Laowa 85mm f5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO

Laowa 85mm f5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO

Venus Optics introduced the Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO as what it described as the smallest 2x macro lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras, and the design was also offered in a Leica M mount [1][2]. The lens reaches twice life-size (2:1) magnification yet focuses all the way to infinity, so it works both as an extreme close-up tool and as a short telephoto. Its compactness comes from a design choice: by limiting the maximum aperture to f/5.6, around two stops slower than conventional macro lenses, Venus Optics kept the barrel short and light, in the same size class as the Leica Macro-Elmar-M 90mm f/4, though the Laowa goes well beyond that lens by reaching 2:1 rather than half life size. It was announced in November 2021 with a launch price of around $499.

The optical formula uses 13 elements in 9 groups, three of which are extra-low-dispersion (ED) elements intended to suppress chromatic aberration, which is the basis for the APO designation. Focusing is internal, so the barrel does not change length between infinity and the close-focus position. Like all Laowa lenses, it is fully manual: focus is set by hand, and the aperture is set with a ring near the front of the barrel that directly drives the seven-blade diaphragm, with no electronics on board. The Leica M version mounts on M bodies, accepts 46mm filters, and ships with a slim bayonet-fit cylindrical hood. Because there are no electronic contacts, the aperture stays stopped down at the chosen setting during composition, a normal trait for this kind of mechanical lens [3].

The 85mm is sold across several mounts, including Canon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E, the L mount, and Leica M, with only minor weight differences between versions. There are no widely documented optical or coating sub-variants of the Leica M model; identification is straightforward from the engraved name and the M bayonet.

Optical qualities

Rendering Reviewers report that the lens is very sharp, with high-contrast edges showing little to no chromatic aberration, consistent with its APO labelling. As with most macro lenses, diffraction becomes the limiting factor at small apertures, and users commonly work around f/11 for higher magnifications and f/16 for lower ones to balance depth of field against diffraction and light loss.

Aberrations The combination of three ED elements and the apochromatic design is aimed at minimising colour fringing both in focus and out of focus, and field use supports that the correction is effective in high-contrast situations.

History

Development and Launch The lens was announced by Venus Optics in late November 2021 and positioned as the smallest 2x full-frame macro on the market, with the slower f/5.6 aperture cited as the enabling design decision. It was released across mirrorless mounts and Leica M at an introductory price near $499.

Special editions No major factory special editions, military or export variants, or unusual finishes of this lens are widely documented; it has been offered in black across its mount options.

Collector Notes For Leica M users the appeal is the lens's small size and its 2:1 reproduction ratio, which is unusual for an M-fit lens. Buyers should remember it is a manual, contactless macro: there is no aperture coupling, so the lens composes stopped down. Verify that the slim bayonet hood and 46mm-thread caps are present, as these are the standard accessories supplied with the lens. Published figures from Venus Optics and reviewers vary slightly on the close-focus distance, with sources quoting values around 15 to 16cm; LeicaLensList records a minimum focus distance of 0.16 m.