Laowa

Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO

The most extreme macro lens in this catalogue — Laowa's 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO goes beyond 1:1, offering 2:1 (life-size doubling) magnification. This means subjects fill the frame at twice the scale of a standard 1:1 macro lens — revealing detail invisible to the naked eye. The APO design eliminates chromatic aberration for clinical sharpness, and the 100mm focal length provides a comfortable working distance for insects and small subjects. Manual focus only — precision focusing at 2:1 requires careful technique. Available in Sony FE and L-mount versions.

GearFrame's Take

2:1 magnification at a price no first-party lens can match — the specialist macro choice for Sony shooters who need maximum magnification.

Starting from
£569 new
Used from £278 (eBay)
🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
New
eBay
eBay
Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace
£289
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Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video
£569
Check on Wex Photo Video →
Used
eBay
eBay used
Lowest Buy It Now · marketplace
£278
Search eBay →
Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Value & Depreciation
£469
Launch price
→
£399
Today
=
15%
Value drop
Over ~8 years, this lens has cost roughly £9/year to own (buy at launch price, sell today). That's one of the lower cost-per-year lenses in its class.
Core
Released
2018
Focal Length
100mm
Aperture
f/2.8
Compatible Mount
Sony FE (full-frame E-mount)
Dimensions
73mm diameter × 123.5mm length
Weight
638g
Weather Sealed
No
Optics & Focus
AF Motor
Manual focus only — precision helicoid for close-up work
Optical IS
None (body IBIS or careful technique required)
Min. Focus Distance
22.6cm minimum focus distance (2:1 macro)

Select up to 2 cameras to compare against the 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO. It's always pinned as the baseline.

Select 1–3 cameras to compare

9 cameras compatible with the Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) mount.

GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait
7.0
Street
4.9
Travel
4.3
Wedding & Events
2.9
Filmmaking
4.2
Documentary
2.7
Landscape
5.1
Casual
3.2
Food
7.5
Macro
6.7
Architecture
5.1
Underwater
6.2
✅ Great For
🍽️
Food 7.5 Strong on close focusing, focal length and optical quality.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🎥
Documentary 2.7 Held back by autofocus and video handling. Scored down: manual focus only.
💍
Wedding & Events 2.9 Held back by autofocus and focal length. Scored down: manual focus only.
📷
Casual 3.2 Held back by focal length and autofocus. Scored down: manual focus only.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →
Price History — 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO
New prices, last 30 days

Video reviews and hands-on coverage for the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO from across YouTube.

Video results sourced from YouTube. GearFrame is not affiliated with these channels.

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