Laowa VE2414C
Achieving 2:1 magnification at a 20mm working distance, the f/14 aperture and 1.3-foot probe barrel deliver full-frame macro with a wide-angle perspective and deep depth of field. A built-in ring light illuminates tight spaces, while manual focus and aperture gears suit precise cine-style control. This lens is best for macro videographers and still shooters who need to capture skittish insects, product details, or confined interior shots with dramatic, context-rich framing.
About This Lens
About Venus Laowa 24mm f/14 SLRHow does the Laowa 24mm f/14 2x Macro Probe Lens with Built-In Ring Light for Nikon F revolutionize your photography experience This innovative lens, initially funded on Kickstarter and ranked as the second most funded lens project of all time, is the first consumer-grade probe lens in the world. It offers a unique 2:1 macro to infinity focus, providing a captivating wide-angle 'Bug Eye' perspective. Unlike conventional telephoto macro lenses, this high-quality lens offers a greater depth of field at close distances, allowing more background details to be visible. Its durable front barrel is waterproof, and it features a built-in LED ring light at the lens tip, enhancing your macro photography with additional lighting. Designed to cover both standard 35mm full frame and Super35 image sensors, this versatile lens is lightweight and easy to carry, making it an ideal choice for both professional photographers and hobbyists. It is compatible with Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony FE, Pentax K, and Arri PL mounts. The Laowa 24mm f/14 2x Macro Probe Lens also comes with a 'Cine-mod' version, specifically designed for videography purposes. It includes standard gear focus and aperture rings, a variable-output control cable, and a rugged aluminum carry case. This lens allows you to focus extremely close to the subject, revealing details that are invisible to the naked eye. Its wide-angle design and deep depth of field make it a powerful tool for both studio and wildlife photography. The long and tubular lens barrel design enables you to focus close to the subject while maintaining a safe distance, making it easier to shoot in inaccessible areas. The small lens tip, with a diameter of just 20mm, allows for sufficient illumination, providing a unique perspective for your shots. The waterproof front barrel of the Laowa probe lens opens up new possibilities for shooting in various environments, including those with dust or fine powders. The built-in LED ring light, powered by an optional external battery, provides additional lighting for focus assistance. Despite its numerous features and unique design, the Laowa probe lens is surprisingly lightweight, weighing only 1.04 pounds (474 grams). This makes it a convenient tool for a wide range of photography styles, from macro to wide-angle, still to video, studio to wildlife. In conclusion, the Laowa 24mm f/14 2x Macro Probe Lens with Built-In Ring Light for Nikon F is designed to inspire creativity and provide a new perspective for every photographer and videographer. Are you ready to capture stunning images like never beforeVenus Laowa 24mm f/14 SLR FeaturesBug Eye Perspective2:1 Macro to Infinity FocusDeep Depth Of FieldLong & Tubular Lens barrelTiny Lens TipWaterproof Front BarrelLED Ring LightFull Frame CoverageSuper Light to CarryWarranty InformationThis product has a limited warranty of 36 months.https://www.venuslens.net/faq - - Join VIP PROEarn 2X Points + Exclusive Perks!Request a CallbackChat one-on-one with an expertSell or Trade your GearGet started in 3 easy stepsKey FeaturesExplore macro photography like never before with this Laowa 24mm probe lens.Capture stunning details with 2x magnification and a minimum working distance of 0.7".Built-in ring light illuminates subjects, ensuring crisp, clear macro images every time.Achieve unique perspectives with the wide-angle design on your Nikon F mount camera.Manual focus lens allows precise control, perfect for creative macro photography shots.Durable build quality ensures this Laowa lens is ready for any photography adventure.What's in the box:Laowa 24mm f/14 2x Macro Probe Lens for Nikon FBuilt-in Ring LightWhite USB Cable Dimmer with Power AdjustmentBlack USB Charging Cable(External Battery Not Included)Lens BagMetal CaseVenus 3 Year Limited Warranty
- Explore macro photography like never before with this Laowa 24mm probe lens.
- Capture stunning details with 2x magnification and a minimum working distance of 0.7".
- Built-in ring light illuminates subjects, ensuring crisp, clear macro images every time.
- Achieve unique perspectives with the wide-angle design on your Nikon F mount camera.
- Manual focus lens allows precise control, perfect for creative macro photography shots.
- Durable build quality ensures this Laowa lens is ready for any photography adventure.
The 30-Second Version
The Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe is a brilliantly bizarre lens that captures impossible perspectives, but you'll fight its f/14 aperture and manual focus every step of the way. If you need it, you already know; if you don't, save your money for a normal macro.
Overview
The Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe is one of the strangest lenses we've ever clamped onto a camera, and it's absolutely brilliant at exactly one thing: getting shots no other lens can dream of. If you've ever wanted to see a flower from a bug's perspective, or slide a lens into a tight space for a product video, this is your weird, wonderful ticket. For anyone who shoots typical portraits, landscapes, or street photography, it's basically a $1,000+ conversation piece that'll collect dust. This lens is the definition of a specialty tool, and it makes zero apologies for it. It's fully manual, painfully slow at f/14, and demands an absurd amount of light, but the images it creates look like nothing else on the market. We were equal parts frustrated and fascinated during testing, and that's exactly the point.
Performance
What genuinely surprised us was the optical quality. In our database, this lens sits in the 98th percentile for sharpness, which is wild for something so niche. The 24mm focal length combined with 2:1 magnification gives you an impossibly deep depth of field compared to traditional telephoto macro lenses, so you can show a subject in its environment rather than obliterating the background into mush. But the f/14 aperture is a bear to work with. You'll need studio lights or direct sunlight even for basic shots, and the tiny aperture means diffraction has already softened things wide open. Soft is relative here, but it's a noticeable compromise. The built-in LED ring light is a thoughtful addition, though its color rendering is mediocre and the Micro-USB power requirement feels like a decade-old afterthought. Manual focusing is slow and demanding, but get it right and you'll feel like a wizard.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Creates a one-of-a-kind wide-angle macro perspective 99th
- Outstanding optical sharpness for a probe lens 98th
- Waterproof front barrel lets you shoot into liquids or mud 95th
- Excellent build quality and relatively lightweight (474g) 90th
Cons
- f/14 is glacially slow and requires massive amounts of light 14th
- Fully manual operation is daunting for beginners 34th
- Very narrow use case; useless for general photography 35th
- No battery included for the LED light and Micro-USB power is clunky
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | macro |
| Focal Length Min | 24 |
| Focal Length Max | 24 |
| Elements | 27 |
| Groups | 19 |
| ED Elements | 2 |
| Coating | Waterproof AI |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/14 |
| Min Aperture | 14 |
| Constant | No |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.3 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 20 |
| Max Magnification | 2:1 |
Value & Pricing
With a street price spread from $999 to nearly $2,000, you absolutely should shop around before pulling the trigger. The lowest price we've seen is $999, and even that is a lot of dough for a lens that can't be your daily driver. If you're a dedicated macro shooter, a product photographer, or a videographer who needs that impossible probe angle, it's worth every penny because there's simply no affordable alternative. For anyone else, that cash buys a superb general-purpose macro lens like the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS and leaves enough to take a vacation. This lens is a luxury specialization, not a value play.
Price History
vs Competition
There's nothing that directly competes with the Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe. If you're considering it, you're not cross-shopping a standard zoom like the Sony G Master FE 28-70mm f/2 GM or a kit lens. Those are for entirely different purposes. For the same money, you could own a traditional 2:1 macro lens like the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro, which is far more versatile and easier to use, but it can't snake into a burrow or reach deep inside a machine. That's the tradeoff. The probe is a filmmaker's secret weapon or a niche nature shooter's obsession. If you don't need the unique barrel design, any other macro lens will be a better companion for your camera bag.
| Spec | Laowa VE2414C | Sigma Sports 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS | Tamron Di III 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 | Meike Neo Series MK-5514STM-Z | Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 24mm | 70-200mm | 28-75mm | 55mm | 14-24mm | 28-200mm |
| Max Aperture | f/14 | 2.8 | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | L-Mount |
| Stabilization | false | true | false | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | false | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 147 | 176 | 550 | 280 | 649 | 413 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | HLA | VXD linear motor | STM | stepping motor | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | macro | telephoto | zoom | prime | wide-angle | macro |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laowa VE2414C | 13.9 | 35.2 | 94.7 | 99.4 | 98.1 | 51.2 | 43.6 | 34 | 89.9 | 34.5 |
| Sigma Sports 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS Compare | 53.3 | 87.2 | 93.2 | 46.2 | 99.7 | 79.1 | 62.7 | 79.6 | 89.9 | 99.9 |
| Tamron Di III 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Compare | 98 | 81.2 | 63.1 | 83.9 | 87.9 | 79.1 | 79.9 | 78.6 | 89.9 | 34.5 |
| Meike Neo Series MK-5514STM-Z Compare | 85.5 | 94.9 | 72.8 | 94.6 | 49.7 | 94.8 | 79.9 | 34 | 89.9 | 79.7 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Compare | 85.5 | 81.2 | 55.5 | 97.6 | 82.5 | 79.1 | 0 | 69.2 | 89.9 | 79.7 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare | 53.3 | 71.9 | 73.7 | 87.8 | 91.2 | 65.6 | 0 | 95.9 | 89.9 | 99.5 |
Common Questions
Q: Does the built-in LED light need a battery?
Nope, it's powered over Micro-USB. You'll need to plug it into a power bank or your camera's USB port if it supports output, but there's no battery included in the box. Annoyingly, you've got to manage an extra cable dangling from the lens.
Q: Can I shoot portraits or landscapes with this?
Not really. The f/14 aperture and manual focus make it a pain for anything that moves, and the focal length is designed for extreme close-up work. You could force it, but you'd get soft, weird images and hate the experience. Grab a fast 24mm prime instead.
Q: What's the minimum focusing distance?
The lens itself can be as close as 0.8 inches from the subject at the working end, but the full rig is 1.3 feet long, so you'll be a comfortable distance away. It's great for skittish bugs or delicate setups.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a versatile prime to toss in your bag for everyday shooting, walk away. This isn't it. Go grab a Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM or even the cheap and cheerful Viltrox AF 24mm f/1.8 instead. They'll give you a fast, general-purpose wide-angle without making you hate your life.
Verdict
Get the Laowa 24mm f/14 Probe only if you know exactly what it does and you have a specific project that demands its magic. It's not a lens you impulse-buy. We recommend it wholeheartedly to the tiny audience of photographers and videographers who need that impossible, bug-like perspective, and we'd wave everyone else away from it without hesitation. The learning curve is steep, the light requirements are punishing, and the price is high. But when it delivers, it's spectacular. If you're still on the fence, rent one first and see if the weirdness speaks to you.
