Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra Macro APO Auto Focus lens - Canon EF

Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra Macro APO Auto Focus lens - Canon EF

The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra Macro APO Auto Focus lens (Canon EF), Laowa's first telephoto macro lens, is designed to revolutionise telephoto, macro, and portrait photography. By combining 1.5x ultra-macro magnification, advanced apochromatic (APO) optics, a remarkably compact and lightweight design, and versatile functionality, this lens enables photographers to capture intricate details with unrivalled clarity, both up close and at a distance. With its robust lens construction and innovative features — including autofocus on select mount options — it is a practical yet powerful tool for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

The lens boasts an impressive magnification ratio of 1.5:1, capturing life-size subjects in extraordinary detail. Every intricate texture and pattern is rendered at stunning resolution, making it perfect for macro photography.

With a minimum working distance of 14.7 cm in manual mode, this lens excels at producing breathtaking close-ups with unrivalled clarity and precision, while maintaining sufficient distance between the lens and subject for comfortable shooting.

With a focal length of 180mm, the lens offers a generous minimum working distance of 147.6mm, surpassing shorter macro lenses such as the 58mm or 100mm. This greater reach gives photographers ample room for shooting and exposure setups, and reduces the risk of startling the subject.

A focal length of 180mm creates a natural compression effect, making the background appear closer to the subject. This feature enhances creative flexibility, allowing photographers to skilfully manipulate the perceived relationship between subject and background for compelling compositions.

Weighing just 484g and measuring Ø 67.6mm x 88.4mm, this lens stands out as one of the smallest and lightest options in its class. This makes it the ideal choice for professionals and enthusiasts seeking high performance without excessive bulk — perfect for handheld use, fieldwork, or travel.

With an apochromatic (APO) design, this lens effectively eliminates both longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberrations. The result is exceptional sharpness, true-to-life colour accuracy, and minimal fringing across the entire image, even in challenging lighting conditions.

The lens delivers exceptional sharpness from corner to corner, even at high magnifications, for stunning image quality. Thanks to its advanced optical design of 12 elements in 9 groups, it delivers consistent, razor-sharp performance in macro photography.