UPDATE: Sony has just announced the launch of its highly anticipated 100mm macro lens, designed to redefine macro photography with groundbreaking features. This lens promises to deliver superior magnification and background blur, making tiny subjects appear more prominent and isolated—a major leap from the older 90mm macro lens.
Photographer Alex Cooke demonstrates the lens’s capabilities in a newly released video, showcasing its impressive performance in real-world forest settings. The 100mm lens is slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor but brings significant enhancements including an aperture ring, an additional custom button, and faster autofocus. Most notably, it boasts a magnification increase to 1.4x, allowing for stunning close-up shots that were previously unattainable.
As the video unfolds, viewers witness the differences in bokeh between the two lenses. Side-by-side images reveal how the new model maintains smoother backgrounds even when stopped down, enhancing the overall aesthetic of macro images. Cooke tests the lens’s performance with various subjects, including clusters of tiny mushrooms, while shooting wide open at f/2.8 for that dreamy, selective focus look. He later transitions to f/14, capturing intricate raindrops on autumn leaves while preserving a clean background.
With handheld shots at ISO values around 2,000, the 100mm lens proves its flexibility, allowing Cooke to adjust angles effortlessly. He emphasizes that while the older 90mm lens might have sufficed in some situations, the additional magnification and teleconverter support of the new lens significantly enhance its utility.
The video also explores the 1.4x teleconverter’s effectiveness as Cooke captures minute details—moving from broad images of wet leaves to extreme close-ups of individual droplets. Even at f/14, depth of field remains remarkably shallow at these distances, highlighting the lens’s precision.
In a dramatic showcase, Cooke employs both the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters to compress distant autumn colors into smooth backgrounds, creating a stunning visual impact. He captures minuscule insects on mushrooms, revealing intricate details that the previous model could not achieve.
As the video progresses, Cooke raises the important question: Should you upgrade from the 90mm? With used prices likely to drop now that the new model is available, viewers are left to weigh the benefits of the enhanced features against their existing gear.
Check out the full breakdown in the video above and see how the 100mm macro lens could elevate your photography game. This latest release from Sony is set to capture the attention of photographers worldwide, making it a must-watch for macro enthusiasts.
