Sony 100mm ƒ/2.8 macro is a superb macro-focus lens for both close-up and distant subjects. Sony inherited this lens from Minolta, whose design originated in 1986.

This versatile macro-focus lens covers a wide range of photographic applications, from close-up nature subjects to midrange telephoto shots. The lens was designed to cover the entire 35mm film frame, thus it has no problem working with APS-C sized sub-frame digital camera bodies (like Sony Alpha DSLR-A100). On these cameras the lens will produce an effective field of view of 150mm.

Its highlights include:

1. Sharp Macro Focusing - you can get closer to your subject to capture low-angle shots of insects, flowers and other natural wonders
2. Bright f/2.8 Aperture – to capture bright, steady images even working with hand-held camera in low light
3. High Contrast and Resolution
4. Focus Range Limiter – to limit the range of distances that are brought into focus - Close-up Range, or Telephoto Range.
5. Focus Hold Button - can lock auto-focusing.
6. Auto Clutch - in auto-focus mode, the manual focus ring does not rotate

The lens is not very fast in terms of auto-focus; it takes about 1.5 seconds for the lens to focus its range from infinity to close-focus. It also makes a very audible whirring noise while focusing.

Sony 100mm ƒ/2.8 macro shows very good performance when it comes to chromatic aberration as well as to distortion – this is not a problem for it to cope with them. Shading (”vignetting”) is essentially a non-issue for the 100mm ƒ/2.8 macro when on a sub-frame, but corner shading is a bit more prominent for the lens when mounted on the full-frame. On the sub-frame , the Sony 100mm ƒ/2.8 macro produces impressively sharp results even wide open at ƒ/2.8, and when mounted on a full-frame it struggles a little bit.

Sony SAL-100M28 100mm f/2.8 Macro – Specifications:

• Image Circle: 35mm
• Type: Telephoto Prime Macro
• Focal Length: 100mm
• APS Equivalent: 150mm
• Max Aperture: f/2.8
• Min Aperture: f/32
• 9 Rounded Diaphragm Blades
• Lens Construction: 8 elements in 8 groups
• Diagonal Angle of View (Based on image circle): 24 degrees
• Focus Details: Auto Clutch; Focus Hold; Focus Range Limiter
• No Front Element Rotation
• Closest Focus: 0.35m / 1.2 ft.
• Magnification Ratio: 1.0x / 1:1
• Filter Size: 55mm
• Dimensions (Length x Diameter): 98.5mm x 75mm / 3.9 in. x 3.0 in.
• Weight 505g / 1.1 lb
• Included Accessories: SH0007 Lens Hood
• Typical Online Price: US$680

Read a full review at slrgear.com.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 4th, 2009 at 11:37 am and is filed under Lenses, Sony Lenses. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.