---
title: "Laowa FF 45mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro 1-5X APO"
description: "Manual full-frame parfocal macro zoom, 1x to 5x at a fixed 40.35 mm working distance, $749. Digital Camera World praises the sharpness and magnification but finds it fiddly, needing a focusing rail; Fstoppers finds the detail excellent and the zoom easy once set up."
brand: "Laowa"
mount: L-Mount
focal_length: 45
aperture: 2.8
lens_type: "Prime"
lens_category: ["Normal", "Macro"]
weight: 646
year: 2026
weather_sealed: false
image_stabilization: false
price: 749
focus: "Manual"
filter_size: "None"
max_magn: 5
close_focus:
diameter: 70.2
length: 150
date: 2026-10-23
draft: false
author: "Jan Wedekind"
featured_image: /lenses/laowa/laowa-45mm-f2-8-ultra-macro.png
---

Key Take-Aways:

The Laowa FF 45mm f/2.8 Ultra Macro 1-5X APO, sold by Laowa as the Aksen 1-5X, is a manual full-frame parfocal macro zoom that runs from 1x to 5x at a fixed 40.35 mm working distance and costs $749. As of Oct 2026, two written reviews and four videos are linked. Digital Camera World praises the huge magnification, handling and build, and finds sharpness and clarity excellent with minimal colour fringing and very low distortion, but calls the small fixed working distance fiddly, finds the lens virtually impossible to use without a macro focusing rail, and notes it is fully manual with no EXIF lens data and no weather-seal gasket. 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". Of the videos, Stewart Wood tests the 45mm on its own, while Media Division, Lee Hall and Naturefold cover both Aksen zooms.

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 (646 g) and length (150 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 1-5x Ultra Macro Apo review: Up to 5x magnification for when 'full' macro just doesn't cut the mustard](https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/laowa-aksen-1-5x-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
* Stewart Wood: [Can This Lens Change Macro Photography Forever? | Laowa 45mm 1-5X Review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CddGGg8onKE), Aug 2026