The LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Macro lens is the first lens in the market to combine an ultra wide angle of view and 1:1 Macro capabilities. This allows photographers from around the world to start experiencing the rather exciting field of ;Wide Angle Macro Photography; without using an extension tube. Macro Lenses currently in the market tend to have mid to long focal lengths that prevent photographers from taking close-up shots of insect or flowers, and including background details like its habitat or environment. (Focuses from infinity to 1:1 magnification

The LAOWA 15mm f/4 1:1 Macro lens features an ultra wide angle of view of 110 degrees with 1:1 maximum magnification. Photographers can focus very close to the subject and let the foreground dominate the photo but at the same time, have the background telling viewers about where and how the subject lives. Your picture will immediately become very informative and intriguing. Every lens element is coated with an anti-reflective coating to prevent lens flare and ghosting.

This rugged, metal barreled lens can also serve as an excellent ultra-wide angle lenses with infinity focus for cameras with full frame sensors. A shift mechanism is added at the rear end of the lens with a maximum adjustment of +/- 6mm for APS-C cameras, which is extremely useful for landscape/architecture photography for distortion correction.

The lens has 12 elements in 9 groups with three High Refractive elements and one Extra-low dispersion element to deliver crystal clear sharpness both in the center and the edges. Barrel Distortion is also carefully controlled. This is not only a macro lens but you can also use for landscape or travel with its ultra-wide angle of view (110°).
Fourteen aperture blades form a close-to-circular aperture, capable of creating creamy shallow depth of field. The barrel of the lens is made of metal for maximum strengthen and durability.

© Alberto Ghizzi Panizza

© Thomas Shahan

Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/4 Macro Overview

Get started in the world of wide-angle macro photography with the Laowa 15mm f/4 Macro Lens for full-frame Sony E-mount cameras from Venus Optics. Before now, wide-angle macro required the use of extension tubes and other workarounds, but now the Laowa 15mm Macro offers true 1:1 magnification without the hassle. The ultra-wide perspective on full-frame cameras allows you to get exceptionally close to your subjects and have them fill the frame with a minimum focus distance of just 4.7;, while still capturing the background for more informative scenes. Internal focusing further assists by not disturbing your subject, even when you reach the 0.2; minimum working distance.

Optically, it is designed to minimize distortion that plagues wide-angle lenses with the use of an advanced 12 element in nine groups construction with one extra-low dispersion and three high-refractive elements. A multilayer low-reflective coating further improves image quality by reducing the appearance of flare and ghosting. Also, when used on APS-C cameras or in crop modes the lens offers +/- 6mm of vertical shift which can help correct for perspective when shooting objects such as buildings.

Full manual operation is required with this lens through the use of a physical aperture ring with a range of f/4 to f/32 and a large focusing ring. The lens has a flat front element with a 77mm front filter thread for using a selection of specialized filters to enhance your scene. It also has a near circular 14-blade diaphragm for smooth out of focus elements and comes with a lens hood.

Venus Optics Laowa 15mm f/4 Macro Specs