Tag: Sony A7 cameras

Sony E-Mount Macro Lens Decision

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I’ve been investigating how I wanted to do certain close-up photography work on the Sony E-mount.  Transitioning from the Sony A-mount I had the Minolta 200mm f\4 macro lens.  This is a superb lens but it has a screw drive autofocus system which is not accommodated by the LAEA3 adapter and if used with the LAEA4 adapter forces me to have the so-called “translucent mirror” of the adapter in between the lens and the sensor.  So I went around looking for other options.  I rented the Sony 90mm f\2.8 macro lens.  It is excellent and has an excellent autofocus response with the Sony A7 III camera.  But it is less than half the focal length of the 200mm lens.  I looked at adapting the Sigma 180mm f\2.8 macro in Canon mount with the Sigma Canon to E-Mount MC-11 adapter.  I rented this combination and found the autofocus inconsistent at best.  Finally I tried to find the Sigma 180mm f\2.8 in A-mount and see if the LAEA3 combination would autofocus better.  The A-Mount is not a very popular one so none of the rental places had this lens.  I called up B&H Photo who had the lens and asked them to mount it on an A7 III with the LAEA3 and test the autofocus.  They said the autofocus was fair but completely blown away by the native Sony lens performance.  When I heard this I knew it was time to give up and go with the Sony 90mm f\2.8 macro lens.  I’ll always have the Minolta 200mm for times when I want the extra reach but autofocus is not critical.  But for hummingbird and butterfly shots the autofocus of the native sony E-Mount lenses is more important than the extra focal length.  I ordered it from B&H last night.  Case closed.

What Should Sony Still Add to the E-Mount System?

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After yesterday’s post I thought I’d add a short follow-up addressing the gaps in the e-mount system that I personally care about.  This isn’t a definitive list and feel free to add your two cents.

First off, I think the biggest gap from a professional perspective are the holes in the lens catalog.  These are the telephoto lenses.  A 600mm f\4 is probably the biggest hole.  After that I guess the telephoto zooms like a 200 – 600 f\4.5 – 5.6 would be good.  After that a very bright high-quality art lens like a 50mm f\1.2 would be a nice to have.  And finally, just to stop hearing me talk about it give us a 200mm f2.8 macro.  There I said it.

Now as a Minolta and Sony A-mount owner I would like a version of the LA-EA adapters that allows screw drive lens to be used without a translucent mirror involved.  Come on Sony, do the right thing.

A built-in intervalometer function would be nice.

And finally, most important, Sony you need to completely water seal your professional level cameras.  This will ensure that professional photographers will feel safe investing tens of thousands of dollars in your system.

So that’s my short critique of the Sony e-mount ecosystem.  Other than the long lenses and the water-sealing they are very minor items.  But based on my incredible media clout I expect Sony to acknowledge this order and act on it almost immediately.

So let it be written, so shall it be done.