Laowa Unveils 17.5mm f/1.7 Ultra Macro Lens with 10x Magnification

Summary

Venus Optics, known for Laowa lenses, has confirmed rumors by displaying their new 17.5mm f/1.7 Ultra Macro APO lens at The Photography and Video Show 2026. This full-frame lens boasts 10x magnification, significantly exceeding the typical 1x ratio of standard macro lenses, with a minimum working distance of 22.48mm. It features 17 elements in 12 groups, an 11-blade aperture, and manual focus across multiple mount options including Sony E, Nikon Z & F, Canon RF & EF, and L-mount. A notable feature is its swappable front section with an integrated light pipe for illumination. Also showcased is the Laowa FF 45mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro 1-5x APO, a more conventional macro lens with 1-5x magnification and a 40.35mm working distance. Both lenses utilize APO optical construction to minimize aberrations and are currently in prototype stages.

Key points

• Laowa's 17.5mm f/1.7 Ultra Macro APO lens offers up to 10x magnification.
• The lens features a 22.48mm minimum working distance and manual focus.
• A swappable front section with a light pipe aids illumination.
• The Laowa FF 45mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro 1-5x APO lens is also on display.