Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Review

Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Performance

As it turns out, the resolution tests return some very impressive results. At the centre of the lens, sharpness is outstanding from T/5.6 to T/16 and is still very good at T/22. The edges are very close behind, being excellent at T/5.6, outstanding from T/6.3 to T/11, excellent at T/16 and very good at T/22. This means we have a lens of outstanding sharpness that also has smooth out of focus areas, unlike some ultra-sharp optics where the bokeh can be a little ragged by comparison.
 

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is very well controlled at the centre of the field, measuring values that will be of little photographic significance. At the edges, CA is higher, but not particularly visible where we are seeing values around one and a half pixels in images almost 8000 pixels wide. If required, the remaining CA can be removed in software.
 

Distortion measures +1.47% pincushion, typical for a short telephoto lens. This too can be corrected in software when needed.

Flare is not really evident anywhere, regardless of how severe the back lighting might be. Contrast is well maintained throughout.

And finally, the bokeh, the quality of the out of focus areas. This is really what the lens is all about and it delivers. The images show outstanding sharpness, combined with a lovely transition from sharp to totally blurred. This is an effect that can look superb and some practice at recognising the best subjects for this will bring rewards indeed. This totally overcomes the downside of some high resolution lenses, where the high sharpness results in relatively clumsy bokeh. The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS lens excels in both areas, sharpness and bokeh.
 

Value For Money

The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS lens costs £1599, which is the highest priced of the available options for other marques. For Sony E cameras it is the only AF choice, but if MF is acceptable then the Laowa 105mm f/2 STF lens costs £749.

Sony Alpha Mount users have had the Minolta designed 135mm f/2.8 since 1999, priced at £1099. Fuji users can enjoy the Fuji 56mm f/1.2 R APD at £1159.

VFM becomes almost academic where there is a unique offering and it comes down to whether or not the photographer finds the price tag acceptable for the benefits offered.
 

For more options have a look at the Top 12 Best Sony E / FE Mount Lenses, or the Top 27 Best Portrait Lenses.

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