Laowa began shipping the Acris 35mm F2.8 1X AF Macro APO at $449 in the US, the company announced today, framing it as the "world's first full-frame autofocus 35mm lens with 1:1 macro magnification."

That is a notable claim for working photographers who have spent years rigging tubes or switching to manual focus for tabletop and product work. The price undercuts every first-party 35mm AF macro — Sony, Canon and Nikon do not currently offer one in this focal-length class.

Laowa has built only five autofocus lenses to date, so the release marks a step forward in its automation roadmap. Distribution strategy splits along mount lines that studios will need to check before ordering.

What mounts get autofocus?

Autofocus versions ship for Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon EF mounts. L-mount alliance users and Canon RF shooters receive manual-focus-only copies. For studios standardized on Panasonic or Sigma L-mount bodies, or on RF for R-system jobs, the AF advantage disappears at checkout.

How does AF actually behave at working distance?

Laowa's macro AF behavior is conditional. From minimum focus to 0.5 m (19.7 in), the photographer must acquire focus manually. Beyond 0.5 m, Laowa says the optic functions like a standard AF lens, providing "fast, responsive, and accurate subject acquisition."

Inside that 0.5-m zone, the AF motor makes fine adjustments suited to focus stacking — a deliberate build choice for product and jewelry shooters running automated rails. Handheld macro shooters at 1:1 will still need to commit to manual acquisition.

What does the optical package deliver?

The construction covers 13 elements in 10 groups with an apochromatic design that Laowa says produces "zero color fringing." No specialty glass appears in the published spec sheet.

Minimum focus in manual mode lands at 18 cm (7.1 in), putting the front element roughly 49 mm (1.9 in) from the subject at 1:1. The F2.8 maximum aperture runs a stop faster than typical macro lenses in this segment, useful for handheld work in mixed light without pushing ISO.

What are the build and weight tradeoffs?

Dimensions shift by mount. The Sony E version measures 114 mm (4.5 in) long and weighs 560 g (19.8 oz). The Canon EF copy drops to 87 mm (3.4 in) and 530 g (18.7 oz).

The AF version carries 9 aperture blades and a 72 mm filter thread. The MF version steps up to 13 blades and a 67 mm thread. Both designs zoom internally, so the barrel length stays constant during focusing — a meaningful detail for rig-mounted and copy-stand shooters.

Laowa seals the barrel against dust and moisture, adds a USB-C port for firmware updates, and ships a programmable function button for mode toggling.

What does this mean for studio gear budgets?

At $449, the Acris sits between budget third-party macros and the $800–$1,200 first-party long macros commonly stocked for product, dental, jewelry and forensic assignments. Studios running mixed-mount fleets will need to weigh single-mount inventory against multi-bay versatility.

Regional pricing outside the US has not been published. The lens is a shipped product, not an announcement — manufacturer sample imagery (a green snake coiled around a branch, credited to Leslie Jie for Laowa) demonstrates the apochromatic claim under field conditions.

Independence labs will now measure real sharpness across that 0.5-m AF transition point and verify the apochromatic claim — the metrics that decide whether the Acris earns a routine slot in working kits or stays a specialty buy.