Venus Optics Laowa Aksen 17.5mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO Lens with Coaxial Illumination (Nikon F)

Overview

The Venus Optics Laowa Aksen 17.5mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO Lens with Coaxial Illumination (Nikon F) is a full-frame ultra macro lens built for Nikon F cameras, delivering a 5:1 to 10:1 magnification range that lets you photograph subjects far larger than life. Its fast f/1.7 maximum aperture keeps the viewfinder bright even at extreme magnification, while apochromatic (APO) optical correction controls colour fringing across the zoom range. Aimed at product, jewellery, insect, and scientific macro photographers, it offers a fixed 2.25 cm working distance from the front element and an internal parfocal zoom, so focus stays sharp as you adjust magnification without needing to reposition the camera or lights.

Coaxial illumination is the signature feature of the Aksen series, projecting light straight down the lens's optical axis through an internal beam splitter to eliminate the shadows and reflections that a standard ring light can't avoid. This makes it especially effective on flat, reflective subjects such as circuit boards, coins, and polished metal, where the coaxial beam reveals fine scratches and texture instead of glare. The lens keeps a lightweight, compact build that suits handheld shooting or mounting on a motorised focus-stacking rail, and its constant weight distribution through the zoom range makes it equally at home in macro video work.

Coaxial Lighting for Reflective Subjects

A coaxial lighting system built into the lens projects light straight down the optical axis using an internal beam splitter, avoiding the shadows and lens reflections that angled lighting creates. Because there is no angled light to bounce back, the coaxial beam reveals hidden colour and texture rather than causing glare, making fine detail such as scratches and dents easy to see. It works particularly well on flat, highly reflective surfaces including microchips, circuit boards, and polished metal.

Apochromatic Colour Correction

The Aksen series uses apochromatic (APO) optical correction to control chromatic aberration, even at the higher end of its magnification range. This keeps colour fringing to a minimum, so fine detail and texture stay clean and free of distortion in the final image.

Parfocal Internal Zoom

An internal parfocal zoom design lets you adjust magnification without moving the camera or subject, keeping focus sharp across the entire 5:1 to 10:1 range. Because the internal zoom does not disturb your lighting setup or risk bumping the subject, and the lens's weight distribution stays constant throughout, it suits video work as well as still macro photography. The only adjustment needed as you change magnification is to exposure.

Compact Build with 11-Blade Aperture

• 11-blade aperture gives smooth, pleasing focus falloff in shallow depth of field.
• Wide-angle optical design adds extra depth of field over telephoto macro lenses at the same magnification.
• Lightweight, compact housing suits handheld shooting and leaves more room to light the subject.
• Produces varying levels of vignetting when adapted to medium-format cameras, depending on magnification.