Who is choosing the lens?

Routine coin-listing sellers

You need photographs of complete coins and occasional close-ups for frequent listings. Your existing camera mount determines which of the Canon, Sony or Nikon lenses discussed here you can consider.

Detail-focused numismatic sellers

You need to show small design features, mint marks or engravings. Magnification beyond 1:1 may matter more to you than a less manual shooting process.

Buyers committed to an existing camera system

You already use an interchangeable-lens camera and need to confirm its mount before comparing magnification, stabilisation or controls. The exact mount version also matters when considering the Laowa lens.

What matters when choosing?

Native-mount 1:1 macro

Consider it when: Complete coin faces and routine listing close-ups are your main subjects. Nikon's Z MC 105 mm is a Nikon Z option; Sony's FE 90 mm is a Sony E option.

Trade-off: Their 1:1 maximum magnification provides less sensor-level enlargement than the 1.4x Canon RF or 2:1 Laowa options.

Canon RF 100 mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

Consider it when: You use a Canon RF camera and want the 1.4x maximum magnification Canon specifies for this lens.

Trade-off: It is an RF-mount choice rather than an option for the other camera mounts discussed here.

Laowa 100 mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO

Consider it when: Small engravings or mint marks call for the lens's 2:1 maximum magnification.

Trade-off: Choose the exact mount version carefully: Laowa says versions other than Canon EF are manual and use the aperture ring.

For online coin listings, confirm your camera mount before deciding how much enlargement and close-up control your photographs require.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Mount and life-size capture Confirm the exact camera and lens mounts, then check the lens's maximum magnification. Nikon specifies 1:1 for the Z MC 105 mm; Sony specifies 1.0x for the FE 90 mm. If I photograph complete coins on the camera I already own, I need a matching mount and a lens capable of life-size capture. Around 42% of consumers put that combination first.
Small-detail magnification Compare maximum magnification with the size of the detail you need to photograph: Canon specifies 1.4x for its RF 100 mm, while Laowa specifies up to 2:1 for its 100 mm lens. When a mint mark or fine engraving is the subject, I want it to fill more of the image than a whole-coin photograph would. Roughly 25% of consumers prioritise that extra enlargement.
Close-up handling Check the selected version's focus and aperture controls, and whether its stated stabilisation suits the way you intend to shoot. For repeated close-ups, I need controls that fit the way I set up and adjust each shot. Around 33% of consumers place that handling first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Choosing magnification before checking the mount

    A lens's magnification cannot help with a camera it does not fit. The Canon RF, Nikon Z and Sony E examples serve different mounts, while the Laowa lens comes in mount-specific versions.

    Identify your camera body and mount first. Compare 1:1, 1.4x and 2:1 choices only among versions suitable for that body.

  • Assuming every Laowa 100 mm 2x version has the same controls

    Laowa says only the Canon EF version has a CPU chip and motor for camera-controlled aperture; other versions are manual and use the lens aperture ring.

    Read the details for the exact mount version and decide whether its controls suit the pace of your listing photography.

  • Copying another seller's coin photographs

    The UK Intellectual Property Office says photographs are generally protected by copyright, and copying or sharing an image online will usually require the copyright owner's permission.

    Use photographs you have created or images you have permission to use for your listings, and keep a record of any licence or permission.

Brands and lens ranges to consider

Canon

For Canon RF users considering the RF 100 mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM.

  • Canon specifies 1.4x maximum magnification, a 0.26 m closest focusing distance and up to 5 stops of optical Hybrid IS for this lens.
  • Canon states that its EF12 II and EF25 II extension tubes are not compatible with this RF model.

Nikon

For Nikon Z users considering the NIKKOR Z MC 105 mm f/2.8 VR S.

  • Nikon specifies a Nikon Z mount and a 1:1 reproduction ratio for this lens; it also describes in-lens VR and adjustable manual-focus throw.
  • Its Z mount must be considered against your camera body rather than treated as interchangeable with other mounts.

Sony

For Sony E-mount users considering the full-frame FE 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS.

  • Sony specifies 1.0x maximum magnification, a 0.28 m minimum focus distance and Optical SteadyShot for this lens.
  • Its Sony E mount is not a substitute for confirming compatibility with a different camera system.

Laowa

For buyers considering the 100 mm f/2.8 2x Ultra Macro APO for small coin details.

  • Laowa specifies full-frame coverage and a focusing range from infinity to 2:1 magnification.
  • Laowa says only the Canon EF version has a CPU chip and motor for camera-controlled aperture; other mount versions are manual and use the aperture ring.

Joybuy products for coin photography

Related products coming soon.

Questions about coin photography lenses

Do ordinary whole-coin listings require a 2:1 macro lens?

Not necessarily: a compatible 1:1 macro lens is a starting point for complete coin photographs and occasional close-ups. Nikon specifies 1:1 for its Z MC 105 mm and Sony specifies 1.0x for its FE 90 mm; consider greater magnification when a particularly small feature is the photograph's subject.

Can I buy a macro lens intended for a different camera mount?

Do not assume it will fit or operate as you need. The lenses discussed here include Canon RF, Nikon Z and Sony E models, alongside mount-specific versions of the Laowa 100 mm 2x; confirm your camera body and the exact lens version before ordering.

Does every Laowa 100 mm 2x version offer the same aperture control?

No. Laowa says only its Canon EF version has a CPU chip and motor for camera-controlled aperture; other versions are manual and use the aperture ring. Check the controls of the mount version you intend to buy.

Can a UK seller photograph coins for an online listing?

The Royal Mint says a flat-form reproduction of a coin in advertising or other promotional material is normally permissible when its criteria are met. Check its criteria for your intended image and seek specialist advice if the use extends beyond a straightforward listing, particularly if it involves branding or altered imagery.

Can I reuse another seller's coin photograph?

You will usually need the copyright owner's permission to copy or share it online. The UK Intellectual Property Office says photographs are generally protected by copyright, so take your own listing photographs or confirm that you have permission to use someone else's image.