Laowa 58mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO (Nikon Z)

Testers found it excellent in the centre from f/2.8 and very good towards the edges, peaking around f/5.6. Lateral and axial colour fringing are close to absent and there is no measurable distortion. Background blur is smooth with clean highlight discs.

The weak points are strong vignetting (around 1.5 EV wide open, still above 1 EV at f/8), flare in harsh backlight, and sample-to-sample centring variation. Reviewers also note that the 90mm 2x APO costs the same and gives more working distance, so the 58mm makes most sense when the wider view is the goal.

Owners like the very smooth focus ring, the solid metal build and the clean, fringe-free rendering, and several use it as a dual-purpose 58mm for still life and close portraits. The 2:1 range is popular with product and jewellery shooters.

Common complaints are the lack of electronic contacts (no EXIF, manual aperture), the short working distance that makes lighting insects difficult, and vignetting that needs correcting by hand since there is no lens profile in camera.