This US$399 macro lens gives you an incredible 1-5x magnification with built-in light – and the sample shots are just unreal

If you've ever tried macro photography, you know how quickly the limits of gear can show. A proper macro lens doesn't just make things look close, it opens up an entirely new world. And the new Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro lens from Zhongyi Optics (ZY Optics) is designed to do that – and more.

The Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro lens is something I'd call a bit of a unicorn. It delivers insane 1x to 5x magnification range – yes, 5 times life-size – and it's compatible with APS-C, full-frame and medium format systems, including DSLRs. That's basically unheard of at this price point.

When I saw the sample images taken with this lens, it highlighted this next-level detail – you can see the tiny bits of pollen clinging to a bee's fuzz, or the minuscule water droplets sitting like perfect glass orbs on a spider's face. You just don't get that kind of clarity with standard macro gear – and usually not with a sub-$400 lens.

What also makes the Mitakon impressive is the working distance. At 5x magnification, it gives you 65mm of space between your subject and the lens. Canon's legendary MP-E 65mm, by contrast, maxes out at 41mm at 5x.

More space means easier lighting setups, less chance of casting shadows and a better overall experience shooting high-magnification subjects like insects, crystals or texture.

Speaking of lighting, this lens also comes with a built-in front-facing LED, which is supremely helpful for close-up shooting. It's a thoughtful touch that can make a real difference when you're working at high magnifications, where external lights often struggle to reach.

The fact that the Mitakon covers medium format will make certain shooters happy. Most macro lenses are optimized for full-frame and start to vignette when you mount them on something like a GFX or Hasselblad.

But ZY Optics actually designed this macro lens to deliver full coverage across medium format sensors – with no vignetting. And the Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro lens comes in nine different mounts: Sony E, Canon RF and EF, Nikon Z and F, Fujifilm X and GF, L-Mount and Hasselblad X.

Under the hood it features 13 elements in 8 groups, a 9-blade aperture and excellent control over chromatic aberration. It's manual focus only, as you'd expect at this level of magnification, but that's part of the fun.

I can't wait to get this lens into my hands and put it through its paces. A lens like this – with this level of magnification, compatibility, and image quality – would usually cost you close to or over $1,000.

The fact that it's launching at just $399 (around £295 / AU$610) is kind of mind-blowing. So, if macro photography is your thing – or even if you've just been macro-curious – this might be the most exciting piece of gear to drop this year. The Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro lens is available to order now from ZY Optics.

Mitakon 55mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Specifications

Mounts: Canon EF, Canon RF, Fujifilm GF*, Fujifilm X, Hasselblad X*, L-Mount, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Sony E (*full coverage, no vignetting)
Focal Length: 55mm (84.2mm APS-C, 43.45mm GFX / XCD)
Aperture: f/2.8
Magnification: 1- 5x
Angle of View: 1X: 13.7° | 5X: 5.6°
Min. Focusing Distance: 1x: 279mm | 5x: 272mm
Min. Working Distance: 1x: 150mm | 2x: 97mm | 3x: 79mm | 4x: 71mm | 5x: 65mm
Elements / Groups: 13 Elements in 8 Groups
Diaphragm Blades: 9
Focusing System: Manual Focus
Filter Thread: 58mm
Dimensions: 1x: 67 x 87mm | 5x 67mm x 162mm
Weight: 690g

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