Product Description

A compact macro-focus lens that covers the full range from life-size to infinity. Life size macro imaging means that the image you capture is the same size as the subject in reality giving you spectacularly sharp photos of insects, flowers, gemstones, postage stamps and other small nature subjects and collectibles. Mounted on the Sony DSLR-A100 camera, this lens provides a 75mm focal length (35mm equivalent) which means it can also be used as a standard and midrange telephoto lens. Focus Hold Button - For full creative control, a focus hold button located on the lens can lock auto-focusing Auto Clutch - In auto-focus mode, the manual focus ring does not rotate which improves handling ease Circular Aperture - Because aperture blades form a near circle at the wide openings used for low-light shots, spot-light sources have a pleasing circular defocused effect 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Focal Length 35mm Equivalent - 50 mm Min Focus Distance - 7.8 inch (20 cm) Aperture Maximum - f2.8 Aperture Minimum - f32 Maximum Magnification - 1.0x Lens Construction - 7 elements in 6 groups with 7 aperture blades Filter Diameter - 55 mm Dimensions - 2-13/16 x 2-3/8 inch (71 x 60 mm) Weight - 10-3/8 ounces (295 gram)

Product Details

• Brand: Sony
• Model: SAL50M28
• Released on: 2006-08-01
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 2.00" w x 4.00" l, 1.50 pounds

Features

• Bright f2.8 aperture for low-light shots
• High-contrast, high-resolution image quality
• Focus Range Limiter for faster auto focusing
• Focus Hold button for full creative control
• 35mm focal-length equivalant: 75mm

From the Manufacturer
A compact macro-focus lens that covers the full range from life-size to infinity. "Life size" macro imaging means that the image you capture is the same size as the subject in reality -- giving you spectacularly sharp photos of insects, flowers, gemstones, postage stamps and other small nature subjects and collectibles. Mounted on the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 camera, this lens provides a 75mm focal length (35mm equivalent) -- which means it can also be used as a standard and midrange telephoto lens.

Lens Features

Sharp macro focusing
You can get closer to your subject to capture low-angle shots of insects, flowers and other natural wonders -- and broad depth of field lets you keep backgrounds in focus, too.

Bright f2.8 aperture
In conjunction with the Super SteadyShot image stabilization system of the Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 camera, this lens captures bright, steady images, even working with hand-held cameras in low light.

High contrast and resolution
Excellent optical precision gives your shots greater visual accuracy for close analysis of your subject.

Focus range limiter
Speeds auto-focus response by limiting the range of distances that are brought into focus -- Close-up Range, or Telephoto Range.

Focus hold button
For full creative control, a focus hold button located on the lens can lock auto-focusing.

Auto clutch
In auto-focus mode, the manual focus ring does not rotate -- which improves handling ease.

Circular aperture
Because aperture blades form a near circle at the wide openings used for low-light shots, spot-light sources have a pleasing circular defocused effect.

Customer Reviews

Sony Lens Review
Rather than "reviewing" this lens, I will instead point out features which I feel will be important to a potential buyer.

* Lens made in Japan - not Chinese junk.
* Razor sharp images.
* Very crisp and bright for an F2.8 lens - it "feels" like an F1.4 lens.
* Absolutely no vignetting in the corners - full coverage.
* Focus range limiter - either infinity to close, or close to macro. Can be turned on or off. The focus range limiter is a very important feature - it prevents the camera from needlessly swinging the lens all the way from infinity to macro when it re-focuses.
* Uses 55 mm filter rings.
* Macro focus works a LOT closer than advertised. You can photograph a flea on a fly if you want.
* On-lens focus hold button - temporarily turns off auto focus if you need to. This is very useful for getting the *exact* spot in focus that you want (especially in macro mode).
* The Focus Hold button can be programmed in the camera to do focus hold OR depth of field preview.
* Iris leaves are nice and symmetrical - another sign of quality.
* Iris has 7 leafs - and they are slightly curved so that the aperture is almost a perfect circle at any F-stop.
* Lens is smooth and tight - nothing rattles like "cheap" lenses do.

If you buy this lens, you will not be disappointed.

SHARP, SHARP, SHARP!
This is a MUST HAVE glass for your Alpha system! I shoot this on an A700 and a KM 5D. Beside the 1.5x factor (which really makes this lens more like a 75mm) it is TACK SHARP. Whether you shoot macro or for general shooting for portraits. This glass is going to give you the sharpness you need, the color you wish for, and the depth in your subject. The only reservation i have for this glass is that it's a plastic body with a rubber focus ring, which the rubber will tend to get "old" as it ages. But don't get me wrong, it's a good build and never feels "cheap" in your hands. The focus on this is bearable but not super fast when you're in macro mode. Use the focus limiter button and it will surprise you how fast it can keep up even on the KM 5D. It's a prime glass piece! Pay for the price but you won't regret it!!!

Excellent quality. If you shoot macros: get it
If you want to shoot macros, you have to buy this lens. I used it with A700 and got very sharp images that I cannot get using other lenses.