SEL 30mm f3.5 macro

[Marcell Nikolausz]

I've got this lens few days ago after long hesitations. Actually I was waiting for some better focal length macro. I really hoped that tamron will introduce a 60mm macro or sigma a 70mm macro for NEX, but there is nothing on the horizon only the Zeiss macro. However, I feel that the Zeiss will be overpriced and won't provide any spectacular on macro range. So after long waiting period, browsing the rumor sites I decided to buy the 30mm macro from sony.
The decision was not that easy because the reviews of this lens ranged from bad to not so good category. However the price ( I paid 230 euro) was low enough to do an experiment with it.
I Haven't yet tested so extensively to draw a final conclusion, but so far I like it a lot. I think it's an absolutely misunderstood lens. OK, it's not for everything but more a specific lens, but for specific purposes it seems to me very good. For example for mushrooming it prooved to be excellent. Also for food photography it performs well. Few photos taken with it on NEX-5:




My kids helped me to find the mushrooms and my daughter even posed me to test the non-macro capability of the lens:



Anyone else using this lens??
Cheers

Marcell

[Dr. Harout]

Having used the DT variant on APS-C cameras, I must say it's an excellent lens. If it has the same characteristics of the sel30M35, then you have a wonderful lens. Anyway, your shots prove that.

[Marcell Nikolausz]

Having used the DT variant on APS-C cameras, I must say it's an excellent lens. If it has the same characteristics of the sel30M35, then you have a wonderful lens. Anyway, your shots prove that.

I guess it's based on the SAL design and I have to agree with you that it's an excellent lens. Interestingly the reviews didn't really like it. In my opininion there is more important characteristic of a lens than just "extreme boarder resolution fully opened".

[Dr. Harout]

100% agree.

[Birma]

Nice mini review Marcell. I especially like the orange fungi, and that is a great portrait of your daughter

I had been thinking of this lens but went for the Sigma 30/2.8, partly because some of the reviews put me off, and I normally do macro on my A99. The Sigma is very nice for its cheap price, but not a macro lens .

[Greg Beetham]

Isn't that the one DK thought was pretty good? or was that a different one, if it is I thought he said it was as good for general photography as it was for macro, which dedicated macro lenses aren't all that wonderful at as a rule, macro yes general not so much.
I see it does indeed bash out a jolly decent image in both cases Marcell.
Greg

[aster]

Very nice photos, Marcell.

I love the clarity of the frames and the subjects. The lens is impressive and a good choice for a ens acquisition.

Thanks fr sharing,

Yildiz

[Marcell Nikolausz]

I had been thinking of this lens but went for the Sigma 30/2.8, partly because some of the reviews put me off, and I normally do macro on my A99. The Sigma is very nice for its cheap price, but not a macro lens .

I really wanted to try some macro on my nex. The adapted lenses worked fine but I wanted something small and compact. The not so fine reviews also held me back for a while but it's cheap enough to give a try. I thought that I will resell if I didn't like but it's a keeper.
The other thing is that it fits perfectly to my light (twin-flash adapter) system.

[bfitzgerald]

Isn't that the one DK thought was pretty good? or was that a different one, if it is I thought he said it was as good for general photography as it was for macro, which dedicated macro lenses aren't all that wonderful at as a rule, macro yes general not so much.
I see it does indeed bash out a jolly decent image in both cases Marcell.
Greg

I think DK was on about the 30mm f2.8 SAM Macro a while back, it's the only lens in that range I've not used. Looks decent enough (not 100% sure about the blur quality though from samples I've seen) it's a cheap way to get 1:1 Macro though recent price cut to around £129

This NEX macro is a little more expensive, but yes as the samples show, it looks rather good for an affordable macro lens smoother rendering from the looks of it too.

[Greg Beetham]

Yes I think you are correct Barry.
Greg

[Marcell Nikolausz]

I think DK was on about the 30mm f2.8 SAM Macro a while back, it's the only lens in that range I've not used. Looks decent enough (not 100% sure about the blur quality though from samples I've seen) it's a cheap way to get 1:1 Macro though recent price cut to around £129

This NEX macro is a little more expensive, but yes as the samples show, it looks rather good for an affordable macro lens smoother rendering from the looks of it too.

The background blur is not the best, but considering the focal length it's not a surprise. The lens can be used to include the background as compositional element:


Bokeh (not that nice):


Backlight:

[bfitzgerald]

I don't mind seeing the blades myself (rather than a pure circle) some folks want circles and are very fussy to the point where they freak out with even the slightest thing that might not be perfect. But the number of motion pictures I've seen with clearly visible aperture blades that are not even remotely circular and other faults..makes me think maybe we're a bit too picky at times.

It's hard to tell with any lens because I've seen great blur from iffy lenses, and managed a few times to get bad ones from well known creamy smooth well loved lenses too! Lots of variables here.

[Marcell Nikolausz]

I've started to write a more detailed review of this lens in my blog:
http://fiberstrobe.blogspot.de/2013/10/ ... macro.html

Cheers

Marcell

[Mark K]

Oligarch
Excellent review
I also use this lens with my strobes, too. Mostly underwater.

[Mark K]