Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm
Combining 1.5x ultra-macro magnification with apochromatic optics, this 180mm f/4.5 lens captures life-size details with sharp, distortion-free clarity. A 5.81-inch working distance and 484g weight enable comfortable handling, while the autofocus system extends its versatility beyond macro photography. It’s best for macro specialists needing extreme 1.5x close-ups of insects, textures, and small products without disturbing subjects.
Focal length 180mm
Aperture f/32
Mount Canon RF
Weather Sealed Yes
Weight 522 g
af type Autofocus
lens type macro
44 Overall Score
Price $499
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong macro (84th percentile) 84th
- Strong build (71st percentile) 71st
Cons
- Below average aperture (5th percentile)
- Below average bokeh (8th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
82/100Our AI sentiment read
Based on 6 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Macro |
| Focal Length Min | 180 |
| Focal Length Max | 180 |
| Elements | 12 |
| Groups | 9 |
| Coating | APO |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/32 |
| Min Aperture | f/4.5 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Canon RF |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.2 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 62 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 300 |
| Max Magnification | 1.5:1 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 180mm | 17-70mm | 17-28mm | 16-28mm | 12-60mm | 28-70mm |
| Max Aperture | f/32 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/22 |
| Mount | Canon RF | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Canon RF |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 522 | 544 | 450 | 450 | 320 | 495 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | RXD | Stepping Motor | Stepping AF Motor | linear motor | STM |
| Lens Type | macro | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5x Ultra-Macro APO 180mm | 53.7 | 7.5 | 70.8 | 83.7 | 61.6 | 5 | 44.2 | 33.3 | 59.7 | 37.8 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 53.7 | 87.4 | 69.6 | 85.9 | 91 | 84.6 | 63.4 | 89.3 | 85 | 83.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87.4 | 87.4 | 75.9 | 85.9 | 88 | 84.6 | 90.8 | 67.3 | 68.7 | 37.8 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Compare | 87.4 | 87.4 | 75.9 | 77.8 | 97.2 | 84.6 | 75.6 | 68 | 62.6 | 37.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98.1 | 87.4 | 84.6 | 51.9 | 91 | 84.6 | 44.2 | 93.1 | 67.7 | 83.4 |
| Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM Compare | 87.4 | 24.1 | 72.6 | 80 | 86.2 | 21 | 98.1 | 76.9 | 89.2 | 98.6 |
Price
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
