Today, Sony has revealed two new prime lenses joining their full-frame outfit with the FE 100mm f/2.8 GM and FE 85mm f/1.8. The focal lengths of these two lenses are highly popular for portrait photography. The FE 100mm f/2.8 GM is aimed towards imaging perfection, while the new FE 85mm f/1.8 offers a more affordable and lightweight 85mm option in the Sony full-frame lineup.
FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS
Sony sure isn't being subtle with this new lens. Right off the bat, the press release named the 100mm GM as having the "highest ever quality bokeh for an Alpha lens." They claim that the advanced optical structure paired with the 11-bladed circular aperture and a unique apodization (APD) lens element produce the impressive out-of-focus effects. Sony describes the APD element as creating exceptionally smooth transitions from in-focus to out-of-focus areas, which add depth and dimensionality to images.
Other features of the FE 100mm f/2.8 GM include a direct drive SSM autofocus system, built-in Optical SteadyShot (OSS), customizable focus hold button, AF/MF switch, a physical aperture ring, and a built-in macro switching ring providing up to 0.25x close-up capabilities at a minimum focusing distance of 1.87 feet (0.57 meters).
The FE 100mm f/2.8 GM telephoto prime lens will ship in March and cost $1,500 USD and $2,050 CA. You can preorder now on B&H Photo.
Check out sample images from the FE 100mm f/2.8 GM on the Sony Photo Gallery website.
FE 85mm f/1.8
Last year, Sony released the FE 85mm f/1.4 GM lens, which costs nearly $1,800. That's a hard price to swallow if you aren't making money in photography, but this new FE 85mm f/1.8 option is here to help out with that. This lens features an acceptably wide f/1.8 aperture, a 9-bladed circular aperture, double linear motor autofocus system, customizable focus hold button, and AF/MF switch. Minimum focusing distance of the FE 85mm f/1.8 is 2.63 feet (0.8 meters).
The FE 85mm f/1.8 mid-telephoto prime lens will ship in March and cost $600 USD and $800 CA. You can preorder now on B&H Photo.
Check out sample images from the FE 85mm f/1.8 on the Sony Photo Gallery website.
I'm assuming the T-stop on the 100 will be closer to 4.5 because of the apodization element, as with the 135 STF
The T stop is listed at 5.6
The increase in T/# indicates that Sony made the Apodization filter stronger to offset the shorter focal length.
That 100/2.8 looks to be a winner. An STF with autofocus? Fabulous. And the 135/2.8 STF redefined perfect bokeh for me. It is trickier for urban shooters, but for outdoors in nature, it is hard to beat. Crazy that Sony makes 2 of the most interesting 135mm lenses currently made.
It seems that Sony doesn't listen to its customers when it comes to lens production. It is very hard to understand the logic behind their FE lens lineup. Sony hasn't manufactured any professional grade wide angle zoom or prime lenses like 16-35mm f/2.8, 24mm f/1.4, 14mm f1/4 which photographers are asking for years. Now they come up with this ridiculous 100mm f/2.8 lens with 1.5k $ price tag. It is not a macro lens, nor a fast prime, so what is it for?... for marginally nicer bokeh?...
Sony doesn't listen to its customers. I purchased the A7RII last year in the hopes that they would be releasing a more varied range. We've heard rumors about a 16-35 f/2.8 and others, and they keep releasing 85's. I should have paid more attention to the fact that they released their first full-frame mirrorless over three years, and a subsequent upgrade model each year, with little movement on the lens side – unless you own an A-Mount or an E-mount (APS-C). I'll keep my A6000, but I'll be moving to Canon the first opportunity I get.