 60mm from laowa? which one do u u see most often?

[@MicaelWidell]

I only borrowed the 85mm for a few days. But I think I would prefer the 85mm if I got to pick today.

[@HandswithCam]

@@MicaelWidell wow!

[@myrmecofourmis]

Do you think the small size makes it harder to focus?

[@MicaelWidell]

No i don’t notice any difference with focusing

[@myrmecofourmis]

@@MicaelWidell great, I know what I am buying myself for Christmas haha !

[@TheSunnySuttons]

Do you recommend this lens with a Sony apsc camera?

[@MicaelWidell]

Even better would be the Laowa 65mm which has similar size but wider max aperture and optimized for APSC

[@TheSunnySuttons]

@@MicaelWidell thanks, much appreciated 🙏🏻

[@MamieLife]

Someone said that it is a APS-C lens that you can put on a full frame. If true, will my 24mp sensor drop at 10mp? BTW just love your newsletters

[@MicaelWidell]

This lens is made for full frame, and will give you great resolution both in aps-c and full frame. Maybe you are confusing it with the Laowa 60mm which is made for APS-C but also works on full frame for macro photography.

[@MamieLife]

@@MicaelWidell You are so nice for your quick response. I bought it and is waiting for the shipment and I had this doubt suddenly that made me a little bit stressed (a lot), Thank you, feeling better allready LOL!

[@Ade5]

Is this lense designed for full-frame? (Sony E)

[@MicaelWidell]

Yes it is for full frame

[@drey4294]

Are the photos processed on the video or is it a photo without processing directly from the camera?

[@MicaelWidell]

Some of them are straight from the camera. Most of them are slightly processed, mostly changing the exposure and lifting shadows. No heavy processing was done.

[@drey4294]

@@MicaelWidell thanks. Cool shots and very cool lens) For the first my macro lens I ordered BrightinStar f2.8 that you reviewed some time ago. I'm really looking forward to it.

[@TheThing_0]

The main problem is how worse diffraction will be. After all, the aperture is a relative value, but the diffraction depends on the real one. I saw a comparison of MP-E and Laowa 25 and the Laowa has a much worse diffraction because of a small diameter of the front lens

[@MicaelWidell]

You won’t notice diffraction at f5.6 at 2x magnification, so I don’t really see the issue.

[@stevendmercado1783]

Does this fit a canon rebel t6?

[@MicaelWidell]

No this is only for mirrorless cameras.

[@dennisharris144]

Is the working distance too short and therefore scare away all the insects?

[@MicaelWidell]

The working distance is on par with other macro lenses. To avoid scaring insects I think is more a matter of skill and technique, check these tips: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYC5maZqe9iXoLM

[@trowawayacc]

Does it come in fuji?

[@MicaelWidell]

Nope doesn’t look like it

[@Martinjstevens]

Compatible with apc-c cameras?

[@MicaelWidell]

Sure why not :) but does not come for some apsc mounts

[@drpainsjourney]

YIHA - SUBS AGAIN! Thank you sir!

[@sclogse1]

Still, the macro on the old pocket digitals from Samsung, Canon and Panasonic were remarkable even with the 5 meg cameras. Plus, their depth of field due to the very short distance to the sensor was great. It was the first time since film you could nail macro. Film was always hit or miss. They were great, and even the Canon 310 Elph had optical stabilization. Oh, and distortion is spelled.......

[@MicaelWidell]

Oh I have used the Swedish spelling of distortion by mistake in my last few videos :) thanks for noticing, will think of that next time!

[@henrybrylowski1332]

Well after watching this video I want this lens instead of the 100mm 2x lens!🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤔😱😁😝🤘. Now to get an r6.🤔

[@4toes1nose]

👍

[@user-gk5ws5os2c]

ahh another $500 MUST be spent 🤣🤣🤣

[@CEKTAHTb]

Dear Author, could u sell your 65mm macro to me now?)

[@MicaelWidell]

Sorry I love it too much to sell it ;)

[@CEKTAHTb]

@@MicaelWidell ok... Another deal. I will like all your videos if u sell it

[@ChaosSlave51]

I think it is kind of dishonest not to mention how the small aperture, and the lack of auto aperture dims the viewfinder to a point where it's often impossible to take photos if your flash lacks supporting lights

[@MicaelWidell]

That’s not an issue on mirrorless cameras. And this lens only fits mirrorless cameras. Check my video on macro photography settings to see how to fix this.

[@ChaosSlave51]

@@MicaelWidell I don't know why you think that considering it is advertised as a standard EF lens, and looks like a close cousin of the Venus Optics Laowa 25mm which I am suing with my canon DSLR. That said, even with using the digital screen, at a high F, the image is almost black without explicit lights. Admittingly the 25mm has much more magnification, exacerbating the issue, but it's still a big strike against the no auto aperture lenses.

[@MicaelWidell]

@@ChaosSlave51 This lens is NOT advertised as a Canon EF lens, nor is it possible to use with a DSLR due to their longer flange distance. If you look at the official homepage you will notice that the lens is not available for EF mount.