10 Best Macro Lenses 2025 in the United States

The AstrHori 25mm F2.8 macro lens is designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, especially Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma L-mounts. It offers an impressive 2x to 5x magnification, which is higher than many standard macro lenses, allowing you to capture extremely close-up details of tiny subjects. The working distance of about 37.5 to 45mm helps you set up lighting and composition without being uncomfortably close to the subject.

The 25mm focal length is shorter than usual for macro lenses, but this actually gives you a larger depth of field at these magnifications, making it easier to keep more of your subject in focus and reducing the need for complex photo stacking. With a bright maximum aperture of f/2.8 and an 8-blade iris, the lens performs well in low light and can create smooth background blur (bokeh) that highlights your subject nicely. The lens construction includes 10 elements in 7 groups, featuring specialized glass to reduce distortions and improve sharpness.

This lens is manual focus only and does not have autofocus, which may be challenging if you're used to quick focusing systems, especially at high magnifications where precise manual focus is critical. There is no image stabilization built-in, so using a tripod or steady hand technique is recommended. The build feels solid, but the lack of autofocus and stabilization means it’s best suited for photographers comfortable with manual precision work. It is a strong choice for enthusiasts eager to explore extreme close-ups with excellent image quality and depth of field control, provided they are okay with manual focusing and stabilizing their shots themselves.

The APEXEL 100Ultra Macro Lens is designed to enhance close-up photography on smartphones, especially for capturing small details like flowers, insects, and jewelry. It offers a versatile focal length range from 50 to 110mm, allowing you to shoot from a comfortable distance without disturbing your subject. This is ideal for nature photography where getting too close can scare away insects. The lens features a large aperture of f/1.05, which allows more light to enter, helping to create a beautiful blurred background (bokeh) and improving performance in low-light conditions. With 10X magnification, it reveals tiny details that are usually hard to see with the naked eye or a regular phone camera.

Optically, it includes multi-lens elements that reduce reflections and lens flare, resulting in sharper and brighter images. The inclusion of a cold shoe mount for lights and a filter thread for attaching external filters adds creative flexibility, making it more than just a basic clip-on lens.

This lens is a solid choice for smartphone users who want to explore macro photography without investing in professional equipment. It is particularly suitable for hobbyists focused on nature, food, or small object photography who can manage manual focus and steadiness. While it delivers impressive magnification and low-light performance, achieving the best results requires some patience and careful handling.

The Laowa 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe lens for Sony FE is a unique macro lens designed for those who love to capture intricate details in their photography. Its standout feature is the long, tubular 15.7-inch barrel, which allows photographers to get close to subjects without disturbing them or needing to maneuver into tight spaces physically. This makes it particularly useful for shooting in environments where getting physically close to the subject is challenging, like wildlife or delicate botanical photography.

At 24mm, it offers full-frame coverage, which is great for those using both 35mm full-frame and Super35 sensors. The wide-angle design provides a deep depth of field, enabling more background details to be captured, which is beneficial in adding context to macro shots. However, the maximum aperture of f/14 is relatively narrow, which might require additional lighting or higher ISO settings to compensate for lower light situations. Thankfully, an integrated LED ring light at the lens tip helps illuminate the subject when working with such small apertures.

In terms of build, the lens is lightweight at just over a pound, making it easy to handle and maneuver. However, there's no mention of weather sealing, so caution is advised when photographing in wet or dusty environments.

For anyone passionate about macro photography, especially studio and wildlife photographers, this lens offers some unique advantages in capturing hard-to-reach subjects. Just be mindful of the lighting needs due to its small aperture and the potential requirement for manual focus adjustments.