AstrHori has introduced a new wide-angle macro lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras, the 25mm f/2.8 2x-5x. The lens is available in several mounts, including E, X, RF, Z, and L.

The lens has ten elements in seven groups, including two ED glass optics and a couple of high-refractive glass lenses. The lens offers high-definition image quality and high resolution throughout the frame, even at 5x magnification.

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 in 5x magnification. Magnification is adjustable by turning the lens barrel, which expands the lens from 102mm to 174mm. The lens barrel features markings that indicate the magnification from 2x to 5x in 0.5x increments.

In addition to manual focus, which is controlled by a large textured focus ring, the lens has a clicking aperture control ring with an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/16. The minimum aperture of f/16 is relatively bright for a macro lens, which may affect depth of field.

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.”

Essentially, AstrHori is claiming that because the 25mm f/2.8 2x-5x has a larger focal length than many macro lenses, which are typically at least 50mm and sometimes 105mm or beyond, the depth of field is bigger, requiring the photographer to shoot fewer shots for a focus stack. At the very least, it makes sense. Of course, because the lens is manual focus, it will not operate with the automated focus stacking functions found in many mirrorless cameras.

Here are some sample pictures: