AstrHori announced an exciting new wide-angle macro lens, the 25mm f/2.8 2x-5x lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. The lens is available in E, X, RF, Z, and L mounts.
The manual focus lens can focus as close as 113 millimeters in 2x mode, 137.8 mm in 3x, 162mm in 4x, and 186.4mm at 5x magnification. Magnification is controlled by rotating the lens barrel, which extends the lens through a range of 102mm to 174mm. The lens barrel has markings detailing the magnification from 2x to 5x in 0.5x increments.
It is typical for macro lenses to get longer as magnification increases, so that’s nothing unusual, although it can affect usability in certain workflows, especially with video rigs.
Alongside manual focus, which is controlled via a sizeable textured focus ring, the lens also has a clicked aperture control ring, with an aperture ranging from f/2.8 to f/16. The minimum aperture of f/16 is relatively bright for a macro lens, which could impact the depth of field.
However, AstrHori explains, “With the focal length of 25mm, it can obtain a larger depth of field than other similar macro lenses at the same magnification, which can reduce the number of photos in depth-of-field synthesis, [making] it more efficient.”
Basically, AstrHori is saying that because of the wider focal length than many macro lenses, which are often at least 50mm and often 105mm or longer, the depth of field with the 25mm f/2.8 2x-5x is wider, meaning the photographer will need to capture fewer images for a focus stack. It stands to reason, at least. Of course, since the lens is manual focus, it won’t work with the automatic focus stacking features available in many mirrorless cameras.
The lens features 10 elements across seven groups, including two ED glass optics and a couple of high-refractive glass lenses. The lens promises “high-definition image quality and high resolution” across the frame, even when shooting at 5x magnification.
The AstrHori 25mm f/2.8 2x-5x full-frame macro lens is available to order now for $249 directly from AstrHori.
Image credits: AstrHori