Laowa Aksen 45mm f/2.8 1-5X Ultra Macro APO (Canon RF)
Launch MSRP
$749- Weight
- 599g
- Filter
- —
- Min focus
- 0.18m
- Max mag.
- 5.00×
- Formula
- 13E / 9G
- Released
- 2026
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 3x ED
- 4x UHR
- Aperture range
- f/2.8 — f/11
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 599g
- ⌀ × length
- 70.2 × 121.0mm
- Filter
- —
- Weather sealed
- No
- Aperture ring
- Yes
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Body IBIS
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- —
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.18m
- Max magnification
- 5.00× (1:0.2)
Optical character
The Aksen 45mm is a high-magnification macro lens that stays in focus while you change magnification. An internal parfocal zoom takes it from 1x to 5x while the lens length and the working distance (about 40mm from the front of the lens) stay fixed, so camera, subject and lights can stay where they are while you reframe.
It is a full-frame APO design with 13 elements in 9 groups, including 3 ED and 4 UHR elements, an 11-blade diaphragm and an f/2.8–f/11 aperture ring with full-stop clicks. There is no focusing mechanism, no infinity focus and no electronics: it is a dedicated close-up tool for focusing rails, stacking and technical work rather than a general-purpose macro, and light transmission falls as magnification rises.
Reviewer consensus
We summarise professional reviews only after reading at least two independent ones. Not enough have been published or verified for this lens yet.
Owner sentiment
Owner feedback will appear once we have verified real-world reports for this lens.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Parfocal 1–5x magnification without refocusing
- +Fixed ~40mm working distance across the range
- +APO design with 3 ED and 4 UHR elements; minimal fringing
- +Internal zoom, 11-blade aperture
- +Solid metal barrel and mount
Weaknesses
- −No infinity focus: close-up use only
- −Fully manual, no EXIF lens data
- −Very fiddly without a macro focusing rail
- −No weather-sealing gasket at the mount
Six-axis rating
Ratings are published once at least two independent professional reviews have been read.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Canon RF · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 45mm |
| Category | Macro |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/11 |
| Construction | 13 elements in 9 groups |
| Special elements | 3x ED · 4x UHR |
| Aperture blades | 11 |
| Focus type | Manual Focus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Manual Helicoid |
| Minimum focus | 0.18m |
| Max magnification | 5.00× |
| Stabilisation | None (uses body IBIS) |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 599g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 70.2 × 121.0mm |
| Filter thread | None |
| Weather sealing | No |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2026 |
| Launch MSRP | $749 USD |
Sources
Verified against the pages below. Specifications come from the maker; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.
Specifications
- laowa.de/aksen-45mm-f-2-8-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo/
- laowa.jp/news/2026/10/laowa-aksen-ultra-macro.html
- digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/laowa-aksen-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo-review
Launch price
- digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/laowa-aksen-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo-review
Professional reviews
- digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/laowa-aksen-1-5x-ultra-macro-apo-review
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSAksen 45mm f/2.8 1-5X Ultra Macro APO (Canon RF) vs RF 45mm F1.2 STM
- VSAksen 45mm f/2.8 1-5X Ultra Macro APO (Canon RF) vs Argus 45mm f/0.95 FF (Canon RF)
- VSAksen 45mm f/2.8 1-5X Ultra Macro APO (Canon RF) vs RF 28-70mm F2 L USM
- Canon
RF 45mm F1.2 STM
45mmF1.2- WT
- 346g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.45m
- MSRP
- $470
AF - LaowaArgus
Argus 45mm f/0.95 FF (Canon RF)
45mmF0.95- WT
- 835g
- FLT
- ⌀72mm
- MFD
- 0.50m
- MSRP
- $799
MFRING·DC - CanonL
RF 28-70mm F2 L USM
28–70mmF2- WT
- 1,430g
- FLT
- ⌀95mm
- MFD
- 0.39m
- MSRP
- —
AFWR
