Product Reviews

I had a full frame Alph850 camera. This is a very robust camera which I didn't want to replace as it's still work wonderfully. I just wanted a simple lens and the 50mm micro didn't let me down. It was very sharp as for most micro lenses. Colour fidelity was great. Great as a walk around lens. Only problem is it may hunt while focusing and use the focus limiter switch to reduce such hunting. Overall, a good buy.

This lens is hard to beat for sharpness. I think the 100mm f2.8 macro has a slight edge on it due to the focusing distance on live insects. The 50 sometimes focuses too close and the insects fly away. This lens also doubles as a great portrait lens as well as being good for landscapes. On a APS-c sensor camera it works as a 75mm making it close to the 85mm 1.4 as a reasonably priced substitute. If your on a budget and looking for a Macro or a Portrait lens. You wont go wrong with this one. .

I have been a Minolta/Sony user for years. Over the years I have preferred fixed focal length lenses to zooms. This lens reinforces that preference. The lens is constructed really well, from the built in hood to the metal lens mount. It has great weight and balance. The focusing motor is smooth and quiet. The F2.8 aperture provides an opportunity for some nice low light shooting as well as a pleasing bokeh when taking portraits. However, the main reason I bought this lens was for its macro capability. I wanted the 1:1 ratio without using close up lenses. I wanted the ability to take macro shots without the use of a tripod. I have what I want with this lens.

This is overall a great lens. It produces very sharp images and is fast enough to do handheld shots at lower ratios than 1:4 magnification. For anything 1:1 through 1:4, I'd highly recommend a tripod as shutter speeds will quickly drop. The focus throw is very long, which means that it is slow to focus in some situations and tends to hunt a lot. The front element is very recessed, so the lens almost works as if it has a built-in hood. Overall, this lens is a rather good value at the price and can be used as a macro or a portrait lens.

Some critics have called this a 'dated' design. What if it was simply done right the first time? Humor aside, I picked this up as a companion for the 100M28, and between the two of them, there are very few macro to normal situations they cannot handle quite competently. A long term keeper.

i've worked with many macro lenses and many cameras, and I have to say that this lens tops them all. As soon as you feel it in your hands you know its just quality. The pictures that it takes are so crisp and bright. It really adds a lot of character to your photos! From the reviews I've read online say that this lens is overpriced, but I completely disagree. For great picture quality, you're not going to get it for pennies. The price is right for this lens!