100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APOvs A7C
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
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.
Compact Travel & Content Creation — A7C (2020): The A7C proves full-frame doesn't have to be bulky. Excellent battery life, reliable Eye AF and a vari-angle screen in a pocketable body is a compelling combination for travel and content creators. The A7C II improved on it, but the original remains a strong value buy.
Who should buy what
A7C (2020)
- Travel photographers who want full-frame in the smallest possible body
- Content creators who need a flip screen and reliable Eye AF
- Photographers upgrading from APS-C who want to keep a compact kit
- Vloggers who need 4K and great battery life on the road
Quick take: The 100mm f/2.8 2x ultra macro apo is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO (2018) | A7C (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £399 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | f/2.8 (max aperture) | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | 22.6cm minimum focus distance (2:1 macro) | 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Manual focus only — precision helicoid for close-up work | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None (body IBIS or careful technique required) | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | N/A | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | N/A | ~740 shots (CIPA) — outstanding for a Sony mirrorless |
| Weight | 638g | 509g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 73mm diameter × 123.5mm length | 124.0 × 71.1 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No |
| Viewfinder | N/A | None built-in — use rear screen or accessory EVF |
| Screen | N/A | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | N/A | Single SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | N/A | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO | A7C |
|---|---|---|
| Macro | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Travel | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Wildlife | — |
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Camera family history