Sony 30mm f/2.8

[Dr. Harout]

I received this lens earlier this week and i have to say i really like it. It's light and compact, sharp and contrasty, and there's no MFD to worry about. It is now glued to my A700 as an all-purpose walkaround lens.

The optical performance is very good with very minor LoCA and corner issues wide-open, but otherwise no real flaws that i can see. In comparison to my Sony 50/2.8 macro, it is not quite as excellent, but it is fairly close and beats most non-macro primes in this class IMHO. The bokeh is pretty smooth and pleasant; i haven't been able to provoke any nasty bokeh from this lens so far, although you can notice faint LoCA colouration wide-open depending on the background.

Indeed, serious macro shooters might prefer a much longer focal length macro for increased working distance, but I think this will do just fine for a regular photographer who just wants to do some close-up shots every now and then.

As far as the build quality goes, i'd say it's fairly good for the price. I think it's better constructed than the kit lens and don't imagine it would fall apart anytime soon.

Personally, I think this is an excellent choice for a compact normal / all-purpose walkaround prime for an APS-C body and highly recommend it to anyone looking for something light and compact with excellent IQ at a low price. I love this lens!

P.S. Good call, David! Thank you for posting your thoughts on this lens

Thank you Catalytic for your input and welcome to the forum.
I'm decided for the purchase of this lens.

[David Kilpatrick]

It beats the 50mm Minolta AF I sold in one important respect - the 50mm could not be used for my studio product photos, ever, because of the single bright flare spot always produced by sensor reflection off the rear element, from my white background.

The 30mm is completely free from this and as a result the contrast in everyday situations is also better.

David

[Dr. Harout]

It beats the 50mm Minolta AF I sold in one important respect - the 50mm could not be used for my studio product photos, ever, because of the single bright flare spot always produced by sensor reflection off the rear element, from my white background.

The 30mm is completely free from this and as a result the contrast in everyday situations is also better.

David

Today I received the latest issue of Photoworld, thank you David.
I always believed in the magic of Photoclubalpha and mentioned that several times in this forum. And once again the magazine proved that. The first major article within was on this particular lens (SAL30M28). A very interesting article (for me at least). As if it was written for me.
Though I was quite decided to purchase the lens now I'm eagerly searching for someone coming from abroad to bring it with him/her (unfortunately we don't have that lens here ). And that, after reading in the article about the possibility of copying slides... OK, I won't spoil it, just read the article, which I highly recommend.
Thanks again David.

[catalytic]

Today I received the latest issue of Photoworld, thank you David.
I always believed in the magic of Photoclubalpha and mentioned that several times in this forum. And once again the magazine proved that. The first major article within was on this particular lens (SAL30M28). A very interesting article (for me at least). As if it was written for me.

Thank you for the welcome Dr. Harout. Is this article specific to the print magazine? I cannot find said article on the PCA website...

[Dr. Harout]

Is this article specific to the print magazine? I cannot find said article on the PCA website...

Yes, it's in the magazine (a must have/subscribe magazine btw).

[R B Janes]

@David: In your review in the magazine, I got the impression that the lens zooms wider as you focus closer, but if I switch to manual focus and stop the lens right down with DoF preview the lens seems to zoom in (ie focal length gets longer) as I focus closer.. What am I doing wrong?

Bob

ps. I was also trying some experiments with the lens on a film body and was surprised that darkening in the corners did not appear too bad (could look different when I process the film of course).

[David Kilpatrick]

You see the 'zooming in' effect because the closer focus is greater than the shortening of the focal length. The actual angle arrows, but only because the lens is focused closer. It would need to shorten by an extreme degree - to something like 12mm not 24mm - if you were to see otherwise.

David

[Dr. Harout]

Shot with A700 at ISO 320, 1/500s, f/7.1


and 100% crop from the upper edge, cropped from camera jpeg, not processed RAW and without PP nor in camera sharpening or anything else!

[Dr. Harout]

ISO 400 1/100s f/5.6

out of camera jpeg, sharpened

[David Kilpatrick]

It's great little lens isn't it!

[Dr. Harout]

It's great little lens isn't it!

Image quality wise: yes and yes.
Construction wise: when first handled there was a problem with the focusing ring, it could just stop somewhere on the macro side and stick. After using a lens cleaning solution 2-3 times, gradually it became smoother. Now I don't see that problem (yet) after many consecutive focusing from macro to far objects and back. But this is something you could close your eyes on and probably related to my copy only.
AF is definitely not silent, so I guess not meant for video neither with the SLTs nor with the NEX series specially the new NEX-VG10 camcorder (probably you don't need sound recording during macro video and you edit it afterward, I'm no expert on that, but using it as a wonderful image quality lens for video will "reward" you with a disturbing and annoying focusing sound).
David you were absolutely right, it's a must have lens.

P.S.: I'm using this lens now, replacing the SAL50M28 for my patients shot.

[Dr. Harout]

Did I say it's very very light?

[Birma]

Hi Doc - thanks for the review notes. It is nice to now have a choice of two 30mm primes in this reasonable price range from Sony.

[Juanito200]

Glad you are enjoying your new lens Doc!! Sorry to hear about the focus ring problem. Mine was fine (not perfect) out of the box. I almost always use MF due to the loud SAM motor. (Significantly Audible Motor?????)
My Minolta 28-85 has been removed from my bag to keep the 30mm 2.8. I love it. P.S. Wonderful shots. John

[Dr. Harout]

Thanks John. As DK said, it's a great little lens.
BTW, no problem yet after the lens cleaning solution, and even more the significantly audible motor became much much much more acceptable. Don't ask me why and how, it just got better.