Released too late for our major group test of macro lenses in issue 171, Sony’s new offering is now present, and looks very much correct.
It’s a full-frame format E-mount optic that’s ideally suited to the Alpha 7 series of camera bodies, further extending the appeal of Sony’s Alpha E-mount system.
A prime lens in every way, it boasts excellent build quality and a host of high-end features, along with a short telephoto focal length and full 1.0x or 1:1 magnification at its shortest focus setting.
Build & handling
The quality glass includes aspherical, ED and Super ED elements, plus Nano AR coating. There are 15 elements in all, arranged in 11 groups.
Further highlights include DDSSM (Direct Drive Super Sonic-wave Motor) autofocus; an OSS (Optical SteadyShot) stabiliser; a three-position autofocus limiter switch that includes full-, short- and long-range settings; a focus hold button on the side of the lens barrel; and a well-rounded nine-blade diaphragm.
There’s no full-time manual override of autofocus as such. Instead, you can switch between autofocus and manual focus by nudging the focus ring forwards or backwards.
The manual focus ring has a fairly long travel and operates very smoothly, enabling precise adjustments. One downside of the system, however, is that the focus distance scale is inactive during autofocus.
Performance
Autofocus is fairly fast, near-silent and, coupled with an A7-series camera, extremely accurate. Sharpness and contrast are very good, even at the widest available aperture of f/2.8, which enables a tight depth of field for portraiture and other short telephoto shots.
As with competing stabilised macro lenses, the effectiveness of the stabiliser is greatly reduced at very short focus distances.
Lab Results
Specifications
Full-frame compatible
Yes
Focal length
90mm full-frame;
135mm APS-C
Image stabiliser
Yes
Min focus distance
0.28m
Max magnification factor
1.0x
Manual focus override
Push-pull focus ring
Focus limit switches
Yes
Internal zoom/focus
N/A / Yes
Filter size
62mm
Iris blades
9 (rounded)
Weather seals
Yes
Accessories
Lens caps, hood
Dimensions (D x L)
79 x 131mm
Weight
602g
Price
£900/$1,100
Verdict
The Sony is equally adept as a close-up macro lens and a short telephoto with attractive bokeh, but UK pricing is high.
Features: 4.5/5
Build & Handling: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value: 3.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
READ MORE
Sony lenses explained: which lenses to use on which cameras
Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Sony A7 II
Sony A7S II vs A7 II vs A7R II: which should you buy?
The post Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS review appeared first on Digital Camera World.