Sony has announced two new lenses for their full-frame E-mount cameras: a premium “bokehlicious” 100mm f/2.8 G Master lens, and a compact 85mm f/1.8. Both Sony FE Prime lenses are available for pre-order and will ship in March.
Sony 100mm f/2.8 STF G Master lens – made for “bokeh lovers”
The first of the new Sony optics is the 100mm f/2.8 STF G Master OSS lens. The name of this mid-telephoto prime lens already proclaims it belongs to Sony’s premium G Master line, but what’s special about this glass is the apodization element marketed as “STF – smooth transition focus”. It is basically a circular gradient ND filter which helps create exceptionally smooth bokeh but does not affect the subject in sharp focus, creating a much smoother transition between areas in and out of focus. This filter element, however, reduces the amount of light coming in through the lens, and results in a T-stop of T5.6 when wide open at f/2.8. Sony claims that despite having this filter inside the lens, vignetting is kept to a complete minimum.
Apodization element inside of Sony FE 100mm lens. Source: B&H photo, Sony
Another feature of this lens that bokeh lovers will like is its 11-blade circular aperture, resulting in round-shaped bokeh in areas out of focus. There is also a macro ring switch for changing focusing distance, allowing up to 0,25x close-up shooting.
Other features of the Sony 100mm f/2.8 GM lens include:
- ED and aspherical elements to reduce aberrations
- Nano AR Coating to limit flare and ghosting
- Fast and silent focusing through an SSM motor
- Optical StadyShot image stabilization
- Dust and moisture resistance
- Programmable focus-hold button
- Physical aperture ring for manual control
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens
Sony’s second announcement is a cheaper full-frame E-mount lens. It is the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 lens, a much more compact product than the GM 100mm lens (700 grams vs 371 grams). This piece of glass sports a 9-blade circular aperture, as well as an ED element to minimize aberrations. It features a programmable focus-hold button too, but has no stabilization. It extends Sony’s affordable full-frame primes line along with the existing FE 28mm f/2 and FE 50mm f/1.8.
Bokeh comparison 100mm (left) and 85mm (right). Source: B&H photo, Sony
Both Sony FE prime lenses are now available for preorder and will ship this march.
Do you see a big improvement in bokeh between those two lenses? Let us know in the comments below.
Sources: MarketWired (Press Release), Petapixel, Photogearnews
