100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APOvs A1
Laowa
100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO (2018)
Starting from £399 new
Best for Extreme macro & scientific photography
View 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO
VS
Sony
A1 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
View A1
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Extreme Macro & Scientific Photography — 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO (2018): 2:1 magnification at a price no first-party lens can match — the specialist macro choice for Sony shooters who need maximum magnification.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The 100mm f/2.8 2x ultra macro apo is the most affordable; only the a1 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO (2018) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £399 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | f/2.8 (max aperture) | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | — | 50.1MP |
| Video | 22.6cm minimum focus distance (2:1 macro) | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Manual focus only — precision helicoid for close-up work | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | None (body IBIS or careful technique required) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 638g | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 73mm diameter × 123.5mm length | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | N/A | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Macro | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO
Camera family history