| sent on December 20, 2025
Pros: Sharpness, quality of materials, RR, lightweight for travel, addictive, versatile, price!
Cons: Lens cap slips, autofocus off <1m30, f/4.5, No autofocus for some mounts
Opinion: First of all, it's important to understand that I'm not a macro photography specialist. I've only owned one macro telephoto lens before this one, the Nikon AF-S 105mm f/2.8 G ED VR Micro (which I don't regret selling).
In short, I'd say the build quality is stunning. It seems solid and well-finished; we'll see how it holds up over time.
The focus distance markings on the lens barrel are quite accurate.
It's very easy and intuitive to handle, and its lightness is a real plus.
The fact that you activate autofocus by rotating the focus ring to one extreme is a bit unusual, but I really liked it.
With the 180mm Laowa, I feel like we have a more versatile lens than it initially appears. Of course, its long focal length and high reproduction ratio make it an ideal candidate for insects, even the most elusive. However, I was surprised to find myself also appreciating it for portraits at f/4.5 because its autofocus is very fast and precise. It also excels at ratios lower than 1:1, for effective close-up photography: for flowers, mushrooms, and small wildlife. It can also be considered as a small, occasional lens for birdwatching, for species that allow themselves to be approached, of course. Finally, I was surprised by its precision at infinity for magnificent landscape compositions.
I know some will regret that the autofocus isn't effective below 1.3 meters. I suppose they're largely right, however, I prefer to control the focus manually when shooting very close-ups, because if you're shooting handheld, the slightest forward or backward movement will ruin the autofocus anyway. And if you're using a tripod, autofocus isn't, in my opinion, such a great advantage... except perhaps for focus stacking?
One could also lament the fact that it doesn't open wider than f/4.5, but it's so light and convenient to carry! As for sharpness, frankly, I find it excellent++, even wide open, and obviously even more so when stopped down to f/5.6.
Chromatic aberrations are very well controlled, and flare is barely noticeable. What I didn't appreciate (but it's really a minor detail) is the lens cap, which slips when you try to attach or remove it, with the lens hood in place.
In the category of long macro telephoto lenses, it's currently the only mirrorless option. My retailer assured me I could return it within 14 days if I wasn't satisfied. But who would want to part with such a high-quality toy at such a low price?
PS : For those who are interested, I found a trick to maintain autofocus across the entire focus range. |
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