Conclusion
Pros
- Outstanding image sharpness right from f/2.8 at all focus distances
- Very good bokeh close up
- Excellent color and contrast
- Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled
- Autofocus is quick and accurate in good light
- Solidly constructed lens with very nice manual focus ring
- Optical SteadyShot system is effective to 3-4 stops
Cons
- Quite a large lens for the small E-mount cameras
- Autofocus can struggle in dim light (Update 5/18 – on older bodies)
- Bokeh can get slightly busy and swirly outside of macro range
- Large amounts of focus breathing in the macro range
- Can be difficult to tell at a glance whether you’re in manual focus or autofocus mode
The Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS is a very fine entry into the full-frame E-mount system. It’s optically stunning, with outstanding sharpness, good bokeh in most circumstances, excellent control of chromatic aberrations and very low distortion and vignetting. In good light, autofocus is quick and accurate and the build quality of the lens is excellent. The lens isn’t cheap at $1098, but the optics help justify the high price tag.
The negatives are mostly in usability. It’s a large lens compared to the E-mount cameras, and handling can suffer, especially on those cameras with smaller grips. This is definitely a lens where the nicer grip of the Mark II series of A7 cameras is a nice bonus. Autofocus in dimmer light can struggle at times, and in some circumstances, can struggle mightily. (Update 5/18 – newer bodies like the A7 III and A9 perform much better in this area, with minimal hunting and still quite good speed.) In these cases, switching to manual focus may be necessary.
Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro is an outstanding optic and a great addition to the FE lens lineup.
Image Samples
Click on an image to enlarge
If you enjoyed this review, check out the rest of my reviews in the Review Index
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