Venus Optics wide-angle macro lenses: 15mm f/4 (110° FOV, 1.85" working distance) and 25mm f/2.8 for extreme close-ups with visible background context.
Technical Details
The 15mm f/4 Macro achieves a horizontal field of view of 110° on full-frame and focuses down to a 4.7cm working distance. The 25mm f/2.8 offers a minimum distance of 14.7cm with an 84° field of view. Both use a 9-blade iris diaphragm and floating elements to correct aberrations in close-up. The optical construction comprises 12-14 elements in 9-10 groups with multi-coating. Available mounts: Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Pentax K. The filter thread is 62mm, and the weight ranges from 410g to 500g.
History & Development
Venus Optics introduced the world's first 15mm wide-angle macro in 2017, breaking physical limitations in lens design. In 2019, the 25mm f/2.8 followed as a less extreme variant. The breakthrough was achieved through a novel floating element construction where multiple lens groups move independently. In 2021, Venus Optics expanded the series with APS-C versions and improved coatings for reduced flare.
Practical Use in Film
Nature filmmakers use the lenses for insect shots with their natural environment, as the wide field of view maintains context. In "Our Planet" (2019), ant sequences were captured showing macro details and landscape simultaneously. Commercial films use them for product shots with dramatic perspective – extreme close-ups with visible backgrounds. The short working distance requires LED ring lights or fiber optic lighting. Manual focusing and lack of image stabilization necessitate tripod operation or gimbal systems.
Comparison & Alternatives
Classic macro lenses like the Canon 100mm f/2.8L offer longer working distances but normal focal lengths. Wide-angle lenses with close-up filters never achieve true 1:1 magnification. The Laowa system only competes with experimental retrofocus designs like the Nikon 19mm PC Micro, which, however, remains limited to 1:2. For less extreme applications, the 25mm model offers more practical handling with similar optical innovation.