[Manual Focus] I have only used this since the 25th but the results have been stunning. This will definitely expand my photography. The only negative is that the magnification ring is a little stiff. Otherwise, the lens has been outstanding.

[25mm] I had really gone back and forth on whether this was a completely ridiculous purchase to make, but I finally pulled the trigger and I was NOT disappointed.

This is such a fun way to look at the world, from bugs to bubbles and textures—great content for video as well. It's small and lightweight so I'm happy to throw this in my bag on any trip.

[5:1] I've been using the Sony 90mm macro for a couple years, paired with a Sony A7riii and have loved every minute with it. But I wanted something for super macro photos. So I paired the Laowa 25mm with a Wemacro rail (for stacking) and the results are astounding. The lens is ridiculously sharp from center to edge.

The lack of manual focus is off-putting, and no IBIS makes it impossible for me to use when not on a tripod or rail. But those are minor gripes in my situation.
If you love macro and can work around the challenge of this lens, I would highly recommend it!

[Full-Frame] This is a solid little lens that give super clear images. The ability to change enlargement is also great and the amount of detail this thing can focus in on is incredibly. I use it with a stackshot and Helicon focus to shoot microchips and the results are fantastic. My clients love the results. I also purchased the 100mm lens for when you want to shoot something a little bigger, since the 25mm can only go so far away from the subject.

[Full-Frame] I bought this to re-photograph microfiche which I have in three image sizes. It works great. Important to make sure the lens is perpendicular to the microfiche so I use a bubble level to level a light table then level the back of the camera. I also set a 1 second shutter delay so vibrations are ended when it takes the photo. Using Live View on a Nikon D850 eliminates shutter wear and also I can zoom the preview to make sure it is in focus. Then i simply touch the screen to take the photo. F8 on the lens seems to work best; a compromise between diffraction effects and a depth of field that's only a fraction of a millimeter!
The lens is quite a bit heavier and sturdier than it looks and the tapered front makes it fairly easy to get down to fine details such as crystals or insects. Field flatness is excellent and I see no barrel distortion or pincushion distortion.

[L-Mount] As a Nikon owner, I'm still a bit jealous about not having the
Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro Lens in my repertoire. This one is not quite at the Canon lens' level (mostly because the range from 1:1 to 1:2.5 would be very useful to me), but for the price it's amazing!

Build-quality is good and sturdy; it's all-metal, with smooth adjustment of magnification factor. Focusing means changing the distance between lens front and your subject, which works fine with a focusing rail. Aperture ring snaps nicely in place (stops at 2.6, 4, 5.6, 8, and 16).

Magnification starts at 2.5 to 1. The first attached photo of a tiny grasshopper nymph (length about 6mm) was shot at this magnification, holding my camera in my hand while lying on my side in the dirt. I used a single SB700 Speedlight with a home-made diffuser stuck to it for illumination. I would say this magnification is about the limit of what I can do hand-held.

More often, I will use this lens in a studio setting, attached to a macro focusing rail for focal stacking. The attached (not retouched) image of a froghopper (Cercopidae) is the result of a quick test with my setup, from a 30 image stack. Unfortunately, my subject started moving too, so the resulting image has motion artifacts, etc. Still, it's a very promising start. Can't wait to play with this lens some more...

[Manual Focus] Bought this as a covid boredom cure. Love macro photography and felt like diving in deeper since we'll all be stuck inside again. Not dissapointed in the least. Have been doing some daily shots and its been a ton of fun. I do need a macro rail to work on focus stacking but so far so good.

[25mm] Amazing when's you do need a lot of light though. Highly recommend if you're looking to get a different view of things.

[5x] Great lens for Macro

[8] If you want 2.5 to 5x magnification and super sharp images this is your lens! Remember it is all manual, but that is really not an issue.


On a Nikon Z it works exceptionally well with the Focus Stacking feature you have incredible depth of field images. A bargain at $500 !!! A++ with a Focus Rail (I use the NiSi or WeMacro).