Venus Optics Laowa Aksen 45mm f/2.8 1-5x Ultra Macro APO Lens (Sony E)

Overview

The Venus Optics Laowa Aksen 45mm f/2.8 1-5x Ultra Macro APO Lens is a full-frame ultra macro lens built for Sony E mount cameras, giving photographers and videographers a compact way to capture extreme close-up detail. With a 1:1 to 5:1 magnification range and an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/11, it lets you photograph small subjects larger than life while holding a fixed working distance of around 4cm from the front element. The apochromatic (APO) optical design suppresses chromatic aberration even at high magnification, so fine texture and detail stay clean and true to color.

An internal parfocal zoom lets you adjust magnification without moving the camera or subject, keeping focus sharp and the lens length constant throughout the zoom range so your lighting setup stays undisturbed. Because weight distribution remains identical as you zoom, this lens suits macro photography and macro videography equally well, whether shooting handheld or mounted on a motorized focus stacking rig.

Steady Focus Across the Zoom Range

The parfocal internal zoom design means the lens maintains sharp focus as magnification changes, so you can reframe a shot without hunting for focus again. This also keeps the physical length of the lens constant while zooming, which is a real advantage on a motorized focus stacking rig or gimbal where a shifting lens length would throw off balance.

Smooth Background Falloff

An 11-blade aperture diaphragm produces a pleasing, rounded background blur when shooting at shallow depth of field, helping isolate small subjects from cluttered backgrounds even at close range.

Compact Design for Handheld or Rig Use

• The standard 45mm focal length gives greater depth of field at high magnification than a telephoto or long macro lens would.
• When adapted to medium format cameras, expect some vignetting that varies with magnification.
• The lightweight, compact build makes handheld shooting easier and leaves more room to position lighting around the subject.