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Register/Canon RF-mount/Laowa/Macro
Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO (MF, Canon RF) — Three-quarter front view (AF Sony E version shown)
Three-quarter front view (AF Sony E version shown)© Venus Optics (LAOWA)
Laowa

Laowa 180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO (MF, Canon RF)

RF · PRIME
180mm
APERTURE
1:4.5
MFRING

Launch MSRP

$499
Weight
500g
Filter
⌀62mm
Min focus
0.30m
Max mag.
1.50×
Formula
12E / 9G
Released
2025
AlternativesCompare with…
01

Specification sheet

Optical construction

12
Elements
9
Groups
2 LD · 0 ASPH
9 rounded blades
  • 2x ED
  • 1x UHR
Aperture range
f/4.5 — f/32

Physical & ergonomics

16842
Weight
500g
⌀ × length
67.6 × 134.4mm
Filter
⌀62mm
Weather sealed
No
Aperture ring
Yes

Autofocus actuator

Manual Helicoid
Manual Focus
Stabilisation
Body IBIS
Teleconverter
Not supported
AF speed score
—

Close-up performance

Min focus distance
0.30m
Max magnification
1.50× (1:0.7)
1.50×
0×0.25×0.5× half macro1.0× macro
02

Optical character

Laowa's tele-macro reaches 1.5:1 magnification at a working distance of about 148mm, which leaves room to approach live insects and to light the subject. At around 500g and 67.6mm wide the lens is light for a 180mm. Focusing is internal, so the barrel does not extend.

The APO design uses two ED elements and one ultra-high-refraction element in a 12-element formula to keep colour fringing low. Unlike the Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon EF versions, the Canon RF version is manual focus only, with an aperture ring that stops down to f/32. Laowa's own suggestion for RF shooters who want autofocus beyond 1.5m is the EF version on an EF-RF adapter.

Reviewer consensus

Reviewers, who tested the autofocus Sony E version with the same optics, rate the image quality as very good. One found edge-to-edge resolution superb at telephoto distances and saw no colour fringing at all; the other measured clear softening towards the edges in the lab and lateral CA a little higher than usual, but found neither visible in real shots. Distortion is negligible, vignetting is slight, and out-of-focus areas are smooth, with occasional outlining of bright highlights.

The build is described as well above its price, with a mostly metal barrel, internal focusing and a long, very smooth focus ring that makes manual focusing at high magnification a pleasure. The f/4.5 aperture gives very thin depth of field up close and limits low-light and portrait use. Both reviewers see the manual-focus Canon RF version as the least versatile option, since it loses autofocus for general telephoto work, but it is fully usable for macro, where they focused manually anyway.

Owner sentiment

Owner feedback will appear once we have verified real-world reports for this lens.

03

Strengths, weaknesses & performance

Strengths

  • +1.5:1 magnification with ~148mm working distance
  • +APO design: very low colour fringing
  • +Light for a 180mm, about 500g, internal focus
  • +Smooth, long-throw focus ring
  • +$499 launch price

Weaknesses

  • −Manual focus only on Canon RF
  • −Some edge softening in lab tests
  • −f/4.5 is slow for a 180mm

Six-axis rating

SHARPBOKEHAFFLAREBUILDVALUE
Sharpness
8.5
Bokeh Rendering
8.0
Autofocus Speed
MF
Flare Resistance
7.5
Build / Sealing
8.5
Value / Size
8.3

Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.

04

Technical specifications

Optics
MountCanon RF · full frame
Focal length180mm
CategoryMacro
Maximum aperturef/4.5
Minimum aperturef/32
Construction12 elements in 9 groups
Special elements2x ED · 1x UHR
Aperture blades9
Focus
Focus typeManual Focus
DriveManual Helicoid
Minimum focus0.30m
Max magnification1.50×
StabilisationNone (uses body IBIS)
TeleconvertersNot supported
Body
Weight500g
Diameter × length67.6 × 134.4mm
Filter thread⌀62mm
Weather sealingNo
Aperture ringYes
De-clickable apertureNo
Release year2025
Launch MSRP$499 USD
05

Sources

Verified 2026-10-23 against the pages below. Specifications come from the maker; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.

Specifications

  • laowa.jp/cat1/180mmf4.5-um.html
  • laowa.de/180mm-f-4-5-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo/

Launch price

  • digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/laowa-180mm-f-4-5-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo-revie

Professional reviews

  • digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/laowa-180mm-f-4-5-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo-revie
  • photoreview.com.au/reviews/mirrorless-lenses/mirrorless-lenses-full-frame/laow
06

Similar focal length alternatives

  • VS180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO (MF, Canon RF) vs RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM
  • VS180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO (MF, Canon RF) vs RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
  • VS180mm f/4.5 1.5X Ultra Macro APO (MF, Canon RF) vs RF 75-300mm F4-5.6
  • CanonL

    RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM

    Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM
    100–300mmF2.8
    WT
    2,590g
    FLT
    ⌀112mm
    MFD
    1.80m
    MSRP
    $9,499
    AFSTABWR
  • Canon

    RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM

    Canon RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
    100–400mmF5.6–8
    WT
    635g
    FLT
    ⌀67mm
    MFD
    0.88m
    MSRP
    $649
    AFSTAB
  • Canon

    RF 75-300mm F4-5.6

    Canon RF 75-300mm F4-5.6
    75–300mmF4–5.6
    WT
    507g
    FLT
    ⌀58mm
    MFD
    1.50m
    MSRP
    $219
    AF