There’s a saying when it comes to macro photography: you can never get too close. Macro photographers go all in, pushing their lenses to capture magnified glimpses of the tiny world that surrounds us.
Traditional macro lenses typically have a reproduction ratio of 1:1. A few of them offer 2x magnification, and only a handful go beyond.
However, Laowa has just disrupted the market with the unveiling of their Aurogon FF 10-50x NA0.5 Supermicro APO lens.
Currently, this new lens has only been announced in China, with a price tag of 8,999 Yuan, which is around $1,254. Considering the incredible level of magnification it provides, the price seems quite reasonable.
While various solutions exist to adapt microscope lenses for extreme macro capabilities, the Aurogon lens is an end product designed specifically for photographers and filmmakers.
It consists of five parts: a base mount that attaches to your camera, and four different objectives with zoom levels of 10x, 20x, 35x, and 50x.
Rather than being a traditional variable focal length zoom lens, it offers four preset magnifications depending on the objective attached.
Although the primary market for this lens is expected to be in the field of science and research, it can also serve as a thrilling experimental tool for any photographer or filmmaker due to its creative possibilities.
Furthermore, the images produced by this lens are truly impressive.
At such high magnifications, the depth of field becomes incredibly shallow. Consequently, investing in a macro rail to capture multiple images for focus stacking is imperative.
Additionally, using an extra sturdy tripod, such as a video tripod, can provide the best stability for subjects like these, even when shooting stills.
As mentioned earlier, the Laowa Aurogon FF 10-50x NA0.5 Supermicro APO lens is currently available only in China for 8,999 Yuan, roughly equivalent to $1,254.
Hopefully, if it becomes available worldwide, it will maintain a similar price. However, there is no definite timeline for its international release. Specs are as below:
| Magnification | 10, 20x, 35x, 50x |
| Adjustable numerical aperture | 0.5/0.45/0.4/0.35/0.3/0.25/0.2/0.15 |
| Working distance | 20mm |
| Format | Full-Frame |
| Focus type | Manual Focus |
| Mount | Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Sony E, Leica L, Fuji GFX mount, PL mount |
| Dimensions | 50x167mm (mount) + 70x112mm (10x) / 70x163mm (20x) / 70x210mm (35x) / 70x253mm (50x) |
| Weight | 447g (Mount) + 299.4g (10x)/370g (20x)/420.2g (35x)/465.1 (50x) |