New Sony 100mm f/2.8 G Master Lens Announced!
Today Sony has announced the new 100mm f/2.8 G Master lens and it appears to be a beauty. Promising gorgeous Bokeh this lens uses a new optical apodization lens element to deliver these results, along with an 11-bladed aperture. Looks like a fantastic offering once again from Sony. Their G Master line is truly amazing if you do not mind the size and cost. Top tier lenses here from Sony in this line and this one may be their best yet.
YOU CAN PRE ORDER IT AT B&H STARTING THURSDAY, FEB 9TH AT THIS LINK.
Hopefully I can get my hands on one of these to test out soon 😉
Press release below:
Sony Introduces 100mm F2.8 STF G Masterâ„¢ with Highest Ever Quality BokehÂ
FE 100mm F2.81 STF GM OSS Telephoto Prime Lens
A specially designed mid-telephoto, full-frame prime lens, the new 100mm STF is built to produce truly unique, magnificent and beautiful bokeh while maintaining the exceptional standard of resolution that is showcased by Sony’s entire line of flagship G Master series lenses, making it a powerful photographic tool for any portrait, fashion, nature or wedding photographer.
These impressive defocus capabilities are made possible by the lens’ advanced optical structure, as it features a newly designed 11-bladed aperture and a unique optical apodization lens element. Similar to a neutral density filter that increases in density towards the edges, the apodization element creates beautiful transitions of in-focus to out-of-focus areas within an image, making for exceptionally soft, smooth bokeh that adds depth and dimensionality. This allows the subjects to stand out against beautifully defocused elements in both the foreground and background, producing an image that is naturally pleasing to the eye. The design of the lens also ensures that vignetting is kept to an absolute minimum, ensuring optimum image quality.
Additionally, the new 100mm lens supports both contrast AF and focal-plane phase detection AF2, and has a high-precision, quiet direct drive SSM (Super Sonic Motor) system that ensures exceptionally fast and accurate AF performance. The SEL100F28GM also offers up to 0.25x close-up capabilities with a built-in macro switching ring, built-in Optical SteadyShotâ„¢ image stabilization, a customizable focus hold button, AF/MF switch, aperture ring and more. It is dust and moisture resistant as well.
I am also a bit surprised they came out with this focal length….I have both the 85mm GM and the 90mm Macro. I dare say, the 85mm GM is the BEST lens I have ever owned. I LOVE that lens.
I use the 90mm underwater, and also love that lens…why would I need the 100mm? I am sure it is an awesome lens, but why 100mm when they already have the 85 GM for portraits?? Am I missing something?
Strange they go for this lens, we already have the 90 macro which is excellent …
G Master is on another level. Truly is. From color, to sharpness to bokeh. This will be an amazing portrait lens.
Dare I say too much bokeh can be a bad thing where the backdrop is so washed out, there is no resemblance of reality, and sense of connection to the foreground subject matter in focus.
Don’t worry. It is an option. You can use it when you want it, but you don’t need to.
Oooooh, a new STF lens:O
I’m very excited to see how it stacks up to the amazing 135mm STF.
People seem to think this is a standard telephoto prime. It’s not, this is a speciality lens.
Minolta used an apodization element in their 135mm. Nice to know it is being used in serious lenses now. It makes for a nice look.
Since every new lens released since the first GM-lenses has the same
focussing problems on the Emount flagships I wouldn’t expect too much.
These lenses are useless if the firmware won’t be fixed. The focusing
issue on the A7R/SII (not opening the
aperture for focusing in S-AF and C-AF-mode even if preview of settings
is switched ‘off’, rendering the camera useless with GM-lenses + 50 f1.4
in dim light) really has to be adressed. Otherwise I’d recommend not to invest in new lenses!
Yeah, I see the same people posting the same ‘oh it’s so broken’ posts every day. I guess you do a lot of shooting at f11 in the dark with AF-C do you?
D’you know what works well on my Sony A7RMkII..? ..My old, but terrific, Olympus OM ($100) 100mm f2.8 (..and OM 135mm f2.8..) lens. With a cheap’n’cheerful eBay-bought $10 OM-to-Leica M adaptor. And a $379 Techart Leica M-to-Sony-FE AUTOFOCUS(!) adaptor.
Just set the Sony’s image stabilisation to ‘Manual’ and choose 100mm (or 135mm), clip on the Techart, clip the OM-to-Leica M adaptor to the back of the lens ..and there’s an autofocus, high contrast, super sharp, INSTANT-focus 100mm, soft-bokeh, wide aperture, lightweight and tiny 100mm – or 135mm – perfect short telephoto.
It also works on the A7S, too, but with slower autofocus (..the A7S is contrast-detect only..) and without the stabilisation. But the stabilisation’s not really necessary with a 100mm or 135mm.
It’s nice to know that there’s a (bulky) Sony 100mm f2.8 coming soon, but for about one third of that cost the OM 100mm – and adaptors – do the job just fine!
MUCH MUCH different lens in every way, shape and form. This lens is for pros who want the best IQ and Bokeh they can get – wedding, studio, those who get paid for their work. The OM 100 would be more for hobbyists who do not stress over all out IQ and Bokeh or speed. Also, the OM 100 will offer much slower AF using that techart adapter. This lens, much like the upcoming Leica Summicron lenses for the SL use new tech for beautiful bokeh and OOF renderings. The new Leica summicrons will give the appearance that resembles an f/1.4 in bokeh while being f/2, I suspect this is similar.
Wait, summicron lenses for the SL with new tech? Tell me more!
And Steve this isn’t ‘new’ tech, the Minolta STF had been around for about 2 decades, but yes it is a very specialised tool that like all specialised tools many armchair experts simply don’t get.
I agree with you. My OM 100mm F2.8 is a wonderful lens, at a fraction of the cost. The only downside is a bit of distortion, that is easily corrected.
I do mind the size.
I do mind the cost.
Defeats the purpose of ditching the mirror and makes their bodies disproportionate to the size of their new monstrosities.
Fully agree – why going for a smaller, tinier Sony A7whatsoever body when killing its size advantages by raping it by a monster such as G Master lenses…
Then, a Leica M setup has much more charm and style (much more expensive though..)..
I don’t know if ‘rape’ is an appropriate word here.
G-Master 85mm looks a lot smaller than a Zeiss Otus 85mm or Sigma Art 85mm to me, plus add adapter to those, still not seeing an advantage?
People seem to be looking at the base spec and assuming all 85mm f1.4 (or whatever) lenses are the same. They aren’t.
Fully agree!
For my current purposes, I agree that one major advantage of mirrorless is low size/weight possibilities. But even if I needed lenses of this size and quality, I’d still stick with mirrorless. I have no need for a mirror box. My favorite lens to shoot with is still the tiny and versatile Nokton 40mm f1.4, even though I have several technically superior Sony/Zeiss and Batis lenses.
That said, every system has lenses of various sizes for various uses. What’s wrong with that? I don’t buy into the idea that mirrorless bodies must only be used with tiny lenses. However monstrous they may look compared to my smaller lenses, many people who use GM lenses say they balance well. It looks like this lens would give amazing results not obtainable by a smaller and cheaper lens. I am sort of salivating over this lens even though I know I don’t need it and wouldn’t use it much. But I can imagine why it might be ideal for some people.
There are many compact mirrorless options for small people, like you.
So stick to the non G Master lenses…. like the 85mm F1.8 from Sony or Zeiss … or any of the other FE lenses that have very good IQ…without the heft of the GM series…. but a Sony A7r2 together with the GM lenses gives IQ that can’t be beat for the pro… and those lenses with the rumored “A9” will likely be very hard to beat….
Why bother about the size of the lens? You don’t have to buy it nor use it if you don’t want to. There’s people out there who will love this lens and never mind the size. (Or just every now and then ;-).) Providing great (and big) lenses like this doesn’t make the camera body bigger for those who prefer smaller lenses.
I couldn’t agree more. GM seems to stand for G-Monstrosity.
An ultra-compact Sony Zeiss 100/2.8 in the same style as the Sony Zeiss 35/2.8 would have been far more interesting for this system.
Mike, I agree that that would be great to see–something like the tiny Nikon E Series 100/2.8, or Leica’s Tele Elmarit 90/2.8. It probably wouldn’t beat this one in corner-sharpness tests, but it would make for a more portable and inconspicuous combo. I think there’s a place for big, technically perfect lenses (although not for me) and tiny lenses with character. The Sony 85/1.8 announced at the same time might be a good alternative.