Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2X Ultra Macro APO (Canon RF)

Reviewers rate resolution as good to very good: detail holds from corner to corner at f/5.6, the lens is sharpest at f/8 to f/11, and diffraction makes f/22 best avoided on high-resolution sensors. Distortion is essentially zero, lateral CA stays low until f/16 and vignetting is modest, at about 1 EV or less wide open.

Opinions differ on colour: some axial fringing remains at f/5.6, so one test questions the APO label, while others call it inconsequential in real use. The 7-blade diaphragm gives angular highlights once stopped down, and shooting toward the sun produces strong veiling flare. The metal barrel and smooth rings are praised; the lack of aperture coupling, AF confirmation and EXIF is the most common complaint, and one test found the price high for the optics.

Owners like how small and light it is, about 259g on the Sony version, and that the internal focusing keeps the length fixed. They report low colour fringing and vignetting and enjoy what 2:1 makes possible, often shooting at f/8 to f/11.

The complaints are the fully manual operation: no EXIF, and one Nikon Z7II owner noted the camera applies no distortion, vignetting or colour corrections. The same owner found colours flat next to Nikon, Sigma and Tamron macros and thought the lens overpriced. Others note the exposure loss at close range that pushes ISO up, and sensor dust showing at high magnification.