Macro Plan B, Part I: Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lenses: the very good and the very bad ...

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Read today’s blog to learn of my Macro Plan B, Part I. Part II will be along soon.

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Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. Those questions might deal with systems, camera bodies, accessories, and/or lens choices and decisions.

This image was created on the morning of 9 JULY 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. I used the Induro GIT 404L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Sony E and the 61MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/80 sec. at f/? in Manual mode; the exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. AWB at 7:23am early on a barely sunny morning. Manual focus using the combination of Manual Focus Toggle and Focus Magnifier tips from the SONY e-guide along with the 2-second timer. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #1: Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia graminifolia) blossom and friendly spider

The Lens: Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for SONY E

The lens itself is great. It is obviously well-constructed, it is very sharp, and at f/2.8 it is fast. It is relatively inexpensive. Best of all it is a 2X macro lens! It focuses down to an incredible 9.7″ from the plane of the sensor and can yield subjects at twice life-size!

Because there are no electrical contacts on the lens, no information of any kind is transmitted to the camera: not the aperture or even the name of the lens …

There is however a huge design problem: there is no groove on the lens in which to seat the Venus Optics Laowa Tripod Collar for 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO. The only spot to place the tripod collar is on the narrow strip of the lens barrel between the focus ring and the aperture ring. The fit is poor at best, and when the collar is loosened to rotate the lens, it slips and twists out of place and covers part of either ring. The collar often becomes skewed. And it is almost always difficult at best to fully tighten it.

There is plenty of room for a groove in which to seat the tripod collar on the proximal (near) end of the lens barrel. Had they sensibly placed it there, the rig would have been fully functional and much better balanced. It often baffles the mind to think that someone actually got paid to design the lens and the tripod collar.

Now at this point you are likely thinking that it is time to return the lens. But despite the challenge of using it on a tripod and the lack of EXIF data, I actually love the lens. That said after using it for only a single morning … A 100mm 2X macro lens is not something to be taken lightly.

This image was created on the morning of 9 JULY 2020 at Indian Lake Estates. I used the Induro GIT 404L/FlexShooter Pro-mounted Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Sony E and the 61MP monster, the Sony Alpha a7R IV Mirrorless Digital camera body ISO 400. Exposure determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/80 sec. at f/? in Manual mode; the exposure was confirmed as perfect by RawDigger. AWB at 7:23am early on a barely sunny morning. Manual focus using the combination of Manual Focus Toggle and Focus Magnifier tips from the SONY e-guide along with the 2-second timer. Click on the image to enjoy a larger version. Image #2: Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia graminifolia) blossom (wider view)

Your Choice?

Do you prefer the tighter framing and image design (along with the friendly spider) of Image #1 or the wider version (sans arachnid), Image #2? Why?

This image was created by BPN Landscape Moderator, my friend, Andrew McLachlan. He used the handheld Nikon D800 and the Venus Optics Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO Lens for Nikon F with a Raynox DCR-250 diopter screwed onto the front of the lens to achieve 4X magnification — four times life-size. ISO 400. Flash as main light: 1/80 sec. at f/22. Meike dual flash macro system on Wimberley F-2 Macro Bracket. Image courtesy of and copyright 2020 Andrew McLachlan. Image #3: Baby Garden Spiders

Baby Garden Spiders!

By adding a diopter, Andrew got to four times life-size. In addition, adding flash and working handheld adds a ton of versatility to these amazing lenses. You can see more of Andrew’s excellent photography in his nature galleries here. He created both Focus on Frogs and Ontario Landscapes – A Photographers Guide.. Landscape folks might wish to check out Andrew’s forum here.

A Version for Most Systems

Laowa makes a 100mm macro lens for all major camera systems (as above).

Note: For those like me working on a tripod, the Wimberley P-20 plate mounted in reverse is best for these lenses.

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