Venus Laowa 180mm F4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO

The Venus Laowa 180mm F4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO is a full frame macro lens that goes beyond life size, reaching 1.5:1 magnification at a working distance of about 14.8 cm. Laowa launched it in September 2025 for Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon EF, Canon RF and Leica L, and added Fujifilm X and Nikon F versions in September 2026. It is aimed at macro photographers who want a long working distance for insects and other skittish subjects, and who value a compact body.

Optical design

The lens has 12 elements in 9 groups and 9 aperture blades. Laowa describes it as an apochromatic design that corrects longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration. The maximum magnification is 1.5x, and the minimum focus distance is 300 mm, which leaves a working distance of 147.6 mm according to the spec sheet. The aperture is f/4.5 to f/22 on the autofocus versions and f/4.5 to f/32 on the manual ones.

Autofocus and handling

Autofocus is offered on the Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon EF and Fujifilm X versions, while Canon RF, Leica L and Nikon F are manual. According to Laowa, autofocus only works from 1.5 m to infinity: turning the focus ring to the infinity point switches to AF, and manual focus stays available for closer subjects. Canon RF users can pair the EF version with an EF to RF adapter to get autofocus. The barrel has a function button, the AF versions have electronic contacts for EXIF data, and a USB Type-C port is used for firmware updates.

Build and size

Weights listed by Laowa are 484 g for Canon EF, 521.6 g for Sony E and 526.2 g for Fujifilm X. Lengths are 88.4 mm for Canon EF, 134.4 mm for Sony E and 134.7 mm for Fujifilm X, all with a front diameter of 67.6 mm. The filter thread is 62 mm. A tripod collar is sold separately and fits the mirrorless mounts and EF.

Where it fits

The Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO is the manual 2x option at a shorter focal length. Among older 180 mm macros in the database, the Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM, the Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM and the Tamron SP AF 180mm F/3.5 Di LD (IF) Macro are faster in aperture, but they are DSLR designs for Canon EF and Nikon F. The Mitakon Zhongyi 200mm f/4 1x Macro is a manual alternative at a similar length.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 1.5x magnification with a 147.6 mm working distance
• Apochromatic design according to Laowa
• Autofocus on four mounts
• Roughly 500 g, light for a 180 mm macro
• 62 mm filter thread and optional tripod collar

Cons

• Autofocus only from 1.5 m to infinity, so close macro work is manual
• Maximum aperture of f/4.5 is slower than older 180 mm macros at f/2.8 or f/3.5
• No stabilizer listed
• Manual focus only on Canon RF, Leica L and Nikon F
• Weight and size for several mounts are not stated by the manufacturer

Verdict

The Venus Laowa 180mm F4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO is a specialist macro tool for photographers who want more than life size from a comfortable distance. Its light weight and mount choice are strong points, while the limited autofocus range means that serious close work is a manual affair.