Venus Optics Laowa Aksen 45mm and 17.5mm with Coaxial Illumination Ultra Macro APO Lenses Bundle (Canon RF)

Overview

The Laowa Aksen 45mm and 17.5mm with Coaxial Illumination Ultra Macro APO Lenses Bundle from Venus Optics pairs two purpose-built ultra macro lenses for Canon RF cameras, giving photographers a continuous 1:1 to 10:1 magnification range in a single kit. Both lenses use an apochromatic optical design to control color fringing at high magnification, along with a parfocal internal zoom system that lets you adjust magnification without shifting focus, moving the camera, or disturbing your lighting setup. This version adds a coaxial light adapter to the 17.5mm lens, projecting light straight down the optical axis to eliminate glare and reflections on flat, reflective subjects.

The 45mm f/2.8 lens covers the 1:1 to 5:1 range for general macro subjects, while the 17.5mm f/1.7 lens extends into 5:1 to 10:1 territory for capturing detail far beyond life size. Together they form a complete extreme macro system for full-frame Canon RF bodies, ideal for macro photographers, product and jewellery shooters, and anyone photographing reflective surfaces such as circuit boards, coins, or polished metal.

Apochromatic Color Correction

Both lenses in the Aksen series use apochromatic correction to eliminate chromatic aberration, even at their highest magnifications. This keeps color fringing out of the frame so fine details and textures render cleanly without distortion.

Parfocal Zoom Without Refocusing

An internal parfocal zoom design lets you shift magnification while keeping focus locked, so the camera, subject, and lighting can stay exactly where you set them. Since only exposure needs adjusting as magnification changes, both lenses suit video work as well as stills.

45mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Lens

The 45mm lens holds a fixed 4 cm working distance from the front element and covers 1:1 to 5:1 magnification. Its standard focal length gives more depth of field at these magnifications than a telephoto design, and an 11-blade diaphragm produces smooth falloff when shooting with shallow depth of field.

17.5mm f/1.7 5-10x Macro Lens with Coaxial Illumination

The 17.5mm lens pushes further into extreme close up territory, holding a fixed 2.25 cm working distance across its 5:1 to 10:1 range. Its wide angle design provides extra depth of field at these magnifications compared with a longer lens, and it now includes a coaxial light adapter for illuminating subjects straight down the optical axis.

Coaxial Lighting for Glare-Free Detail

The coaxial lighting system projects light directly down the camera's optical axis using an internal beam splitter, eliminating shadows and lens reflections for extreme detail. Without angled light causing glare, it brings out hidden colors and textures on flat, highly reflective surfaces such as microchips, circuit boards, and polished metal.

Compact, Lightweight Handling

• Lightweight physical design suits handheld shooting and leaves more room for lighting subjects.
• Both lenses work well on motorized focus stacking rigs thanks to their compact form factor.
• Adapting either lens to medium format cameras will introduce varying levels of vignetting depending on magnification.