Laowa to Announce AF 180mm F4.5 Macro 1.5X for EF and RF

[Canon Rumors]

On Monday, Venus Optics will be officially announcing the AF FF 180mm F4.5 CA-Dreamer Macro 1.5X for both EF and RF. If you want the autofocus version for your RF mount camera, you must buy the EF mount version. The RF mount version will be manual focus. AF FF 180mm F4.5 CA-Dreamer Macro 1.5X Lens […]

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[koenkooi]

If the quality is better than the Canon EF180L, this is worth considering. I don't think the autofocus can be any slower

Edit: 1.5x!!!!!!!!

 

[mimbu]

If the quality is better than the Canon EF180L, this is worth considering. I don't think the autofocus can be any slower

Edit: 1.5x!!!!!!!!

Laowa makes great macro glass, though this is one of their first AF macros. It apparently has a VCM-style motor in it and the AF should move at a reasonable clip. Of course with the caveat that it's a macro so by design it will be slower than a normal tele lens.

 

[mimbu]

On Monday, Venus Optics will be officially announcing the AF FF 180mm F4.5 CA-Dreamer Macro 1.5X for both EF and RF. If you want the autofocus version for your RF mount camera, you must buy the EF mount version. The RF mount version will be manual focus. AF FF 180mm F4.5 CA-Dreamer Macro 1.5X Lens […]

See full article...

One more detail from Chinese social media is that apparently the lens weighs around 400g. That will be the EF version no doubt so the adapted lenses will be 120g-150g heavier. Still, a lot lighter than the 1090g+adapter weight of the EF 180.3,5L Macro.

 

[koenkooi]

One more detail from Chinese social media is that apparently the lens weighs around 400g. That will be the EF version no doubt so the adapted lenses will be 120g-150g heavier. Still, a lot lighter than the 1090g+adapter weight of the EF 180.3,5L Macro.

I like having the polarizer behind the lens in the RF adapter, so using the EF version won’t be a bother. The overall weight savings look great to me.

This one goes on the wishlist for next year

 

[johnchio]

do you know when the 200 f2 will come out officially? so far i think they have been not very loud with this lens, yet not being extremely secretive. Giving it to reviewers and showing but not (yet) officially announcing it

 

[Jethro]

With this and the recently announced Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Lens, that's potentially two of the notable gaps in the Canon RF macro range if not completely filled, then with reasonable 3rd party alternatives.

This looks pretty impressive (subject to independent tests of course) and at a reasonable price (and weight!) I wouldn't baulk at using an RF adaptor to get half-decent AF.

 

[David - Sydney]

Finally! An oem prepared to release in EF to get auto focus!!
Wish sigma would do the same even if some (eg UWA) were only manual focus.

Imagine the 3rd party options if all sigma’s newer lenses were in EF - it would remove all the arguments about range and lower cost of lenses. Waiting for canon to bless RF autofocus is an impediment to sigma sales

 

[P-visie]

Photorumors has more details about the lens:

• 180mm telephoto lens, powerful spatial compression capabilities
• Autofocus from 1.5m to infinity
• Manual magnification up to 1.5x
• 14.8cm minimum working distance
• APO apochromatic lens effectively reduces color scattering in images
• Customizable FN button for one-touch access to commonly used functions
• Lens designL 12 elements in 9 groups
• AF/MF switch
• Full frame lens
• Autofocus: EF/E/Z mount
• Manual focus: RF/L mount
• Weight: 400g

If this is correct, AF only works from 1.5 meters to infinity, no AF for shorter distances.

See: https://photorumors.com/2025/09/12/...f-4-5-ca-dreamer-macro-1-5x-lens/#more-203494

 

[BlancRay]

Exciting news ! Still waiting for Canon to develop a ln RF macro lens and a RF version of my beloved MPE-65...

 

[snapshot]

Exciting news ! Still waiting for Canon to develop a ln RF macro lens and a RF version of my beloved MPE-65...

i am waiting for the reviews and posted pictures from the EF of 180 Macro. I am not sure how i feel about getting 1.5x for this Laowa vs being f/4.5 instead of f/3.5 for the Canon.
MPE-65 works great on R5 with the adapter. manual focus assist is really cool.

 

[SteB1]

I saw a Dustin Abbot review of this lens on YouTube, which suddenly disappeared and said private. I guess he posted the review too early. Generally, the review was positive, showing the AF working, it was on Sony E mount. To engage AF you just twist the focus past infinity. It isn't the fastest AF, but kept up with him walking towards the camera. It as stated only works from 1.5m, not in the macro region. IQ seemed good, but he said it wasn't quite as bitingly sharp as the Laowa 90mm f2.8, but this was on a 61mp body. It was actually when I went to check back on the IQ bit, that the video change to private. I'm sure he said the weight was 520g. I'm very interested. I got a Sigma 180mm f3.5 this year in almost mint condition. For a long time the Sigma 150mm f2.8 (the old non-OS version) was my long macro lens, with the 1.4x converter - think I've had it 17 years or more. The EF version of this will suit me as I've still got a Canon 5Ds, although I have mainly switched over to RF.

 

[Jethro]

Photorumors has more details about the lens:

• 180mm telephoto lens, powerful spatial compression capabilities
• Autofocus from 1.5m to infinity
• Manual magnification up to 1.5x
• 14.8cm minimum working distance
• APO apochromatic lens effectively reduces color scattering in images
• Customizable FN button for one-touch access to commonly used functions
• Lens designL 12 elements in 9 groups
• AF/MF switch
• Full frame lens
• Autofocus: EF/E/Z mount
• Manual focus: RF/L mount
• Weight: 400g

If this is correct, AF only works from 1.5 meters to infinity, no AF for shorter distances.

See: https://photorumors.com/2025/09/12/...f-4-5-ca-dreamer-macro-1-5x-lens/#more-203494

The Canon EF 180mm had separate AF ranges: .5m - infinity, and 1.5m - infinity. So this only gets the latter! There's a view that most macro shooters would want manual focus up close anyway - but it would be nice to have the option.

 

[Exploreshootshare]

Canon now has a consumer friendly lineup (the STM primes, affordable zooms in nearly all ranges) and the RF 85mm F1.4 VCM is a nice addition to their L lineup, but lately the third party companies are making a bunch of intriguing lenses. The last really exciting Canon lens was.... hm, right. Sigma has released several great lenses (although not for RF yet) and Laowa is stepping up their game as well. I think it is really time for Canon to bring something new and exciting. A new dedicated macro 180mm lens, one of the forever rumored tilt-shift lenses with AF, a 70mm 1xxmm F2 zoom, a much lighter 28-70mm F2. Maybe will get a new fantastic big white (zoom), but that may not be enough with the flurry of lenses sigma, laowa and even Tamron are bringing to the market. This wouldn't be so frustrating if the RF mount wasn't closed, but guess what...

 

[David - Sydney]

The Canon EF 180mm had separate AF ranges: .5m - infinity, and 1.5m - infinity. So this only gets the latter! There's a view that most macro shooters would want manual focus up close anyway - but it would be nice to have the option.

Definitely a couple of different macro genre/subjects.
- For static subjects (on a rail or focus stepping with the R5) then manual focus is preferred. I believe that the RF100/2.5 with 1.4 mag is perfect and also for the Laowa.
- The longer focal length (IMO) is more for nervous critters when shoot from a distance and mostly handheld where AF is a must. The 1.5m minimum distance could be good for them. I'm not one of these shooters but there are some in the group that are and could comment.

 

[P-visie]

Definitely a couple of different macro genre/subjects.
- For static subjects (on a rail or focus stepping with the R5) then manual focus is preferred. I believe that the RF100/2.5 with 1.4 mag is perfect and also for the Laowa.
- The longer focal length (IMO) is more for nervous critters when shoot from a distance and mostly handheld where AF is a must. The 1.5m minimum distance could be good for them. I'm not one of these shooters but there are some in the group that are and could comment.

I shoot dragonflies and butterflies with my EF 180 macro + 1.4 extender, usually from less than a meter distance. I use AF for 98% of my photo’s: manually focus until the subject is more or less in focus, then use spot AF to focus on the eye. The AF keeps the subject/ eye in focus when the insects perch moves due to the wind.

 

[becceric]

I shoot dragonflies and butterflies with my EF 180 macro + 1.4 extender, usually from less than a meter distance. I use AF for 98% of my photo’s: manually focus until the subject is more or less in focus, then use spot AF to focus on the eye. The AF keeps the subject/ eye in focus when the insects perch moves due to the wind.

While I have always been tempted by the EF 180 macro, the reports of its slow AF performance has stopped me.
Your use with the 1.4x TC and subject/eye AF is impressive!

 

[David - Sydney]

I shoot dragonflies and butterflies with my EF 180 macro + 1.4 extender, usually from less than a meter distance. I use AF for 98% of my photo’s: manually focus until the subject is more or less in focus, then use spot AF to focus on the eye. The AF keeps the subject/ eye in focus when the insects perch moves due to the wind.

So would 1.5m distance with the Laowa with 1.4 magnification equal the same pixels on insect?

 

[koenkooi]

So would 1.5m distance with the Laowa with 1.4 magnification equal the same pixels on insect?

I don't think that's how the listed magnification works I read it as "At MFD, you are now at 1.4:1, not 1:1", like the RF100L. Not that there's a 1.4x extender builtin.

 

[P-visie]

While I have always been tempted by the EF 180 macro, the reports of its slow AF performance has stopped me.
Your use with the 1.4x TC and subject/eye AF is impressive!

Thank you. Yes, the AF is very slow, even worse with the extender, but funnily enough, the AF is able to keep up with small changes in subject distance caused by (slight) wind. IMO the image quality of the EF 180mm makes up for the slow AF.