Laowa 15mm f/4.5 0.5X Wide Angle Macro (L-Mount)

One test finds the centre excellent from f/4.5 while the other finds it a little soft wide open; the best overall results come between about f/5.6 and f/11. Edges and corners stay weaker even stopped down, and close-up shots need f/8 to f/16 or smaller for detail away from the centre. Distortion is low for an ultra-wide, longitudinal colour fringing is absent and lateral fringing is modest. Vignetting is among the best for the class, about 2.3 EV wide open and negligible beyond f/8, and flare resistance is much better than the old 15mm f/4 macro.

The weak points are coma that only clears near f/16, noticeable focus breathing and a short focus throw that makes precise manual focus at 0.5x fiddly. In use the working distance can be shorter than the official figure, so the lens tends to shade the subject. The all-metal build is praised and the price is considered competitive. Both tests used electronic versions; the optics are the same on L-Mount.