Irix 150mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1

£489/$525 A macro lens with more telephoto power

Irix’s 150mm macro is an imposing lens that weighs in at 840g, and comes with a tripod collar. This enables a much better balance in tripod-mounted shooting, especially in portrait orientation. The build quality and finish are impeccable, based on high-quality optical elements and a weather-sealed magnesium alloy barrel. White focus distance and magnification factor scales are clear to see and the 1x macro working distance is longer than with any other lens on test, at 17.5cm.

It’s a manual-focus lens, but the Irix boasts all the necessary electronics for camera-driven aperture control, illumination of focus assist and confirmation lamps in the viewfinder, and the display of exposure settings.

Performance

The long-travel focus ring operates smoothly and has a locking mechanism. However, ultra-fine adjustments for macro shooting can be fiddly. Image quality is excellent in all respects, with impressive sharpness out to the edges and corners of the frame.

N-photo verdict

The weather-sealed construction and finish are absolutely top-notch, and image quality is fabulous.