Venus Optics has just crossed into territory that most macro shooters never even attempt. Announced on July 31, 2026, the Laowa Aksen Ultra Macro Series pairs two full-frame lenses built to chase detail far beyond life-size — and one of them, the 17.5mm f/1.7 5-10x, is the first 5-10x ultra macro lens to ever hit the market.
The headline trick here is that both are parfocal zoom lenses. As you crank through the magnification range, focus stays locked, so there’s no hunting or refocusing when you push in tighter. For filmmakers riding a rack from 1x to 5x, that’s a genuinely useful bit of engineering. Better still, the internal zoom mechanism keeps the barrel completely stationary and the working distance fixed — 40.35mm on the 45mm lens, 22.48mm on the 17.5mm.
The Aksen 45mm f/2.8 1-5x Ultra Macro APO covers a 1:1 to 5:1 magnification range using 13 elements in 9 groups, with an 11-bladed diaphragm stopping down from f/2.8 to f/11. In its PL flavor it accepts 37mm rear filters, wears a 56mm front thread, and measures 70.2 by 121mm at 599 grams.
The record-setting Aksen 17.5mm f/1.7 5-10x Ultra Macro APO is the more exotic of the pair. It runs from 5:1 to 10:1, packs 17 elements into 12 groups, and offers an aperture range of f/1.7 to f/5.6 through another 11-bladed diaphragm. It won’t take rear filters, uses a 42mm front thread, and comes in at 70.2 by 127.5mm and 570 grams.
Venus Optics leans on APO optics to keep chromatic aberration in check — a real problem at these extremes, where fringing normally explodes. The company promises “unmatched clarity and sharpness” instead. The 5-10x also borrows a trick from industrial imaging: a coaxial block built directly into the lens, a machine-vision technology that heightens edge contrast and delivers shadowless illumination. It ships with an 8mm Coaxial Light Adapter to make use of it.
Both lenses include an Arca-Swiss-compatible tripod collar and 15mm rods for mounting accessories. Mount options are generous: Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Leica L, Nikon F, Canon EF, Fujifilm X, Micro Four Thirds, and Arri PL.
Each lens comes in two flavors that affect the price. The photo version of the 45mm f/2.8 costs US$749, while the 17.5mm f/1.7 photo version runs US$849. Filmmakers who want the cine build pay US$1,499 for either lens. Pre-orders opened at B&H Photo and the Laowa store.
