Which is lighter, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X?

The Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X weighs 619 g, 131 g less than the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens (750 g).

Which focuses closer, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X?

The Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens focuses down to 0.1 m, against 0.2 m for the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X.

Do the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens and the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X have image stabilization?

No, neither lens has optical image stabilization; rely on in-body stabilization if your camera has it.

Is the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X better for macro photography?

For macro photography, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.1 m.

Is the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X better for portrait photography?

For portrait photography, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X has the edge: it is 131 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens vs Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X

Mitakon 85mm f/2.8 has a wider field of view. Laowa 90mm f/2.8 has a longer reach.

The Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens is an 85mm f/2.8 prime, and the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X is a 90mm f/2.8 prime. On paper the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X comes out ahead, 4 advantages to 3, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens

f/2.8 · 85mm · 750 g

Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X

f/2.8 · 90mm · 619 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens better than the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X?

Wider field of view (85mm vs 90mm)
Focuses 10 cm closer (0.1 m vs 0.2 m)
Smaller filter thread (58 mm vs 67 mm)

Why is the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X better than the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens?

Longer reach (90mm vs 85mm)
131 g lighter (619 g vs 750 g)
More aperture blades (13 vs 9)
Newer design (2022 vs 2019)

Which should you buy?

By use

macro For macro photography, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.1 m.
portrait For portrait photography, the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X has the edge: it is 131 g lighter to carry.

Specification

17 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens	Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X
Focal length	85mm	90mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/22
Lens type	Prime lens	Prime lens
Format	Full frame	Full frame
Weight	750 g (26.46 oz)	619 g ◆
Dimensions	67 x 122 mm	120 x 74 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.10 m (3.94 inches) ◆	0.205 m
Image stabilization	No	No
Weather sealing	—	No
Aperture ring	—	No
Aperture blades	9	13 ◆
Optical construction	12 elements / 8 groups	13 elements / 10 groups
Filter size	58 mm ◆	67 mm
Lens mount	Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K, Sony E, Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X, Canon EF-M	Micro Four Thirds, Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L-Mount
Released	2019	2022
Price	—	$499 launch price

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Mitakon
B · Venus

122 × 67 mm
120 × 74 mm

The Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens is 2 mm longer and 131 g heavier than the Venus Optics LAOWA FFII 90 mm f/2.8 CA-Dreamer Macro 2X.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens