Endlessly Curious

Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Lens

Specifications

BrandMitakon
CategoryNormal, Macro
Prime or ZoomPrime
Focus TypeManual
Focal length (mm)55
Aperture (max)2.8
Filter Size (mm)58
Weight (g)690
Length (mm)87
Diameter (mm)67
Weather Sealed✘
Image Stabilization✘
Min. focus distance (m)0.272
Max. magnification5
Release Year2025
Release Price (USD)399
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Description and Reviews

Key Take-Aways:

The Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro is a manual-focus macro lens with a magnification range of 1x to 5x, 13 elements in 8 groups, 9 aperture blades, a 58 mm filter thread, a weight of 690 g and a front LED light, and Mitakon sells it for $399 in L-mount among other mounts. It covers full frame and medium format without vignetting, and the 150 mm working distance at 1x shrinks to 65 mm at 5x. As of Oct 2026, one written review and three videos are linked. Digital Camera World (James Artaius, Sep 2025, reviewed on a Hasselblad X2D II 100C) calls it everything you could ask of a macro lens, praising the 1x to 5x magnification, the great image quality with detail that sings, the included screw-on LED light and the value for money; he finds the all-metal build reassuringly solid but the magnification mechanism stiff, and lists the lack of autofocus and electronic contacts, the lack of weather sealing and macro-only focusing as the trade-offs, adding that a focusing rail and sturdy tripod are needed and that depth of field at 5x is extremely shallow. Of the videos, Jamie Spensley tests it in the field and in the studio and calls it one of the cheapest 5X extreme macro lenses on the market, while GD Smith calls it a challenging but fun lens and fantastic value at this magnification; Christopher Frost also reviews it.

From Mitakon:

A pioneering ultra macro optic engineered to magnify the Macroverse. Designed for full-frame and medium format systems, it delivers an unprecedented 1-5X magnification range and exceptional image quality, empowering photographers to explore intricate microscopic worlds with unmatched clarity and creative freedom.

Magnify the Macroverse – Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro

Versatile 1-5X Magnification Power

The Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro lens offers a vast range of creative possibilities with magnifications from life-size 1X to 5X, capturing subject from intricate macro details to near-microscopic textures. Perfect for photographing subjects like insects, flowers, and watches etc.

Razor-Sharp, True-to-Life Realism Image Quality

Engineered with a 13-element in 8-group optical system, the lens minimizes chromatic aberrations to deliver razor-sharp images and vibrant, true-to-life colors, ensuring every macro detail shines with clarity and authenticity across all magnifications.

Unrivaled Focusing Distance

The lens offers a superior working distance of 150mm at 1X magnification, reducing to 65mm at 5X magnification. This extended working distance enhances lighting flexibility, making it ideal for precise macro photography setups.

Full Frame & Medium Format Compatibility

Seamlessly compatible with full-frame and medium format sensors, it delivers edge-to-edge clarity without vignetting, empowering photographers across various camera systems to achieve stunning, high-quality macro images.

Robust and User-Friendly Design

It includes a front LED Light for enhanced subject illumination, a detachable Arca Swiss Lens Support for stable setups, and a ΓΈ 58mm filter thread for filter attachments, ensuring versatility and reliability in macro photography.

Official Website

Mitakon publishes one set of figures for all mounts, so the weight of 690 g and the size are not tied to L-mount. The lens extends as magnification rises: the length of 87 mm in the frontmatter is the figure at 1X (162 mm at 5X) and the diameter of 67 mm is the same at both. The maker gives a minimum focusing distance of 279 mm at 1X and 272 mm at 5X, and the frontmatter uses the smaller 0.272 m. No angle of view is given in the frontmatter because the maker quotes it only at 1X (13.7 degrees) and 5X (5.6 degrees), not at infinity.

Reviews:

YouTube: