100mm Macro: object of desire

[pakodominguez]

A700 + 5600 on wireless hand helded ISO 200
no photoshop at all:
1/60 f9

100% crop

1/100 f11

100% crop

1/60 f13


nice, isn't it?

[jcoffin]

A700 + 5600 on wireless hand helded ISO 200
no photoshop at all:

[ ... photos elided ]

nice, isn't it?

Very nice indeed! The first red flowers are almost unbelievably saturated, while the second white with a purple spiral is very subtle and restrained -- and both exquisitely sharp and detailed. You could hardly ask for better!

[KevinBarrett]

I have seriously considered this lens for if and when I get into macro photography. I wonder how it compares to the Tamron 90mm macro?

[pakodominguez]

I have seriously considered this lens for if and when I get into macro photography. I wonder how it compares to the Tamron 90mm macro?

No Idea. I bought my expensive Minolta lenses when nobody gave a dam for them -I paid about $300 for the 100 Macro at the Adorama Used Department (it's the old one, cosmetics are just OK, but optics Rocks) the only minus is the slow and hunting focus, but I understand the Tamron isn't better in that regard.
I have a couple of portraits of my girlfriend with this lens wide open and it's still too sharp! But for portraits I have another gem, the 100 2.8 SF (David owe us a test of this lens on the A900)

Regards

[KevinBarrett]

That's more or less what I've heard about the Tamron, that it is so sharp it needs to be defocused for portraits. I saw one of those 100mm SF lenses for sale very recently and can't remember where now...drat!

[Dr. Harout]

Oh, the 100/2.8 is on my wish list.

[Greg Beetham]

Very nice Pako, it's a pleasure to use a lens where you don't have to work hard too get a really nice photo, don't you think?

The KM or Sony 100 f2.8 Macro is a lovely lens, the focus is noticeably slow only when the lens has too rack the front element out towards 1:1 for some serious macro work, but for just general closeup type shots where there isn't much racking involved I find it quite ok on my A100 and by all accounts it's supposed to be quite a bit slower than the A700, and I honestly have never really noticed the focus missing and hunting, well it may have done so, but not so much on a regular basis that I made some mental note of it...I think the best way too help would be to try to keep the movements of oneself and camera to a minimum while the camera is focussing. (zero is best of course, but requires a tripod).
Greg

ps. You deserve to have one Doc.

[Dr. Harout]

ps. You deserve to have one Doc.

Thanks Greg.

[BigRich]

I have had my 100 macro since the Minolta days, and it is by far my favorite lens. Really wonderful. Enjoy!

Rich

[TallPaul]

Good deal on the 100mm Macro at A J Purdy at the moment, or at least there was last night...

[sparaxis]

Truly a wonderful lens,

Focus is slow, but the lens is very sharp even at full aperture. Bokeh is nice too.

I bought mine as a short tele instead of the way too expensive Zeiss 85 mm.

I was able to buy a new KM one from B&H for around $100 less than the then new Sony one. No regrets.

(Well, that is not quite true...I love 100 mm on film, but it is too darn long for what I want on my A700. I guess I need that A900 after all)

Alan

[jcoffin]

...I love 100 mm on film, but it is too darn long for what I want on my A700. I guess I need that A900 after all)

Alan

Perhaps I could get you to talk to my fiance about exactly why I also need an A900.

[Dr. Harout]

Perhaps I could get you to talk to my fiance about exactly why I also need an A900.

Would a prescription help?

[Matt_Atkinson]

I love my Sony 100mm Macro. I've heard lots of people criticize the slow AF, but even on my A100 I find it ok - it's not as quick as the 50mm f1.4 by a long shot, but fast enough for me (certainly faster than my 18-200, which is about as slow as I'd wanna go!). AF isn't much use in macro or lowlight work anyway I find, which is mostly what I use it for.
Little things like the non-rotating focus ring are nice to have too.

[jcoffin]

Perhaps I could get you to talk to my fiance about exactly why I also need an A900.

Would a prescription help?

Hmm..."New camera. Take one annually to prevent photographic doldrums..."