Very sharp glass! but poor focusing

[Sutlore]

I bought this just a week before reviewing this, so I might not get used to this lense but I can see some flaws.

The optic is so sharp on my A6300. The contrast and colour are outstanding. This is my first and only impressive Sony G lense I have owned.

However, the focus is some sort of poor. In standard mode, it is quick enough to shoot good portraits. Bokeh is very nice and clean. Personally, I really hate onion bokeh from the CZ 55/1.8 for example. The AF does not work so well as I was trying to shoot a flying bee on AF-C in macro mode. And it seems like the focusing motor is too noisy, even Sony said that is quiet:-( Before I wasted 6-7 burst shots to get an in-focus image.

All in all, it is acceptable for the quality and the price. I think there also rooms for Sony to improve the quality of the AF and make it easier to use.

 

[davect01]

Thanks for your thoughts. Indeed, this lens seems to be pretty popular.

 

[Marti58]

That Macro photography is mostly done with manual focusing, it's like that for 99% no matter what brand.

Dedicated macro lenses are known for slower focusing compared to * normal * lenses.

 

[csintexas]

I think that your AF problems probably have more to do with unreasonable expectations for macro.

Or do you have experience with other lenses capable of tracking bees in flight at macro distances?

 

[Almazar80]

It is difficult to capture flying bees with any macro lens. Expecting a macro lens to track a flying object at close distances is asking for a LOT. You'd be better off pre focusing on a spot and wait for your subject matter to hit that spot. Macro lenses are slower focusing than other lenses. The AF is great when used with slower moving or static subjects. Even then, you may want to shoot with manual focusing to make sure that the part of the object you want in focus is actually in focus. Depth of field is quite shallow with macro distances (even with the lens stopped down).

You may want to revise your review of the 90mm macro. It is a great lens; as far as I know, no macro lens can do what you want this lens to do (accurately AF a flying subject close up).

 

[Sutlore]

I am so sorry for the review. It is the first time for me to get in the macro photography experience. I do not really know how much capability of the macro lense should be, and it seems that I expect too much from the lense.

Apart form the limitation of the tracking focusing system in macro mode, this lense is exceptional quality. I will give it 4.5/5 stars for that.

Thank you so much for all the feedback.

 

[Almazar80]

To illustrate how narrow the depth of field is on a macro shot, here is an image I posted earlier of a bee walking out of a flower. This was taken with a manual focus lens (Vivitar Series 1 105mm macro) and an A6300.

For flying bees, it may help if you shoot bees that are flying perpendicularly to the lens plane. You can pre focus at a certain distance and a flying insect that is flying horizontally at that pre focused distance will be in focus. Examples.

Good luck with the macro photography.

 

[davect01]

To illustrate how narrow the depth of field is on a macro shot, here is an image I posted earlier of a bee walking out of a flower. This was taken with a manual focus lens (Vivitar Series 1 105mm macro) and an A6300.

For flying bees, it may help if you shoot bees that are flying perpendicularly to the lens plane. You can pre focus at a certain distance and a flying insect that is flying horizontally at that pre focused distance will be in focus. Examples.

Good luck with the macro photography.

Great samples

--
Novice photobug. Former NEX-3, F3, and 6 owner. Now a proud A6000 owner.

photos A6000

Place where I post my photos

davesnex-3photos.blogspot.com

 

[Angel3010]

How much does this lens cost? And are there any other macro lenses for sony?

 

[Almazar80]

The lens lists for around $1100. There is a 50mm macro for $500 (FE) and a 30mm APS-C macro.

 

[Off The Mark]

How much does this lens cost? And are there any other macro lenses for sony?

If you are willing to use manual focus and an adapter, there are LOT of macro focus lenses available for sony.

 

[FuzzyQball]

Often DOF is minimal in a macro situation, and I could see how that would be challenging!