Laowa Launches the 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO Lens for EF/RF

Laowa has launched a new 180mm F4.5 1.5x Macro lens that they deem APO. What does APO mean, and why does Richard think it's important? It means that there are little, if any, achromatic aberrations.

According to Leica, who know a thing or two about lenses, they state this;

Stands for ‘apochromatically corrected’. In normal lens designs, blue and green light converges on one focal plane, while the (longer) wavelength of red light is refracted to a slightly different plane of focus. This effect (known as ‘chromatic aberration’, or ‘colour fringing’) is more pronounced in longer focal lengths – making it a particular problem in long telephoto lenses. In APO lenses, on the other hand, the construction of the lens elements and the use of low-dispersion glass enables all colours to converge at the same point of focus – resulting in a sharper image without colour fringing.

That means your camera (or post-processing software) does not have to correct for green or blue fringing, and the image clarity should be excellent.

Canon RF and Canon EF, but with a Difference

Seems Laowa isn't necessarily telling Canon to go pound sand, but maybe they are in their own way. The Canon RF native version of the lens is manual focus only, but the Canon EF mount version of this lens is autofocus. Since this lens will support autofocus on the Canon EF mount, with an RF-EF adapter, you are good to go on using this lens on your Canon RF camera. Don't buy the Canon RF version. According to Laowa, the Canon EF version is the quickest focusing. Go figure.

One other thing that jumped out for me, as mentioned in the press release, is the diminutive size of this lens. The lens also has internal focusing, a dedicated function button, and a Type-C port for firmware updates.

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Now Canon makes a really nice Canon RF 100mm F2.8L IS Macro lens, which features Canon's latest image stabilization geared towards macro close focus lenses (they call it hybrid IS). This lens is arguably superior to the Laowa lens in most respects. But to be fair, the Laowa is smaller, lighter, and costs considerably less than the Canon RF 100mm Macro, and that's even with it being 180mm versus 100mm.

Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

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For $499, this is an outstanding deal for a greater-than-life-sized macro (1.5x) and one that promises to be APO. While it doesn't have IS, given the size, weight, and optical quality, this sounds like a home run hit for Laowa.

Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO Lens

• Full-Frame | f/4.5 to f/32
• Ultra-Macro Medium Telephoto Prime
• 1.5:1 Maximum Magnification
• 11.8" Min. Focus, 5.8" Working Distance
• Apochromatic Optical Design
• Autofocus Available from 4.9' (Autofocus only for Canon EF)
• Assignable Lens Function Button
• USB-C Port and Electronic Contacts

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Lens Construction and MTF

The lens construction features a 12-element in 9 groups optical design, as we see below. The Macro lens contains two extra-low dispersion glass elements and one ultra-high-refraction glass element.

The MTF diagram supplied by Laowa shows a nice steady contrast throughout the zoom range, and a slight tailoff in resolution; however, it is still an impressive performance. If we loosely compare to the Canon RF 100mm F2.8L IS Macro, we see that the Laowa appears to have superior resolution and contrast pretty much through the frame. However, we have to note that the Canon is showing that at f/2.8 while the Laowa is wide open at f/4.5 – over a stop less light.

Press Release

Laowa Launches the 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO Lens – Macro Tight, Feather Light 

Your Versatile Tele-Macro Companion for Exceptional Detail and Reach

Anhui China, September 16, 2025 – Laowa announces the launch of the 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO lens, the brand's first tele-macro lens designed to revolutionize telephoto, macro, and portrait photography. Combining a 1.5X ultra macro magnification, advanced apochromatic (APO) optics, a remarkably compact and lightweight design, and versatile functionality, this lens empowers photographers to capture intricate details with unparalleled clarity in both close-up subjects and distant scenes. With its robust lens build and innovative features, including autofocus on selective mount options, it's a handy yet powerful tool for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Key Features:

• 1.5X Ultra Macro Magnification
• Extended Working Distance
• Compact & Lightweight Design
• APO Design
• Outstanding Corner-to-Corner Sharpness
• Auto-Focus Function (E, Z, EF)
• Durable, Well-Built Lens Housing

1.5X Ultra Macro Magnification

The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO lens delivers an impressive 1.5:1 magnification ratio, capturing life-size subjects with extraordinary detail. Every intricate texture and pattern is rendered in stunning high resolution, perfect for macro photography of small subjects like insects or flowers. With a minimum focusing distance of 30cm and a minimum working distance of 14.7cm in manual mode, this lens excels at enabling breathtaking close-up shots with unmatched clarity and precision, while providing ample space between the lens and subject for comfortable shooting.

Extended Working Distance

With a 180mm focal length, the lens offers a generous minimum working distance of 147.6mm, surpassing shorter macro lenses like the 58mm or 100mm options. This longer reach provides photographers with ample space for shooting and lighting setups, enhancing framing flexibility and precision in macro photography. The most important thing is reducing the chance of scaring the subject away. 

Working Distance Comparison

A 180mm focal length creates a natural compression effect, making the background appear closer to the subject. This feature provides photographers with enhanced creative flexibility, enabling them to skillfully manipulate the perceived relationship between subject and background for compelling compositions.

Compact & Lightweight Design

Despite its powerful 180mm telephoto reach and 1.5X ultra-macro capabilities, the lens maintains a remarkably compact and lightweight form factor, enhancing portability for photographers on the go. Weighing just 484g (Canon EF) and 522g (Sony E) with dimensions of Ø67.6mm x 88.4mm and Ø67.6mm x 134.4mm, respectively, it 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 the bulk, perfect for handheld, field, or travel use.

APO Design

Utilizing an apochromatic (APO) design, this lens effectively eliminates both longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberrations. The result is exceptional sharpness, true-to-life color accuracy, and minimal fringing across the entire image, even in challenging lighting conditions. This makes it an ideal tool for precision-dependent macro and telephoto photography.

Outstanding Sharpness

The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO delivers exceptional corner-to-corner sharpness, even at high magnifications, for stunning image quality. Featuring an advanced optical design with 12 elements in 9 groups. It provides consistent, razor-sharp performance for macro photography. This configuration excels at capturing subjects with extreme detail, making it ideal for intricate close-up shots and professional-grade results across the frame.

AF Function In Selective Mount Options

The lens features autofocus (AF) functionality for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Canon EF mounts, enabling focusing on subjects from 1.5m to infinity. To switch to AF mode, simply rotate the focus ring to the infinity point until a distinct “click” — manual focus remains available for subjects within 1.5m for precise macro control. For Canon RF users, pair the EF mount with an EF-to-RF adapter to unlock AF capabilities. This easy-switch design enhances workflow efficiency for telephoto, portraits, wildlife, and macro shooting. 

Durable, Well-Built Lens Housing

The Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO lens is crafted with a durable, robust housing design for challenging shooting conditions. It incorporates internal focusing to prevent lens extension during use, ensuring balanced handling and dust protection. Enhanced with practical features, the lens includes a dedicated function button for swift adjustments, a Ø62mm filter thread for versatile filter use, electronic contacts on AF versions for EXIF data recording, and a Type-C port for firmware updates. 

Pricing & Availability

LAOWA 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO lens is available for purchase via the Venus Optics official website (Home – LAOWA Camera Lenses) and authorized resellers starting September 16, 2025. The US price is USD 499, with pricing varying by country.

Specifications

Gallery

Preorder

Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO Lens

• Full-Frame | f/4.5 to f/32
• Ultra-Macro Medium Telephoto Prime
• 1.5:1 Maximum Magnification
• 11.8" Min. Focus, 5.8" Working Distance
• Apochromatic Optical Design
• Autofocus Available from 4.9' (Autofocus only for Canon EF)
• Assignable Lens Function Button
• USB-C Port and Electronic Contacts

B&H Photo (Canon EF)B&H Photo (Canon RF)Laowa Store

Photo by Gildardo RH on Unsplash

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