Macro Lens Group Test: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Laowa, Sigma, Tamron all compared!
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- čas přidán 1. 04. 2020
- This is a video I've been working on for a long time...and it took a HUGE amount of time to edit, so I really do hope you find it helpful. This video is special as it marks the first time I've covered a Nikon lens on this channel...a lot more are to come! For more information about any of the lenses you see here, check out my CZcams channel for their full reviews (the Sigma and Nikon reviews are coming soon).
Find them here (Amazon affiliate links) (Be sure to get the right lens for your camera system):
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 'L' IS USM:
Full review: • Canon 100mm f/2.8 'L' ...
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link): geni.us/canon100mmmacrol
Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Macro:
Full review: • Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 ...
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link) (Be sure to get the right lens for your camera system - this is the Sony E mount version): geni.us/laowa100mmmacrosony
Nikon AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor G IF-ED:
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link) (Be sure to get the right lens for your Nikon camera): geni.us/NikonAFSMicro105mm
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro:
Full review: • Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG M...
Find it here (Amazon Affiliate link) (Be sure to get the right lens for your camera system):
geni.us/sigmamacro105f28os
Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS:
Full review: • Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Mac...
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link): geni.us/sonyfe90mmmacro
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 VC USD Macro F017:
Full review: • Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 V...
Find it here (Amazon affiliate link) (Be sure to get the right lens for your camera system - this is the Nikon version): geni.us/tamron90f28macro
All pictures taken by me on all kinds of different cameras.
Support me on Patreon! / christopherfrost
Equipment I use for making these reviews and other videos:
Equipment I use to make my videos (Amazon affiliate links):
Canon EOS R5: geni.us/CanonEOSR5Body
Canon EF-RF Adaptor: geni.us/CanonEFtoRF
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 'Art': geni.us/Sigma50mm14Art
Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS STM: geni.us/CanonRF35mm18Macro
Marumi Fit and Slim CPL Filter: geni.us/MarumiFitSlim77
AudioTechnica AT2020USB+ Microphone: geni.us/AT2020USBPlusMic
Rode Smartlav+ Microphone: geni.us/RodeSmartLavalierPlus
Rode SC3 adapter: geni.us/RodeSC3MicAdaptor
Zoom H1n Recorder: geni.us/ZoomH1nMiniRecorder
DJI Mini 2 Drone: geni.us/DJIMini2FlyMore
Music:
'Sidewalk Shade', Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/b... - Jak na to + styl
Chris, this is the most professional test I have ever seen. Thank you for putting all that work in! And your musik and vocal style make the whole thing very pleasant to watch.
Your post has got ❤️ from me (on behalf of chris.!)
Not for who is interested in Tamron!
What an excellent group test! Yes, please do more. Thank you very much! I've been looking for videos like these for ages.
I bought the Laowa a couple months ago (due in part of your review) and it's wonderful!
I can't recommend it enough!
Wow... This video is exemplary for those who make lens testing videos...almost all popular macro lens options are tested here. Well done. I really appreciate your efforts of testing all these lenses
Outstanding, as usual. One of the best, maybe THE best, lens reviewer. Thank u so much for your work!
I bought the Laowa last year on presale after seeing your review prerelease. It has been amazing and I have got some amazing shots that I would never have thought possible for me. It really is a spectacular lens. Thank you for all of the reviews you do.
Amazing video! Thanks a lot for listening our requests and putting in so much effort! You are trully a gentle person
What a wonderful and comprehensive group test. Well worth your time and effort , I say. Thank you !
The Laowa is simple mind blowing
I first saw Laowa lens including the famous shotgun one on a camera related expo at Beijing back in 2017. It was really mind blowing at that time. Many of the lenses were very unique
Its a manual focus lens. Not surprise.
I'm still recovering ....
Every Laowa is magical!
And its price is also very good.
Thank you for putting in all the time and effort to this review, it is really helpful for those of us considering a new macro lens. I’ve had my eye on the Laowa for a while now, and I didn’t see anything here to dissuade me from it.
I have looked at the Laowa for a long time. This video has given me what I could not get myself. Thank you Christopher
Since I'm in the market for a macro lens, today I watched all your videos on macro lenses. You have a good timing! :)
Hey, I love your channel, very thorough and consistent reviews, I always looked at your videos before buying a lens! please keep it up!
Thanks for putting in the time to make this. It must have taken forever. I owned the canon L and I was always disappointed with it. Everything I read suggested it was ‘razor’ sharp. It never was. Sharp yes, but it never blew me away. I also had the 70-200 2.8 II at the time. Maybe that is why it didn’t blow me away as I was used to the great results from the zoom. Before getting the 100L I only ever did reverse lens macro, so I was no stranger to wafer thin depths of field. The supposed convenience of auto focus and stabilisation never really helped a great deal for stuff up very close anyway. You also couldn’t stop it down very far before the image got worse. I have seen great images taken with it and managed a few myself, but it wasn’t the massive step up I thought it would be. Just for close up work, the Laowa actually seems a better investment if you don’t need it to be a general lens too. Stay safe Mr Frost. 👍🏻
That laowa has been next my list since I first saw your review of it😮. Also this my favorite photography channel on CZcams. Never Stop, Never Stopping!
I have it. It really is a lovely lens. Just watch out for flaring!
@@MegaNardman Use the hood it's supplied with the lens for a reason ;). But yea it's a great lens, I pre-ordered it at the time and have never regretted it. ^^
Wonderful video! Please keep these kind of comparison videos coming!
This is great, so helpful. My macro lens will have to do double duty as a portrait and macro lens, so I appreciate the normal focus distance comparison too.
The simple "God bless you" at the end felt so genuine, it really touched me. Thank you.
Lots of work here and beautifully executed. thank you for making this video for us!
Most amazing and comprehensive review as usual!
Great video . With this lockdown been putting my Canon macro to good use. Love the 100 2.8. stay safe man.
I value your tests above all the others when purchasing lenses. Your consistency in tests makes comparisons possible.
I would certainly go for the Laowa lens. It has very impressive image quality, 2:1 magnification and it is the cheapest. A clear winner for me.
The only downside is the lack of image stabilisation, but otherwise yes there is no hesitation
@@PAD32 and many mirrorless systems have in-body stabilization, so it's not a complete loss. The lens being APO & having 2x mag. are killer.
@@PAD32 who cares about image stabilization when most macro work is done with a tripod?
@@gtaliano I do. Not having a tripod under your camera can help a lot depending on the subject, especially moving ones.
Also I usually don't need the absolute perfect picture, so I often prefer shooting handheld even if I can't stay at ISO 100. Image stabilisation can limit significantly how much you have to raise the ISO
@@gtaliano I can understand that you don't need IS, but it's definitely useful
I went for the Laowa f2,8 after watching your earlier reviews. And this lens is a beast, i have used for Landscape, macro and even portraits. It preforms great in every category,
and with the 2x its so much fun to work with. Thank you so much another great review.
You have any portraits samples if i may ask? wanna buy this lens for both macro and portrait but cant find some samples. thnx
I'm waiting such a review(macro lens compare) for a month. Thank you so much
I've bought the Sigma 5 years ago and am still very satisfied with it. It's my favourite lens after my 70-200 2.8.
I confirm, the sigma is really good
My favorite lens!
@@ImpossibleVids I have all Sigma Camera's and lenses, I'm a Sigma fan boy but one lens shines out here and that is Loawa unfortunately it won fit my camera system, I was going to buy a Sigma 105mm 2.8 EX DG OS but after seeing this I've decided it is old generation tech so I'm going to buy the new art version even though it hasn't got image stabilisation, I mostly use manual focusing and really you need a tripod for macro work anyway. I may try a tube to get the 2:1 Magnification of the Loawa from the sigma 105mm Art, I think would be my best bet.
O my gooodddd! I cann't wait to buy Laowa after watching this. Wonderfull reviews! Huge appreciation, Chris!
Thank you Chris, good review. Looking forward to buying the Laowa lens.
Tanks lot for this test Chris. The best ever channel!!!
best comparison video on YT ... love this quality of work
Christopher, as always another superb review. Thanks!
I feel bad for not subscribing to your channel even after months of watching your videos. You are an amazing person and the info you share on your channel is unmatchable. Subscribed
Thanks Chris. I was already leaning towards the Laowa and now I'm sold.
This was very helpful Chris! Thank you!
Very well done friend. I've had my eye on the Laowa for some time; now, I know it to be the one for me.
Great review mate. 👍🏽Looking forward to get the Laowa..
Thank you for this very helpful video. I am about to purchase a macro for my Nikon and you have helped me pick the best lens for me.
As usual, your video is stupendous! Always informative and unbiased. The only comment I would like to share is that the Sony really outperforms the rest as a portrait lens as well. When you add in the stabilization and it's superb sharpness, this lens can replace two in your bag... macro and a portrait. So when one is making a decision based on price, think of this as two lenses. All around, the Sony is the best lens when viewed in this context.
Chris you are the best ! Thanks again for another awesome video !
Best video ever. (And that is saying something as all your work is excellent.). Very practical with just the right amount of detail. It is particularly helpful now as many people are struggling to choose their initial mirrorless platform, and glass is a huge factor. I agree with one commenter that the Tokina would have been a great addition, but that would throw off the symmetry of your comparisons. Laowa and Tokina are rumored to share optical formulas but the might be a new development.
Chris, this is such a nice review. It is obvious you put a lot of time into it. Thank you :-)
Definitely want more of these comparison videos and best of the best comparisons
Quite amazed that the Laowa 100mm performs so well really at its price point. I think the only lens that this test was missing was the Samyang/Rokinon 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Macro, yet another manual-only macro lens with stellar sharpness from all reviews I've read and watched. Still, a great side-by-side comparison Christopher Frost. Very well done. I think I'd be going for the Laowa lens myself, the Sony 90mm would be nice but funds are short!
Really appreciate your video and the time taken to make it.
Very helpful review Chris, the Laowa seems extraordinary, think it will be my next purchase! Best wishes and thanks for sharing what you do ! Cheers. PS I had to subscribe!
fantastic, detailed review. This basically sold me on the Laowa
FANTASTIC review! The only one out there. VERY HELPFUL! THANKS!!!!
+1 subscriber
Thanks! really useful, I really wanted to see what the Laowa looks like, it is really great!
Awe man! Would have loved to see the Fuji XF 80mm F2.8 🤣
Sweet video!!
thank you so much for this comparison / literally looking to grab a macro lens and wanted to see the tamron, sigma and laowa compared (would have been interesting if the samyang was chucked in too!) - thanks again
Soo glad I bought a secondhand but nearly brand new Sony 90mm for my Sony A7R III at a very nice price. Thanks for this impressif review. Looking forward to hear what you think about the new Sigma 105 mm macro art lens for mirrorless camera's.
Great video as always Christopher, but I am more than happy with my Tokina 100/2.8 macro. Sharp as spring water, built like a tank (Japan) and bought new for just a little over £300.
Thanks been waiting on this good timing too!
I really liked that you have finally included Nikon compatible lenses. I really enjoy your reviews but I am currently only using Nikon. But I have always found your reviews helpful with those third party lenses that also have a Nikon option.
Thanks for the excellent review. I have both Laowa 100mm and Sony 90mm mounted on my Sony A7r4. Yes, laowa can achieve 2:1, that alone is impressive. But I enjoy using Sony 90mm the most. The ability to use DMF as AF mode blew me away, as DMF works as auto and manual focus at the same time. When capturing the photo of live insects, and have to lay my body on the ground, the Sony win hands down. It's easy, effective and I can crop when needing extra magnification. On the other hand with laowa, I feel tire after 2 hours of use, but it's not the case for the sony that can focus more easily to the eye of robber fly with the help of DMF mode. Overall, I am impressed with those two lenses.
fauzan wibowo totally agree and use the same setup... A7RIV with the Sony 90mm 2.8. Incredible combo!
I can't believe I had somehow missed this video first time around. This is exactly what I needed to see. I'm off to find me a Laowa
Thanks for the great and very interesting review. Think I did the right thing when I sold the Sony 90mm macro for the Laowa half a year ago.
I'm debating buying one of these 2 lenses. I already have a sony 85 f/1.8, but wanted a macro for wedding detail shots, which I know I'd probably use in manual mode anyways. Do you think the image stabilization and auto focus of the 90 would be worth it when I'm in hurry to shoot other things (not in macro range) or do you think the 2x magnification is useful to have even for things outside of insects that it's worth getting that lens?
Thanks a lot for your effort. A very useful comparison.
Fantastic review! I absolutely love my Sony 90mm macro/portrait, but that Laowa is very impressive especially considering the price. I believe that 2:1 macro is worth trying out.
I’ll get the Laowa lens for sure. Hope that there won’t be any QC issues and that I’ll get a great performing lens like yours. Thanks for the review...great job, clear narrative👍👍👍😊🇨🇦
As usual, great review !!!!
Wonderful video, thanks Chris!
I haven't watched one of your vids in awhile. Forgot how good these were.
Great review as always 🙏👍 I have the sigma on a Nikon mount, price and reviews were the reason I went for it and have to say I have no regrets whatsoever. I am really looking forward to a z macro when it arrives although Kenko have produced some very reasonably priced extension tubes for the z mount to enable the use of new z glass. I am very confident that colour fringing will not be an issue based on what I am finding with the whole range of z lenses.
Awesome comparison chris, thanks!
Excellent review, thank you! Liked and subscribed!
I do believe that Laowa will be the next on my list, manual focus is where I started, and that sharpness is unreal!
Fantastic video! I was going back and forth between the Sony and Laowa. I think I will go for the Laowa.
Way to go Chris! You always have high quality reviews. Keep it up. I do quite a bit of macro photography and at this focal length I found myself measuring sharpness at f/13-f/16. I've had the Tamron and the Sigma and finally settled with the Nikon and couldn't be happier...haha Yes it's old but I do most of my editing in Nikon Capture NX-D so you don't see half the issues you exposed. I will add that this is not my favorite focal length for 1:1 macro.
Over all ... I love your tests most.
You should review the Tokina 100mm f2.8 macro!
Thanks for a painstaking review - the Laowa is a revelation and 2:1 as well.
The Sony 90mm G is a beast on the A7riv. Just incredible sharpness and detail. Hard to believe the Sony macro was released in 2015!
A very good and interesting review from my perspective as a specialist macro photographer. I've got no less than 7 1:1 macro lenses for my Canon system. Although the Canon 100mm f2.8 L IS is my most used macro lens, largely because of the all round usefulness of the 100mm focal length, and the IS, my least favourite aspect is the longitudinal CA. A lot of the time it isn't noticeable, but it does show up at times and is very annoying as it's near impossible to get rid of. I've got a Sigma 70mm and 150mm macro and they don't have any problem with this. Nor does the MP-E 65mm, the EF-S 60mm doesn't seem to show it either. However, on the otherwise stellar Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS II zoom when used for close ups, that can also display some annoying loCA at times. The Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR doesn't have a very good reputation with my Nikon using friends, although I'm surprised this one put in such a poor show, and wonder if this was a bad copy.
I have the Sony 90mm Macro and it's a CRAZY sharp lens! Great for super sharp portraits too! I've also before I acquired the Sony 90mm, I used to adapt the Canon 100mm to my Sony's with great image quality results but AF was unreliable with my Metabones MKIV, but manual focus works of course.
Thank You very much for your constantly great work!
easily the best 100macro shoot out video on youtube
Tokina 100mm is built like a tank. Has great manual focusing feel, produce beautiful contrasty pictures. It's my favourite lens
I bought the tokina because of angry photographer. It has high chromatic aberration. If only I had known the Laowa first I would have bought the Laowa for sure.
@@gunsts chromatic abberation usually means great contrast. You only need to click "remove chromatic abberation" in lightroom to get rid most of it.
Unfortunately, the only thing the presence of CA signifies is... that the lens shows CA. Contrast is in no way linked to that and please do not buy lenses on this assumption.
My tokina 100mm has no CA at all. Its perfect and blows all those lenses away. If you are up for serious macro photography a 150mm or even 200mm would be a better option anyway.
@@gunsts Just in some case you have CA, always use aperture to the sweet spot, this lens is perfect for portrait, not just for macro.
Excellent helpful review!!
Thanks. I am ready for the Laowa. Mind blowing clarity and magnification ratio. Pity it's not autofocus but for macro that's acceptable. And it's so inexpensive, plus, the RF mount.
Brilliant review !!! Thank you very much !!
Back when I bought my kit, I decided on the Tamron, and this review shows that I made the right decision! :-)
I use a Nikon body, so the Canon and sadly also the Sony (what a lens!) are out rightaway, and the Nikon is the worst of the six by quite a margin (I wouldn't exactly go for "abysmal", but well...), leaving Tamron, Sigma and Laowa.
As I don't exclusively use it for macro (probably only about 50% of the time, and most of that is on flowers, so barely ever "extreme" macro), autofocus and image stabilsation are very useful for me (dropping the Laowa out), and the slightly shorter focal length is quite handy as well, as I find 90mm to be an incredibly versatile focal length on full frame, so the Sigma is ever so slightly less useful - otherwise a good option for sure!
Excellent review Christopher, thank you for your hard work. That Laowa really does look tempting.
I bought the sigma lens 3 years ago for 320 euros new, and its one of my best investments in photography equipment. Amazing and affordable lens.
Thanks so much for this comparison!
I would get the Laowa. It's crazy sharp and gets so much closer!
Killer review! For me it was to bad you missed out on the Irix 150mm macro in the review.. But I got that you wanted to focus om the 100mm range 😊👌 the laowa seems really fun! I have the old tamron wich is really stellar, but I do want to upgrade some..
Thank you so much for this video ❤
The only lens I ever regretted selling is the Nikon 105mm f2.8 VR Micro lens, but in all fairness to my bad decision I was very rarely ever using it. However after I sold it, I realized I made a mistake and I do still until this day wish I had one, but again I'm just not that into macro. It's very sharp and has incredible bokeh and it's very well made, plus it can be had for about $450 used in the USA.
Another great review.
Interesting video. Appreciate your efforts .
I use the older Laowa 60mm on APSC and the Laowa 100mm on the FF Cant fault this company on filling the 2:1 void at an excellent price point. Great review Chris!
I've got the older version of the 90mm Tamron (SP Di VC USD). It's the only lens I have that out resolves my D800 resolution, paid about 250$ in Japan in excellent condition. Definitely was a bargain.
Man you are the best in the world. I want to enter in the world of nature macro and have been looking for such a video. You are the only one man. You are the best in the world. Thank you , thank you, thank you so much
Nice to see this lens battle! I would go with laowa! Would be nice to see a 60mm macro lens battle too! 👍
I would love to see it as well
Another superb video ! I have the 65mm Laowa macro lens for FujiX. It is spectacular and bought thanks in part to your excellent video review. Your channel is just about the best review channel on youtube !
So thank you for starting to test on Nikon too
Great comparison, I have the Nikon lens and it performs great on my Nikon d810. Granted, I had nothing to compare it to.
I’ll get the laowa, thanks Chris
Thank you for the video... Do you have a video about all the 85mm???
Great review, Thank you