SUMMARY
Laowa has released two Aksen Ultra Macro APO lenses, offering magnifications from 1x to 10x. Photographer Keith Cooper compares the lower-magnification 45mm f/2.8 1-5x lens to his long-used Canon MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo. A key difference is Laowa's fixed focus point as magnification changes, simplifying setup compared to the Canon lens. Cooper found the Laowa lenses exhibited less chromatic aberration, but macro photography at these scales demands meticulous attention to depth of field, light fall-off, and the use of focus stacking with specialized equipment like a motorized rail.
TAKEAWAYS
Laowa's Aksen Ultra Macro APO lenses provide 1x to 10x magnification.
The Laowa lenses feature a fixed focus point during magnification changes, unlike the Canon MP-E 65mm.
Laowa lenses offer cleaner optics with reduced chromatic aberration.
Effective f-numbers increase significantly with magnification, requiring adjustments to ISO or shutter speed.