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Laowa FFII TS 55mm f/2.8 Macro 1X

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Specifications

BrandLaowa
CategoryNormal, Macro, Tilt-Shift
Prime or ZoomPrime
Focus TypeManual
Focal length (mm)55
Aperture (max)2.8
Angle of View63°
Filter Size (mm)77
Weight (g)1345
Length (mm)169
Diameter (mm)85
Weather Sealed✘
Image Stabilization✘
Min. focus distance (m)0.27
Max. magnification1
Release Year2024
Release Price (USD)1249
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Description and Reviews

Key Take-Aways:

The Laowa FFII TS 55mm f/2.8 Macro 1X, sold in English as the Laowa 55mm f/2.8 Tilt-shift 1X Macro, is a manual-focus full-frame 55mm with ±10° of tilt, ±12mm of shift (±8mm on medium format), 1:1 magnification, a 27 cm minimum focusing distance, a 77mm filter thread and a weight of 1,345 g. It costs $1,249 in every mount. As of Oct 2026, three written reviews and seven videos are linked. Dustin Abbott, testing a Laowa loaner on a Nikon Z8, calls it one of the finest lenses Laowa has made optically: very sharp at f/2.8, no visible fringing, low vignetting, good flare resistance and well-made controls; he faults its size and weight, price, complexity, lack of electronics and bokeh that is not particularly soft. Photo Review (Margaret Brown, Sony a7 II) scores it 8.8, rating build 9.0 and image quality 8.6, but found its Imatest results reached the 24-megapixel sensor’s resolution only at f/6.3 or smaller, with softening wide open, and notes the soft aperture clicks, that no aperture or EXIF data reaches the camera, and that it is best for tabletop and product work. Phillip Reeve, on a Nikon Z7II with a Laowa loan covering both lenses, finds excellent centre and mid-frame sharpness from f/2.8 and a slightly soft fully shifted corner wide open; he faults the weight (almost 1.5 kg), flare resistance, a focus ring that turns too easily, a shift knob that is hard to grip and a three-part tripod foot that lacks rigidity, and calls the pair nearly perfect for professional product, food and wedding work. Among the videos, Jimmy Cheng calls it the best lens of 2024, Keith Cooper reviews it on both full frame and medium format, PR-Reviews compares it with the 100mm, Wes Perry reviews it and asks in his description whether its weight and complexity hold it back, Magic Wedding Photographer’s description describes it as a tool for creative portraits, product shots and macro work, and neil fisher’s description presents it as a tilt-shift lens for macro imagery.

From Laowa:

Laowa 55mm f/2.8 Tilt-Shift 1X Macro is the first Laowa tilt-shift macro lens for a full-frame mirrorless camera. It features a precise tilt of ±10°, a shift of ±12mm, and an impressive 1:1 magnification.

The tilt function enables photographers to manipulate the image plane for both practical and creative effects. While the shift amounts allow for precise perspective control. Together with 1X magnification, this versatile combination makes the lens an essential tool for photographers working across various fields, including commercial, macro, landscape, architectural photography, and more.

Due to the large image circle, it can be used on medium-format cameras.

(Note: Limited to ±8mm shift & ±10° tilt on medium-format cameras.)

Official Website

Laowa publishes one set of specifications for all its mounts (E, Z, RF, L mount and GFX) and does not name a mount for the figures.

Reviews:

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