Coming in at a $1,499 price tag, is this unique camera lens attachment worth it? The Venus Optics Laowa 24mm Macro Probe lens which has been nicknamed “The Anteater” can shoot fantastic macro videos and photos in places other cameras can’t access. The footage you can get from this attachment is incredibly unique--it allows for shots that are impossible with any other lens. Unique footage like this attracts the eye to make any branding or business stand out.
The Anteater or Laowa probe lens has been gaining traction since late 2018 when the viral video Shooting Macro displayed the footage possibilities obtainable with this type of lens. The detail provided by the lens creates a stunning, clear, and distinct view of any ordinary object.
You can feel the craftsmanship and quality that went into the design and materials of the lens just by holding it. It sports a full metal housing for the complex lens design inside; it’s light-weight and portable, but feels like a strong, quality product. The mount options available are Sony E, Canon EF, and Nikon F so you will have to get the specific mount for your camera as they are not swappable.
The tip of the lens has an LED ring light that is powered by the USB port on the back which amplifies the ability of the lens. The widest the lens can get is F14 and you can close down all the way to F40.
With the optical design, Laowa has divided the lens into three functional groups: Macro, Objective, and Relay Lenses so you are basically getting three lenses merged into one. The Macro Lens is at the front of the lens to capture the 2:1 macro image. Objective Lens expands the image to fit on the full frame sensor. The Relay Lens relays the image from the Macro Lens to Objective Lens through the long barrel without losing the image quality.
The long barrel up to the USB port is waterproof which allows for the ability to capture unique underwater shots. You can have something directly in front of the lens and keep the focus of the camera providing stunning detail up close to your subject. This lens is versatile as it can capture farther away shots because the focus goes from 2:1 reproduction ratio all the way to infinity.
The Laowa lens being only an F14 means that you will need a good amount of light to use the lens. Having a deep depth of field, you need to make sure that you keep the sensor and lens cleaned to avoid seeing dirt particles. If you are shooting up close in Macro without the LED enabled, you are going to see a shadow from the lens. If you are using the built-in lights on the front of the lens you must be careful of seeing the reflection of the LED on your subject.
After testing the Laowa 24mm Macro Probe Lens we can absolutely recommend this product to anyone looking for an extremely versatile lens that can capture awesome macros and produce stunning details that you cannot get from the competition. The content that can be produced from this lens provides creative, different approaches to brand image and will be utilized in VR and Augmented Reality settings.
You can purchase The Anteater here, or if you need it for just a specific project, this option will allow you to rent by the hour.