Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe

The Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe is a full-frame prime built for extreme close-ups from a wide viewpoint. Focusing is manual only. It comes in Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Pentax K, Sony E and ARRI PL versions. Pick the one made for your system. Laowa introduced it in 2018, and it remains in production today.

It suits photographers working on insects, small products, food, or the interiors of models and machines. Close-up video is another natural fit. The trade-off is severe. The fixed f/14 aperture and hand focusing ask for bright light, patience and steady support.

The body is a long, slim tube. It runs 16.06 in (408 mm) long, with a 1.5 in (38 mm) width, and weighs just 1 lb 0.7 oz (474 g). The light weight makes the extended barrel easy to steady over a subject. The physical specification scores 57 out of 100.

The 2x magnification doubles life size. True macro begins at 1x, so this lens goes well past the standard mark. A coin, a watch mechanism or a beetle's eye can fill the frame at twice real scale. The 24mm focal length matters just as much. It keeps the subject's surroundings in the picture, so an insect appears within its patch of ground rather than isolated in a tight view.

The f/14 maximum aperture is the price of that wide, close view. It passes little light, so exposures run long unless you add flash or work in bright sun. The finder image is dim as well, which slows focusing by hand.

Depth of field gains something back. The slow aperture keeps more of a small subject sharp at close range. Even so, the sharp zone stays shallow at 2x, so work slowly and check focus before each frame. A focusing rail helps with the finest adjustments.

On specifications alone, the optics score is 43 out of 100.

Image stabilisation is absent. For the long exposures that f/14 often requires, put the camera on a tripod or steady the barrel against a solid surface. Strong lighting keeps handheld shooting realistic.

The Canon EF version has no weather sealing. No version in the family has a fluorine coating. That version also takes no front filters, so control brightness with your lights rather than a screw-on filter. Since the probe often works close to food, soil or plants, keep a cloth at hand for the slim front end. Check the listing for your mount, because these details vary.

The long light path uses 27 elements in 19 groups. The Canon EF version includes two low-dispersion elements. Low-dispersion glass helps reduce chromatic aberration, where colours focus at different points and leave coloured fringes along high-contrast edges. At 2x magnification, shiny subjects such as insect wings or water drops dominate the frame, so fringes can show along their edges. On specifications alone, the construction score is 15 out of 100.