Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO (Nikon Z)

Reviewers found it good at f/2.8 and excellent at medium apertures, with negligible axial CA, well-controlled lateral CA and no distortion. At under $500 it is widely seen as one of the most affordable genuinely apochromatic macro lenses for full frame.

The drawbacks are moderately high vignetting wide open, a tendency to flare without the supplied hood, and background blur that can look busy in some scenes even though out-of-focus highlights are clean. The fully manual operation is the main reason it is not for everyone.

Owners rate it as a sharp, fringe-free 2x macro that costs much less than first-party 1x lenses, and many use it for focus-stacked insects and product work. The smooth, long-throw focus ring and solid metal build come up often.

The complaints are the lack of EXIF and in-camera aperture control, the dark view when stopped down, and the working distance at 2x, which is still short for nervous insects. Some owners recommend a flash bracket and diffuser as essentials.