AstrHori 25mm f/2.8 Macro 2-5x

A macro lens and then some, this specialist optic gives you anything from 2x to 5x magnification, but it's a bit of a one-trick pony

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£199/$249 www.astrhori.cn

Specifications

Mount: Nikon Z

Construction: 10 elements in 7 groups

Angle of view: 20-9 degrees

Diaphragm blades: 8

Minimum aperture: f/16

Minimum focus distance: 37.5-45mm

Max magnification ratio: 2x to 5x

Filter size: N/A

Dimensions: 57x94mm

Weight: 474g

With a typical macro lens that has full 1x magnification, filling the image sensor with something little more than the size of a postage stamp enables incredible levels of enlargement when viewing the resulting images on screen or in print. This AstrHori lens gives comparatively super-sized enlargement. From one end of its focusing range to the other, it gives from 2x to 5x macro magnification, revealing the tiniest of details with an almost microscopic view.

The concept of this lens isn’t entirely new. There’s a similar Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5x Ultra Macro, which costs around £409/$399, but the AstrHori 25mm f/2.8 Macro 2-5x is available from the company’s own website in Nikon Z mount option for the relatively inexpensive price of £199/$249, at the time of writing, which includes shipping (although the buyer is liable for any import duties).

Design and handling