Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO Lens - Canon EF (Auto Aperture)

Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO Lens - Canon EF (Auto Aperture) — 2:1 Ultra Macro Magnification for Extreme Detail

The Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO is a telephoto macro lens built to capture extraordinary close-up detail with a 2:1 magnification ratio. It targets photographers who need extreme magnification for subjects such as insects, plants, textures, and small objects. At the same time, its focal length makes it suitable for portrait work, offering pleasing subject separation and smooth background rendering.

Optical design and image quality

Laowa uses an apochromatic (APO) optical formula in this lens to reduce chromatic aberration and color fringing. As a result, the lens delivers clearer images with more accurate, true-to-life colors. The construction consists of 12 elements in 10 groups, a layout intended to provide strong sharpness and good resolution across the frame.

The lens combines high magnification with a telephoto working distance, which helps when shooting delicate subjects. Photographers can approach their subjects closely while maintaining optical clarity at high magnification levels.

Close working distance and focusing

This lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 24.7 cm, enabling photographers to shoot extremely close and achieve the 2:1 magnification ratio. The design provides precise manual focus control, which is essential for critical macro shooting where small focus adjustments change the result dramatically.

Aperture and background rendering

The lens supports automatic aperture control on Canon EF mount cameras, allowing smooth exposure adjustments from the camera body. It features a rounded diaphragm designed to produce smooth background blur and attractive bokeh. Note: the original description references a rounded diaphragm and lists two blade counts in different parts of the text; one passage mentions a 9-blade rounded diaphragm, while a separate key features list states a 13-blade rounded aperture.

Build and handling

The Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO has a robust metal construction aimed at professional use and reliability in field conditions. The lens balances telephoto reach with close-focusing capability, making it versatile for both studio and outdoor macro work.

Key features

• World’s First 100mm 2X Macro Lens: Marketed as the first 100mm lens to offer a 2:1 magnification ratio.
• 2:1 Ultra Macro Capability: Enables extreme close-ups and detailed images of small subjects.
• Minimum Focusing Distance (24.7 cm): Allows photographers to get extremely close to subjects for highly detailed macro photography.
• Apochromatic (APO) Optical Design: Minimizes chromatic aberration and color fringing for improved image quality and color fidelity.
• Advanced Optical Design: 12 elements in 10 groups deliver sharpness and optical clarity.
• Automatic Aperture Control (Canon EF Mount): Provides smooth, convenient exposure adjustments directly from the camera.
• 13-Blade Rounded Aperture: Listed in the key features as producing creamy background bokeh and depth-of-field control.
• Precise Manual Focus: Ensures accurate focusing for critical macro and portrait work.
• Robust Metal Build: Durable construction designed for professional use and reliability.

Use cases

Use this lens when you need extreme magnification for subjects such as insects, flowers, and textures. It also works well for product photography of small objects and for portraiture where subject separation and smooth background blur are desired. The combination of magnification, working distance, and APO optics supports both creative macro exploration and technically demanding close-up work.

What's in the box

• Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro Lens
• Front Lens Cap
• Rear Lens Cap
• Lens Hood
• Lens Pouch

Technical specifications

FAQ

Question: Is this lens compatible with Canon EF cameras and does aperture operate automatically?
Answer: Yes. The Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO is offered for Canon EF mount with automatic aperture control, allowing you to change exposure settings from the camera body.

Question: What subjects is this lens best suited for?
Answer: The lens excels at extreme close-up work—such as insects, plants, textures, and small objects—thanks to its 2:1 magnification. It also serves well for portraits where a 100mm focal length and smooth background separation are desirable.

Question: How close can I focus, and what magnification can I achieve?
Answer: The lens focuses down to 24.7 cm minimum distance and can achieve a 2:1 (2x) magnification ratio, which lets you capture very fine detail at twice life size.

Question: Does the lens reduce chromatic aberration and color fringing?
Answer: Yes. Laowa’s apochromatic (APO) optical formula is used to minimize chromatic aberration and color fringing, helping produce images with clearer detail and more accurate colors.

Question: What should I expect from the lens build and handling?
Answer: Expect a durable metal construction intended for professional use. The lens provides precise manual focus control essential for macro work, while its telephoto focal length offers useful subject separation for portrait and close-up applications.