Compare lenses

Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro vs Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH

The Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro and the Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro if you want coverage of full frame, so it suits the larger-sensor bodies too and a fit on more cameras (159 against 25 in this guide). Pick the Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH if you want autofocus; a design for APS-C, which usually means smaller and lighter; and a lighter lens (80 g against 400 g).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro and the Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro	Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH
Maker	Laowa	Leica
Focal length	25mm (macro)	18mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	25mm	27mm on APS-C
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Made for	Full frame	APS-C
Mounts	Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, L-Mount, Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K	L-Mount
Stabilised	no	no
Autofocus	no, manual focus	yesautofocus
Weight	400 g	80 glighter
Cameras it fits	159 in this guidefits more cameras	25 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro: 25mm.

Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH: 18mm on APS-C, like 27mm.

Aperture

Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro: f/2.8 wide open.

Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH: f/2.8 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

25 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body. In all, the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro fits 159 and the Leica Elmarit-TL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH 25.