---
title: "Laowa FF 17.5mm f/1.7 Ultra Macro 5-10X APO"
description: "Manual full-frame parfocal macro zoom, 5x to 10x at a fixed 22.48 mm working distance, 618 g, $749. Digital Camera World praises the sharpness and 10x reach but finds focus setup arduous without a focusing rail; Fstoppers finds the detail excellent and the zoom easy once set up."
brand: "Laowa"
mount: L-Mount
focal_length: 17.5
aperture: 1.7
lens_type: "Prime"
lens_category: ["Ultra-Wide Angle", "Macro"]
weight: 618
year: 2026
weather_sealed: false
image_stabilization: false
price: 749
focus: "Manual"
filter_size: "None"
max_magn: 10
close_focus:
diameter: 70.2
length: 156
date: 2026-10-22
draft: false
author: "Jan Wedekind"
featured_image: /lenses/laowa/laowa-17-5mm-f1-7-ultra-macro.png
---

Key Take-Aways:

The Laowa FF 17.5mm f/1.7 Ultra Macro 5-10X APO, sold by Laowa as the Aksen 5-10X, is a manual full-frame parfocal macro zoom that runs from 5x to 10x at a fixed 22.48 mm working distance, weighs 618 g in Sony E mount and costs $749 for the non-coaxial version. As of Oct 2026, two written reviews and three videos are linked. Digital Camera World calls the 10x magnification simply awesome and finds sharpness and clarity excellent, with negligible colour fringing and well-controlled distortion, but says the tiny fixed working distance makes it nearly impossible to use without a macro focusing rail and that the lens records no lens data in EXIF. Fstoppers, reviewing both Aksen zooms, finds the detail excellent and the zooming a breeze once the camera is set up, though setting up takes "a bit of finagling". All three videos also cover the 1-5x Aksen.

From Laowa:

> Winner of the TIPA 2026 and Cine Gear Expo 2026 Camera Technology Awards, the Laowa Aksen series (1–5x & 5–10x) redefines high-magnification macro by eliminating the limitations of traditional lenses.

> Its groundbreaking parfocal zoom means the focus on the subject remains locked even as you change magnification. Powered by an internal zoom mechanism, the Aksen series has a fixed working distance, meaning you can fluidly scale your shot without needing to reposition your camera or disrupt the lighting setup.

> With APO design optics, the Aksen series eliminates color fringing to deliver flawless, ultra-sharp detail at any magnification level.

[Official Website](https://www.venuslens.net/product/laowa-aksen-ultra-macro-apo/)

The weight (618 g) and length (156 mm) are Laowa's Sony E figures; Laowa publishes no L-mount figures.

Reviews:

* Fstoppers: [Laowa Aksen Ultra Macro Zooms: 1x to 10x Review](https://fstoppers.com/originals/review-laowa-aksen-175mm-and-45mm-ultra-macros-1x-10x-apo-zooms-903712), Christopher Malcolm, Jul 2026
* Digital Camera World: [Laowa Aksen 5-10x Ultra Macro Apo review: Forget 'full' macro – this lens ramps up magnification all the way to 10x](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/laowa-aksen-5-10x-ultra-macro-apo-review), Matthew Richards, Aug 2026

YouTube:

* Media Division: [Macro to Micro Zoom Lenses – Laowa AKSEN – Review & Comparison](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sH4A_fYOmY), Jul 2026
* Lee Hall: [I Tested Laowa’s New 1x–10x Ultra Macro Lenses!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrhuviTL0_w), Jul 2026
* Naturefold: [Handheld Macro at 10:1 Magnification?! - Laowa Aksen 1-5x & 5-10x Review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeChXfhB8YQ), Aug 2026