SAL 30mm F2.8 Macro
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:54 pm
Was never a lens on my to get list, but I ran across a deal on eBay for used one (has a few cosmetic marks nothing major) for a meagre €60 from Portugal. That's way lower than the used price usually is and some are still selling it new for £150+
This has the same Xmas cracker style build as the other one I have the 35mm F1.8
Reason for getting it, unboxing and stuff the 100mm is a great lens but FOV is 150mm on crop and I use it more for portraits or low light when I need more reach.
Optics are quite good it's very usable at F2.8, again I have to disagree with some reviews it's not crazy sharp but it's certainly quite good, and not at all soft and improves as you close the aperture. Stopping down it gets decent on the edges, though not quite as good as the middle - still quite acceptable. Having used the SEL 30mm F3.5 on a friends camera once it's not nearly as well made, but optically crushes it, that lens is just awful outside the central area even stopped right down - mush.
Downsides no advantage to the SAM motor (not that quiet nor faster than screw drive), close focus is very near the subject and can block the lighting (only a few cm from the filter thread). Rendering has some outlining in highlights, but importantly not the double edge black lines I dislike intensely, it's pretty good not great for this and not awful either. More an issue for longer away shots, good enough for close up.
It does just about cover the full frame on the A99 (with notable vignetting)
A77ii rendering
F2.8 v F4 middle At the right price probably worth a look that's silly cheap for a macro lens
This has the same Xmas cracker style build as the other one I have the 35mm F1.8
Reason for getting it, unboxing and stuff the 100mm is a great lens but FOV is 150mm on crop and I use it more for portraits or low light when I need more reach.
Optics are quite good it's very usable at F2.8, again I have to disagree with some reviews it's not crazy sharp but it's certainly quite good, and not at all soft and improves as you close the aperture. Stopping down it gets decent on the edges, though not quite as good as the middle - still quite acceptable. Having used the SEL 30mm F3.5 on a friends camera once it's not nearly as well made, but optically crushes it, that lens is just awful outside the central area even stopped right down - mush.
Downsides no advantage to the SAM motor (not that quiet nor faster than screw drive), close focus is very near the subject and can block the lighting (only a few cm from the filter thread). Rendering has some outlining in highlights, but importantly not the double edge black lines I dislike intensely, it's pretty good not great for this and not awful either. More an issue for longer away shots, good enough for close up.
It does just about cover the full frame on the A99 (with notable vignetting)
- DSC02512.jpg (433.94 KiB) Viewed 7341 times
- DSC02506.jpg (195.33 KiB) Viewed 7341 times
F2.8 v F4 middle At the right price probably worth a look that's silly cheap for a macro lens