Macro lenses
For close-up views of small subjects, choose macro lenses. View intricate details through a macro lens—whether water droplets on plants or the movements of a mechanical watch—and you'll be enchanted by a world very different from what you usually see.
Macro photography is only one way to use these fast prime lenses. You can capture all kinds of scenes, including beautiful shots with bokeh, portraits, and street photography.
Focal length: 90 mm / F-number: 7.1 / Shutter speed: 1/10 sec
Magnification guidelines
Maximum magnification
Check the maximum magnification in the lens specifications to see how large you can make subjects appear in your shots.
The maximum magnification is the magnification at which subjects look their largest, at the minimum focus distance. It's the ratio of the subject's size as projected on the image sensor to its actual size. Macro lenses are designed to offer a large maximum magnification ratio.
For example, a lens with a maximum magnification of 0.25x produces images in which subjects appear one-fourth their actual size.
Maximum magnification relative to size on the image sensor
- 0.25x = 1/4
1 cm objects are projected on the image sensor at a size of 0.25 cm
- Full size = 1/1
1 cm objects are projected on the image sensor at a size of 1 cm
Choosing the right lens for your subject
Working distance and minimum focus distance
The best lens to use depends on the subject and the scene you'll be shooting. Check the minimum focus distance and working distance of the lenses you're considering.
- A: Working distance: distance between the subject and the front of the lens
- B: Minimum shooting distance: distance from the subject to the image sensor surface
- C: Mark showing the position of the image sensor surface
For example, the SEL30M35 lens has a minimum focus distance of 9.5 cm and a working distance of about 2 cm. This allows you to shoot at very close range, making it easy to photograph food or small objects on a table in front of you while seated.
The SEL90M28G lens has a minimum focus distance of 28 cm and a working distance of about 13 cm. From a short distance away, you can take close-ups of animals or insects that may flee if you get too close.
- Short working distance:
Lets you get closer to your subjects.
- Long working distance:
You can shoot from a comfortable distance away.
- When shooting reflective subjects such as water droplets at close range, you or your camera may appear in the reflections. In this case, try shooting from a different angle.
- Be careful not to get so close to subjects that the lens touches the subject or anything else around it. When shooting through the viewfinder, keep your other eye open to help you judge the distance.
Focusing in macro photography
Macro photography requires precise focusing.
For subjects with prominent features throughout, autofocus may not always focus on your intended point if you open the aperture to blur the foreground and background and make the depth of field (area in focus) shallow.
Focal length: 90 mm / F-number: 4.5 / Shutter speed: 1/200 sec
If autofocus (AF) doesn't focus where you intend, use direct manual focus (DMF) to fine-tune focus or manual focus (MF) to adjust focus yourself.
With DMF, you can fine-tune focus using the focus ring after the camera focuses with AF. This way, you can quickly focus on the intended position.
Useful focusing features
For more reliable focusing, these supporting features can be used with DMF and MF.
- Focus Magnifier:
- Check the focus by enlarging images before shooting.
- MF Assist:
- Enlarges images automatically to make focusing easier.
- Peaking:
- Highlights the edges of image areas in focus with a specified color.
Switching between AF and MF with the SEL90M28G
The focus ring on SEL90M28G lenses is also used to switch between AF and MF. You can quickly switch between these focus modes simply by sliding the ring forward or backward. To use DMF, set it to the AF position.
Scenes for trying out lenses
Flowers
The close-up emphasizes your main subject, while the beautiful background bokeh makes the image look ethereal.
Focal length: 100 mm / F-number: 2.8 / Shutter speed: 1/400 sec
Focal length: 30 mm / F-number: 3.5 / Shutter speed: 1/15 sec
Small objects
Taking a fresh look at subtle details our eyes often miss opens up unseen worlds.
Focal length: 30 mm / F-number: 6.3 / Shutter speed: 1/13 sec
Focal length: 30 mm / F-number: 2.8
Hydrangeas on a rainy day
Capture the delicate beauty of individual petals or the raindrops on them with close-up shots.
F-number: 6.3 / Shutter speed: 1/400 sec
F-number: 5.0 / Shutter speed: 1/250 sec
Macro lenses to try
Although a variety of cameras and lenses are available, we're sometimes asked whether lenses for the NEX-7 or ILCE-6000 can be used with the ILCE-7C or ILCE-7M3.
Both APS-C and full frame cameras and lenses are offered, but as long as the same E-mount is used, compatibility is ensured. See the following page for notes on use.
Are APS-C and full frame cameras and lenses interchangeable? (α E-mount)
Focal length: 100 mm / F-number: 2.8 / Shutter speed: 1/40 sec
SEL100M28GM
FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS
The lens itself achieves a maximum magnification of 1.4x. Additionally, it is compatible with the optional teleconverters SEL20TC and SEL14TC, with a maximum magnification of 2.8x when using the SEL20TC. It captures delicate textures that cannot be rendered at 1:1 magnification, enabling new possibilities for visual expression.
Focal length: 90 mm / F-number: 4.0 / Shutter speed: 1/500 sec
SEL90M28G
FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
The first medium-telephoto macro E-mount lens with optical image stabilization. Impressively accurate life-size photography can be achieved in handheld shooting. Spherical aberration and other optical aberrations are carefully corrected, resulting in the smooth, beautiful bokeh for which the G Lens series is known.
Being able to shoot from a short distance away makes the lens a good choice for close-ups of animals or insects that may run away if photographers get too close. Also useful for close-ups of cherry blossoms and autumn leaves overhead.
Focal length: 50 mm / F-number: 5.6 / Shutter speed: 1/60 sec
SEL50M28
FE 50mm F2.8 Macro
A standard full frame macro lens. Enjoy composing shots with broader-ranging backgrounds than medium-telephoto macro lenses. A versatile choice for serious macro work as well as culinary, landscape, portrait, and everyday photography.
Focal length: 30 mm / F-number: 4.0 / Shutter speed: 1/160 sec
SEL30M35
E 30mm F3.5 Macro
This 1:1 macro E-mount lens is easy to carry and weighs only about 138 grams. Shooting subjects from the minimum focus distance of about 9.5 cm makes the lens a good choice for close-ups of flowers and other small objects, as well as food on a table in front of you while seated.
