Laowa 100mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 1X Macro (Canon RF)

Two of the three tests found it very good to excellent from f/2.8, one rating it the sharper of Laowa's two tilt-shift macros with corners already strong wide open and still good at full shift, while the third found it softer at the widest apertures; performance peaks around f/5.6 to f/8. Distortion is a negligible pincushion, lateral and longitudinal colour are very low, there is no focus shift, and vignetting is minimal when centred. The 15-blade aperture keeps highlights round, although edge bokeh suffers once the lens is tilted.

Shift has little practical value at 100mm compared with correcting perspective in software. The criticisms are the tripod foot, which sits too far forward and lacks rigidity, a focus ring that is either too short in throw or too loose for precise focusing with shallow tilted planes, weak flare resistance in backlight, and no electronic coupling or EXIF. Reviewers consider the price fair for the mechanics and optics on offer.