Laowa 25mm & MP-E65

Actually, this seems like a job for Magic Lantern.

how do the focusing distances compare? Not having to touch your subject with the lens is a big plus.

T3 Heavy Shop wrote in post #19074042
how do the focusing distances compare? Not having to touch your subject with the lens is a big plus.

The MP-E 65mm will give you a working distance of 67mm at roughly 2.5x, 51mm at 3x, 44mm at 4x, and 41mm at 5x. Divide the distance by 25.4 to get the inches if you're metric challenged

racketman wrote in post #19072948
For ease of use go with the MPE.

Why is the Laowa harder to use? For the aperture, is it really difficult to use it?
I am a bit unhappy with the MPE at the moment as it has just broken again in less than 3 years.
I really like it but I am worried that I can see myself on holiday and not able to use it.

davholla wrote in post #19079363
Why is the Laowa harder to use? For the aperture, is it really difficult to use it?
I am a bit unhappy with the MPE at the moment as it has just broken again in less than 3 years.
I really like it but I am worried that I can see myself on holiday and not able to use it.

Easier to use because the Laowa starts at 2.5x and has a manual aperture.

Also the Laowa hasn't been out long enough for there to be issues with it like the MP-E has...

I really don’t see anything mechanical likely to go wrong with it.
Built about as solid as you could ask.

Main thing is manual aperture I suppose. Only a Really big problem if one is overly spoiled by modern automation. seriously, I personally used manual bellows for so many years it not that big a deal (mostly)

It also doesn’t have filter thread. Only a twist on front lens cap. If one can find spare lens caps (I haven’t) and removed the center, then an adapter could be made for attaching twin lights,etc.

I haven’t had mine long enough to say much more except, I’m happy with my choice. I have several options to reach 1-2+#, and it fits my wants/needs when I want more #.

On mirrorless the only thing with the stopped down usage is getting stuff in precise focus but with focus aids its not an issue really. I'm a noob and find those magnifications very difficult though my new favorite is the 65mm 2x macro so I'm slowly getting there.

If you can live with live view then the Laowa is a good choice but it’s harder to get a stable platform if hand holding with live view.
I have the impression depth of field is a bit less with the Laowa but that may be my imagination, I haven’t done tests.

Even with an LCDVF loop to help stabilize a 90D in Live View with the Laowa,
holding it steady enough for in focus exposures at those magnifications is beyond me.
Focus by optical viewfinder seems quite off from Live View,
so the Laowa gets used with its companion light ring on a copy stand.