BREAKING: Sony has just announced the launch of its highly anticipated 100mm Macro Lens, designed to revolutionize macro photography. This cutting-edge lens promises enhanced magnification and improved background blur, allowing photographers to capture minute subjects with stunning clarity and isolation.
The new lens features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, a minimum aperture of f/22, and supports a 1.4x Teleconverter, enabling photographers to push their macro limits like never before. In a detailed comparison, renowned photographer Alex Cooke puts the 100mm lens through its paces against the older 90mm Macro Lens, showcasing its capabilities in real-world forest settings.
In his latest video, Cooke highlights how the 100mm lens, despite being slightly larger and heavier, introduces an aperture ring, a second custom button, and faster autofocus. He emphasizes the significant improvement in bokeh quality, where backgrounds remain smooth and aesthetically pleasing, even at narrower apertures. This makes it an ideal choice for photographers seeking to capture intricate details without distraction.
The video dives into Cooke’s hands-on testing, where he lies in leaf litter capturing clusters of tiny mushrooms. Using the 100mm lens wide open at f/2.8, he captures dream-like images where only critical details are in focus. Later, he stops down to f/14 to photograph raindrops on autumn leaves, demonstrating how the lens excels in varying conditions.
Cooke showcases the 100mm’s versatility with handheld shots at ISO values around 2,000, illustrating its adaptability for different angles and lighting. He notes that the additional magnification and teleconverter support significantly enhance the shooting experience, allowing for captures that the 90mm simply cannot achieve.
As the demonstration progresses, Cooke pushes the boundaries of macro photography, using the 1.4x Teleconverter to zoom in on minute details, such as individual water droplets and textures of coral-like fungi. He even experiments with a 2x Teleconverter, enabling him to compress distant autumn colors into smooth backgrounds behind tiny subjects.
The 100mm Macro Lens also opens up possibilities for advanced techniques like focus stacking, providing photographers with more tools to create striking images. Cooke emphasizes the lens’s ability to capture microscopic insects and other intricate details, showcasing a level of precision not possible with the older 90mm model.
In light of this new release, Cooke addresses the practical consideration of whether users should upgrade from the 90mm lens, especially as the older model’s prices are likely to drop. He encourages photographers to weigh the benefits of this new lens against their needs and styles.
For those passionate about macro photography, the 100mm Macro Lens from Sony promises to be a game changer. Check out the full video for an in-depth analysis and stunning visuals that illustrate the lens’s capabilities.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting release as photographers around the world begin to explore the possibilities with Sony’s latest offering.
