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Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
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UNSCORED
Laowa · 58 mm · f/2.8 · Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z mount

Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO

From $499 — 1 offer
KEY FACTS
BrandLaowa
Announcement date2023
Released2023
Production started2023
Production statusIn Production
What We Like
+Exceptional 2:1 macro magnification with outstanding detail capture at macro distances
+Superior APO chromatic aberration correction minimizes purple fringing and color distortion
+Excellent optical performance with exceptional sharpness and high contrast across full aperture range
+Versatile 58mm focal length enables macro, portrait, product, and landscape photography in one lens
+Compact and portable design at 595g despite full metal construction and complex optics
+Affordable $499 USD price point for an APO macro lens with 2:1 magnification capability
Worth Knowing
−Fully manual focus and aperture with no electronic contacts limits EXIF data and requires focus peaking
−No weather sealing or formal dust protection despite internal focusing design
−Bulky for 58mm focal length—similar size and weight to Laowa's 90mm macro lens
−Closer working distance at macro magnification makes lighting and subject approach more challenging than longer focal lengths

General

Brand
Laowa
Announcement date
ⓘ
Refers to the date the manufacturer publicly announced the upcoming release and general specs of this camera.
2023
Released
ⓘ
Refers to the year this camera was officially made available for sale.
2023
Production started
2023
Production status
ⓘ
Current status of lens manufacturing (e.g., in production, discontinued).
In Production
Read our notes on general
The Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO is a specialized mirrorless macro lens delivering exceptional 2:1 magnification and apochromatic color correction in a compact package. Its versatile focal length enables both extreme close-focus work and general-purpose photography, while the advanced optical design ensures distortion-free images and outstanding sharpness. Despite lacking autofocus and weather sealing, the lens offers outstanding value for macro and portrait photographers working with modern mirrorless bodies.

Optics

Minimum Aperture
f/22
Optical Design
Apochromatic (APO) with 3 ED elements and 3 Ultra-High Refractive Index elements
Elements/Groups
14 elements in 11 groups
Angle of View
40.9° (full frame)
Min focal length
58 mm
Max focal length
58 mm
Focal range
ⓘ
Shortest to longest focal length of the lens (zoom range start - end )
58 mm
Zoom lens
ⓘ
Zoom allows you to vary the focal length, change between long shots and close-ups
No
Max aperture wide
2.8
Max aperture zoom
2.8
Closest focusing distance
ⓘ
Minimum distance for a subject to be in focus.
18.5 cm01500
Autofocus mode
No
Blades
ⓘ
Number of diaphragm blades in aperture
13020

Magnification focus

Maximum Magnification
2:1 (2.0x)
Internal Focusing
Yes

Build

Construction
Full metal body

Features

Electronic Contacts
None
Image Stabilization
None
Focusing Ring
Smooth with ~200° rotation from MFD to infinity
Aperture Ring
Manual with full-stop clicks
Included Accessories
Petal-shaped lens hood
Weather sealing
ⓘ
Weather sealing capabilities will give you more confidence when shooting in unfavourable conditions.
No

Physical

Lens mount
ⓘ
The lens mount will tell you what type of lens range you can fit onto the camera body. Often the same camera company will have different lens ranges for different cameras.
Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z
Lens weight
595 g
Front filter size
ⓘ
Diameter of attachable filters.
67 mm