Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS E-mount lens reviews
reviews found: 17
 Miranda F#47085 date: Apr-20-2025 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I have experience with this lens |
| compared to: | Sigma EX DG OS HSM Minolta 50mm f2.8 macro (original) Tamron 90mm f2.5 macro (MF) Tamron 90mm f2.8 AF (272E) on A-mount camera and A7/LA-EA4. Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro Di USD VC (Canon mount) Sony 85mm f2.8 DT SAM on LA-EA3. Sony 30mm f3.5 DT macro Samyang 18/24/35mm f2.8 FE primes Sony 28-70mm FE OSS Sony 55-210mm E OSS Various film-era 105mm and 135mm f2.8 lenses, MF & A-mount. Many other Minolta & Sony A-mount lenses |
| price paid: | |
| positive: | Terrific macro lens Most of the usual FE refinements |
| negative: | Big and heavy, like so many modern macros OSS & focus not as good as Sigma |
| comment: | Only brief trials with this lens, so don't put too much weight on my comments, but in these I did prefer the Sigma, which I found nicer to operate, especially the MF in AF action. |
; 61MP| wilkovanbeek#46964 date: Nov-1-2023 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Zeiss fe 55mm f1.8 za Zeiss fe 35mm f1.4 za Voigtlander 15mm f4.5 Sony 24-105mm f4 |
| price paid: | €700 |
| positive: | Sharp as possible, great colors! |
| negative: | Nothing, except for hunting on less contrast |
| comment: | Great lens for portrets and nature |
| harrypm#46871 date: Jul-9-2022 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sigma 24-105 Art, Olympus OM 135mm, Sigma 17-70 Macro |
| price paid: | £649 (New) |
| positive: | This lens is razor-sharp optics are perfect, The AF is not laser speed but when in locked range it's dead lock-on with eye-af about 95% of the time. The colours feel rich and natural. The lens is balanced and feels solid on the A7RIII with a grip |
| negative: | The focus pull/push ring system is okay but easy to forget. The back Element is open, and there is no gasket. |
| comment: | Makes me want an A7RIV... I purchased this lens from E-infinity to cut down costs its primary use is in a 35mm slide station to select candidates for drum scanning but this is an excellent event/portrait/macro lens. |
| Thalestr#44466 date: Feb-11-2020 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 3 overall: 4.4 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta/Sony 100mm 2.8 Macro Sigma 105mm 2.8 Macro |
| price paid: | $1000 CAD used |
| positive: | Sharpness Weight OSS Silent motor Amazing bokeh Focus "clutch" |
| negative: | Slow to move from infinite to minimum focus Focus "breathing" |
| comment: | Hands-down one of the sharpest lenses you can get, matched with other great features like smooth auto-focus, OSS (works with your in-body stabilization), focus switch built into focus ring like the clutch ring on the Sigma 105mm, and more. It's slow to move from one end of the focus range to the other, but moving within smaller focusing ranges is very fast and about as good as you'll get from AF on a macro lens. A no-brainer purchase if you use E-mount and are a macro photographer. |
| antC#44050 date: Apr-25-2018 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 100mm F2.8 |
| price paid: | 999 |
| positive: | Fixed length barrel SHARP Fast focus |
| negative: | Lens hood goes on a bit tight |
| comment: | I love this lens. I previously used a Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro on A-Mount for taking a lot of photos and it would constantly hunt. Now to have SSM on my macro lens is AWESOME. I use this with the OSS turned on and mated with my A9. It focuses so fast and the system altogether feels so responsive. Very quiet focusing motor. I personally do not hear it as it focuses. There was one time where it started hunting to focus in and out with no end but I figured that was a problem of the body and not the lens. I really like how the lens body doesn't change in length as it focuses. Going to this from a Sony/Minolta 100mm Macro will feel like comparing apples to oranges. Huge improvement. |
| Trued#36802 date: Mar-26-2017 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | World class sharpness. Smart design. |
| negative: | Could be slow when hunting for focus. |
| comment: | A killer lens both for macro and portraits. |
| lupponne#32713 date: Nov-29-2016 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | sal100f28 |
| price paid: | 490 euro (sh) |
| positive: | very sharp |
| negative: | only 2.8 :). a bit slow in af |
| comment: | very good for portraits |
| Hezu#29645 date: Aug-1-2016 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron 90/2.8 Macro, Tamron 180/3.5 Macro, Minolta 100/2.8 Macro, Sigma 150/2.8 Macro |
| price paid: | EUR 975 |
| positive: | + Sharp + Reasonably fast AF (for macro lens) + Internal focus + Focus limiter + Optical image stabilizer |
| negative: | - The focusing scale does not show current magnification when using AF - unlike Tamron macros AF does not work when the AF/MF clutch is in the MF position - With the hood surprisingly long - For certain subjects the minimum focus distance is rather short |
| comment: | Easily the best macro lens for E mount. |
| MartyMoose#28626 date: Jul-9-2016 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony SAL 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 Macro |
| price paid: | $849 USD |
| positive: | Everything. Sharp, sharp, sharp! Image stabilization. Focus limiter. Color. Bokeh. |
| negative: | Nothing so far. |
| comment: | It's a macro meaning focus can be slow in low light or low contrast but in good light I've found the focus speed to be excellent. Sharp, I mean really sharp starting at f/2.8. Punchy colors, beautiful bokeh or out of focus areas. I've got some pretty nice FE prime lenses in my lineup but this one just walks away in image quality. Sony knocked the ball out of the park with this one. If you have an opportunity to get this one, get it. |
| Paul07#28622 date: Jul-6-2016 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 100 macro FE 70-200/4 Minolta 85/1.4 original |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Image quality Build quality No moving external parts (all internal focussing mechanism) AF speed (could be faster, but is OK, considering it is a macro lens) AF limiter is a big plus. SSM is accurate and silent Stabilized |
| negative: | Not really cheap (although normal price for what you get) |
| comment: | I did not have a lot of time yet to take this lens out for a challenge, but I already know this is one of the best lenses I have ever had, if not the best, full stop. Image quality is superb, beating the Sony 100 macro easily. Sharpness, detail, contrast and colour all are excellent, there is no distortion. It surely is doing as good as the 70-200/4, and sharpness wide open accross the frame is even better. Bokeh is really nice. I have only one lens that is doing better from bokeh perspective: the 85/1.4, but the difference is not big. If I recall well, also my former 400G was doing slightly better still from bokeh perspective. But again, the difference is limited and occurs not in all circumstances. Mainly if there are very outspoken bright highlights, the Minolta G's picture them in a little softer, smoother way. ) Build quality of the lens is very good as well. The only part feeling like "plastic" is the hood. The lens itself feels as solid and reliable as can be. Same as the FE 70-200 or 85/1.4, and far better built than the Sony 100. Another big plus, especially over other a- and e-mount macro alternatives, is the internal focussing mechanism. The lens keeps its size at all times, while e.g. the Sony 100 doubles its length when going thru the focussing range (can be pretty annoying when focus distance is really short). Also the focus limiter is more than nice to have. Since macro lenses traditionally are not fast focussing, the focus limiter on this lens is very welcome. I think I will be making use of it quite often, either setting it to really close-by (macro), or choosing all but close-by. When putting it at full range, AF may become really slow (at last on my A7-II). SSM is working just as good as with the 70-200/4, 28/2 or 28-70: accurately, silently (and sufficiently fast when using the focus limiter). Stabilization is doing a good job when combining the lens with the A6000 :-) As a conclusion, I must say this is a remarkable lens, top of the line, and one I believe other lens producers will be envious of. The price is not cheap, but the lens is worth it in my opinion, considering what it all offers. Price of the Canon alternative is not a lot lower, and that one is quite a bit older and is not a match when it comes to IQ. I believe it will be hard for Sony to ever release an improved version of this lens. |
| Cekari#28612 date: Jun-25-2016 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* |
| price paid: | $1296 new. |
| positive: | Sharp, very sharp, on par with my other sharpest lens, the Sony Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T*. Very fast AF, great stabilizer and noiceless. Built like a tank, bearcan anyone? |
| negative: | AF at the chosen aperture on the a7RII. Don't like that at all, I was wondering why it sometimes selected OOF things close and behind the subject. Now I know. |
| comment: | Very pleased with this lens, works really great together with the a7RII camera, unbeatable pair. |
| bms44974#20419 date: Nov-9-2015 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | SAL50M28 |
| price paid: | 1100 usd |
| positive: | I love the focus ring for quick AF/MF switching and fine-tuning focus. |
| negative: | tends to hunt for focus in low contrast situations, but not as bad as SAL50M28. |
| comment: | For the moment, this is the longest lens in my e-mount collection. I've used it for macro and 90mm "telephoto". It is razor sharp on the 42MP sensor. |
| dob2109#18349 date: Sep-15-2015 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Leica Macro Elmarit-R 60 mm Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM Sony Carl Zeiss 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS FE Vario-Tessar T* |
| price paid: | 920€ |
| positive: | Solid as a rock. Stunning sharpness and fantastic colours. Great handling in all terms. I love the ring as an AF/MF-switch, this is a brilliant solution. Very good focus in light conditions. |
| negative: | AF is hunting, when it gets dark. |
| comment: | I finally wanted a light tele made especially for FF E-mount, preferred this against the Batis 85 and am very happy with it, though the Batis is somewhat faster. It makes great pictures, sharpness, colour, distortion, all great. I love that lens more than any other I ever had. |
| dob2109#18348 date: Sep-15-2015 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Double entry |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Double entry |
| negative: | missing |
| comment: | Double entry |
| Dibok#18347 date: Sep-8-2015 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron 90mm USD, Sigma 150mm Compared to Tamron the FE is far better in terms of colors and bokeh. Built quality wise the Tamron can't compete vs the FE. I didn't mind the "plastic-fantastic", the downside on the Tamron was the unreliable wobbling focus ring. Compared to the Sigma (disregarding the fl difference here) the FE is "just" on par. That's not bad, as of the Sigma being close to a perfect macro lens. |
| price paid: | 1.100 € |
| positive: | Very well built, AF/MF Ring, full IF design, very good bokeh, quite fast AF |
| negative: | Tends to hunt focus in bad light conditions, tends to lock AF in "nirwana" under bad lighting (reproducible tendency) |
| comment: | The FE90 is a highly desirable lens. It doesn't leave anything to rave about. Some may complain about its size and weight - with attached hood it is indeed quite long but for me still not too heavy. There seems to be an ugly market tendency (all manufacturers are doing) to milk advanced users by often asking for unreasonable prices. If Sony's (E and FE) lenses would not suffer that often from centering defects ( a friend had it even on the very expensive Distagon 35) I would judge the high price for a quality control extra. But as quality control is not one of Sony's strengths I call the lense for about 20 to 25 percent overpriced. However there is no real choice if you are looking for a great macro lens. And there is no doubt that the FE90 is great lens. |
| Reinhold_1#16320 date: Jul-18-2015 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta AF 2.8/100 mm Macro (D) Minolta AF 4.0/200 mm APO Macro G Minolta M-Rokkor 4.0/90 mm |
| price paid: | 1.100,00 € |
| positive: | Great handling, AF very quiet and fast, AF area limitation, focus hold button, fix total length, sealed, built quality, not realy heavy, sharpness!!!, bokeh!! |
| negative: | Length and volume. |
| comment: | I have this lens for a few days and am thrilled. Compared to the Minolta AF macros 100 and 200 I see it settled on the sharpness performance between both. The advantages in handling but are convincing and the weight is just about acceptable (weighed by me 640 g with Cokin filter and hood). Besides sharpness like with the bokeh of 90 macros exceptionally well - it comes almost to the Bokeh of the 90 M-Rokkors! Conclusion: For me, a kind of "Swiss army knife" at the A6000 and (hopefully soon) at the A7RII. (To be continued.) |
| ijsvogel#16285 date: Jun-29-2015 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.7 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | TAMRON 90MM SIGMA 105MM SONY A 100MM |
| price paid: | 1150 euro |
| positive: | built quality is very good AF/MF ring , very easy to work with the lens is very sharp and fast like the colours and bokeh NOT heavy |
| negative: | the price it cost a lot of , money , the built quality is very good , i think better than the tamron, and sigma , but the price is to much , |
| comment: | awsome lens , if you can buy it , buy it , great combo with the A7-serie superb built quality this lens give`s you very sharp picture`s ,even in low light great for flowers , insects , portraits |
reviews found: 17
rating summary
- total reviews: 17
- sharpness: 4.97
- color: 4.94
- build: 4.76
- distortion: 5.00
- flare control: 4.88
- overall: 4.91
to add your review
you need to login
you need to login