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Sony 100 mm macro

Susa
in Photography Gear and Technique

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My experience of the rumor [sic] sites down the years is that they rarely have any insight. In general they speculate for clicks, rather than having any proper info. I have seen them wildly wrong in their predictions of items I have already shot.

However, I am inclined to believe this one.

I think an ultimate-quality macro from Sony is overdue. I had hoped they may also choose a focal length that would differentiate it from their existing offerings (100 vs 90 is not really different) - but I also see how 100mm is probably the sensible choice for them when competing with Canon and Nikon.

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    It's a little off-topic, but not too much. Many updated versions of lenses are coming out (and honestly, some were not needed). But the fisheye lens is still a missing piece. Also, the old Canon 8-15 mm lens is no longer made.

    In the good old days of M43 cameras, both Panasonic and Olympus quickly add their fisheye lenses to their catalogs. IIRC, Olympus even had a PRO version. There must be a curse because Panasonic has never made a fisheye lens for its L-mount full frame cameras.

    It's a conspiracy! 😆

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    34 minutes ago, Davide DB said:

    But the fisheye lens is still a missing piece. Also, the old Canon 8-15 mm lens is no longer made.

    Sony and Nikon shooters have the best fisheye made, RS 13mm. There is no need to invent the wheel again?

    28 minutes ago, Nikolausz said:

    Sony should upgrade the 50mm macro first including IF and faster AF mechanism.

    This is where the rumored Laowa lens comes in.

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    5 hours ago, Sokrates said:

    Sony and Nikon shooters have the best fisheye made, RS 13mm. There is no need to invent the wheel again?

    This is where the rumored Laowa lens comes in.

    Perhaps, but first you have to find one and keep it alive. T here's no substituent for a proper AF fisheye IMO and a fisheye zoom is just so versatile, which is why people are mucking around with using Sony 2x on on an adapted Canon 8-15.

    With the Canon 8-15 being discontinued it means that even if it's replaced by an RF version it only helps CANON RF users and won't be adaptable to Sony. Nikon still seems to be making their 8-15 for now though.

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    Very interesting, but as praised, it is more a replacement of the old 90mm G lens, rather than a new, additional, option increasing the palette of available focal lengths. I see myself investing $$$$ for the new macro lens plus port (this time I will try to get the shortest N100 port available and use N100 extensions (in case doable)) and in the end I will have have, more or less, similar results as right now (90mm Sony macro lens with dedicated N100 port)...😁

    (but who knows, maybe the new lens offers new exciting features, e.g. more native magnification, similar to 90mm lens + SMC-1?)

    Wolfgang

    Edited by Architeuthis

    • Like 2
    • 2 months later...

    Just to get in the ballpark price wise the Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens, a 1:4 lens retails in the US for $1600.00. It will be interesting to see if this lens if/when it arrives will exceed 1:1 perhaps 1.5:1 or greater. Along with the 100mm macro rumor was a Sony 10% price increase rumor which could put this new lens out of reach for many.

    For me the best value in this focal range is the still $699.00 Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di III VXD 1:1 Macro Lens. It surpasses the now over 10 year old Sony FE 90mm G macro in just about every way. I reviewed this lens in uwpmag.com issue #142 a few months ago for anyone interested.

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    2 hours ago, Hunting for Paradise said:

    Man I hope this rumour turns out to be true ! Fingers crossed for something that offers more than 1:1 magnification, not just for underwater but above water too...

    I am not sure that there was ever a "serious" rumor for magnification >1x (maybe just wishful thinking of us Sony users 😆), but yeah - this would make this lens a "no-brainer" also for me...

    (The Tamron 90mm is not only cheaper and clearly sharper compared to the Sony 90mm (see e.g. here:

    The-Digital-Picture.com
    No image preview

    Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS Lens Image Quality

    View the image quality delivered by the Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS Lens using ISO 12233 Resolution Chart lab test results. Compare the image quality of this lens with other lenses.

    , but when it comes to f/11 or smaller, the difference is pretty small...)

    Edited by Architeuthis

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    I feel that the Tamron 90mm and Sony 90mm are close to indistinguishable in real world underwater shooting. I have used the Tamron more this year than the Sony, but both are currently in my bag here in Canada, as the 90mm is such an important focal length for Sony users underwater, that I like having a back up on trips.

    But I also think that the Tamron is one of those measurebator favourites - yes, very marginally better, but far more noise is made about it, than real world performance gain. The Tamron is not worth upgrading to from the Sony - they are just so similar. Of course, if you are starting from scratch then its price makes it the better choice (but do be aware that being slightly shorter it does cut off 'vignette' slightly on some ports/wet lens combos specifically designed for the Sony 90mm). However, if a 100mm is coming soon - I would not encourage anyone to buy a Sony-fit macro lens right now until they see what appears and at what price.

    2 hours ago, Architeuthis said:

    (The Tamron 90mm is not only cheaper and clearly sharper compared to the Sony 90mm (see e.g. here:

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    • Author

    Even Mark Galer is talking about it, and when you read his own comments, I think 🙃 .....

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    Sonyalpharrumors has now posted two photos of the Sony FE 100mm F/2.8 GM OSS macro they say will be announced next week on 9/30. The lens appears to have 1.4:1 magnification and an expanded 0.7 (up from 0.5) to 0.26 meter macro range like the Tamron 90mm F/2,8 macro.

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    5 minutes ago, Phil Rudin said:

    Sonyalpharrumors hat jetzt zwei Fotos des Sony FE 100mm F/2.8 GM OSS-Makros gepostet, von dem sie sagen, dass es nächste Woche, am 30.9., angekündigt wird. Das Objektiv scheint eine Vergrößerung von 1,4:1 und einen erweiterten Makrobereich von 0,7 (von 0,5) bis 0,26 Metern zu haben, wie das Tamron 90mm F/2,8 Makro.

    Sounds very interesting to me! I've been waiting more than six years for a new Sony macro... f/22, let's see what happens on Tuesday.

    Just hoping the price wont climb too high as it is GM lens.

    Sonyalpharumors guesstimate that very close to 2k USD. Yikes.

    Is it going to be 1.3k better image quality than the Tamron? Doubt it.

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    On 9/26/2025 at 8:16 PM, Sokrates said:

    Just hoping the price wont climb too high as it is GM lens.

    Sonyalpharumors guesstimate that very close to 2k USD. Yikes.

    Is it going to be 1.3k better image quality than the Tamron? Doubt it.

    Looks to be actually not that expensive if this is true:

    Sony Hong Kong already listed the lens with the code “SEL100M28GM“. Price is 10,490 Hong Kong Dollars which is about $1350 in USD. But I suspect real final USD price will  be higher due to tariffs.

    It seems that the TCs not only increase working distance at a given magnification, but also maximum magnification is increased (minimum working distance of the entire lens remains the same)...

    e.g. here: https://coinimaging.com/teleconverter.html

    seems we get 100mm, 140mm and 200mm macro lens with 1.4x, 2x and 2.8x max. magnification (and more, probably even SMC-1(3) will work)...😍

    I will wait now for serious reviews for the lens (with and w/o TCs) and in case they are good, I ought to invest some money at the beginning of next year...😄

    Here another interesting description of the new lens: https://petapixel.com/2025/09/30/sonys-new-100mm-f-2-8-macro-gm-is-its-best-macro-lens-ever/

    Edited by Architeuthis

    • Like 2

    I've ordered one. No idea on wait, but it would be conveninet if it came in time for my Lembeh trip in November.

    Very happy that it will work with TCs - something I used to value greatly with my Nikon 105mm - for certain subjects and for adding lens options with little baggage cost for travel. This shot is a Nikon 105mm and 2x TC:

    CAY12_am-24235.jpg

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    Like Alex I have already preordered this new lens and intend to sell my Sony 90mm and Sigma 105mm keeping the Tamron 90mm as a backup. I already own the Sony 1.4 X teleconverter which will get the lens to 2:1 with the addition of about 15mm's of port extension. I will wait to consider the 2X tele after trying out the 1.4 X.

    Being able to use teleconverters is a big advantage over the excellent Canon 100mm 1.4:1 macro.

    PetaPixel
    No image preview

    PetaPixel | Photography and Camera News

    PetaPixel is a photography news site that covers photo and camera news, reviews, inspiration, and education.

    has the lens shipping on November 13th.

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    Most likely Nauticam atleast will make a new port for this.

    20mm extension with the current port might work.

    Or some combination from N120 ports and 35.5mm N120-N100 adapter.

    But luckily the lens is cheap 🤣

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