{"id":1034357,"date":"2025-10-10T21:13:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/?post_type=review-lenses&#038;p=1034357"},"modified":"2025-10-20T08:56:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T13:56:25","slug":"https-www-imaging-resource-com-lenses-hands-on-sony-100mm-f2-8-stf-gm-oss","status":"publish","type":"review-lenses","link":"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/https-www-imaging-resource-com-lenses-hands-on-sony-100mm-f2-8-stf-gm-oss\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands-On Review: Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS \u2013 The Best Macro Lens Ever Made?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n  <div class=\"badge-sub-heading-wrapper\"><span class=\"badge badge-sub-heading\">The Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS is a Groundbreaking Macro Lens That Doubles as a Portrait Lens<\/span><\/div>\n\n<section id=\"product-1034256\" class=\"product-box\">\n\n  \n  <div class=\"product-image\">\n          <div id=\"slider\" class=\"flexslider\">\n        <ul class=\"slides\">\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10195459\/IMG_8308-Large.jpeg\" alt=\"Sony 100mm macro on a blue table with white background\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10194841\/Image-20251010-3fZ0Gyyb.jpg\" alt=\"Sony 100mm macro on a blue table with white background\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10195527\/IMG_8298-Large.jpeg\" alt=\"Sony 100mm macro on a blue table with white background\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215742\/Image-20251010-BGPNue9w.jpg\" alt=\"A photographer taking close up photos of bees\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215642\/DSC08928.jpg\" alt=\"Bees climbing on a piece of wood\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215638\/DSC08859.jpg\" alt=\"bee with its probiscus out\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10213936\/DSC9449.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10220755\/stamenmacro.jpg\" alt=\"A hypermacro of a stamen has an otherworldly look\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210633\/DSC08461.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210629\/DSC08401.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210625\/DSC08361.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                      <li>\n              <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210621\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09254.jpg\" alt=\"A cmacro shot of a human eye with the photographer visible in it.\" \/>\n            <\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"awards-badge\">\n      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"product-box-header-wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"title-wrapper\">\n\n      <div class=\"award-badges\"><\/div>\n      <div class=\"title-price\">\n        <h3 class=\"\">\n          <a href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS<\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n              <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"product-box-body-wrapper\">\n\n          <div class=\"desc-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"badge-section-title-wrapper\"><span class=\"badge badge-section-title\">Bottom Line<\/span><\/div>\n\n                  <p>Sony\u2019s FE 100mm F2.8 GM OSS\u00a0 macro lens is a rare creature, a lens that\u2019s capable of creating a truly macro image while also being versatile enough to be a portrait lens with excellent image quality. It\u2019s also one of the very few lenses that can achieve magnifications greater than life size. When using Sony\u2019s teleconverters, it\u2019s capable of shooting nearly three times life size, with fully functional autofocus.<\/p>\n        \n      <\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"desc-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"badge-section-title-wrapper\"><span class=\"badge badge-section-title\">What We Think<\/span><\/div>\n        <p>Sony\u2019s FE 100mm F2.8 GM OSS\u00a0 macro lens is a rare creature, a lens that\u2019s capable of creating a truly macro image while also being versatile enough to be a portrait lens with excellent image quality. It\u2019s also one of the very few lenses that can achieve magnifications greater than life size. When using Sony\u2019s teleconverters, it\u2019s capable of shooting nearly three times life size, with fully functional autofocus.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    \n          <div class=\"pros-cons-wrapper\">\n                  <div class=\"pros\">\n            <div class=\"badge-section-title-wrapper\">\n              <span class=\"badge badge-section-title\">Reasons to Buy<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n<li>Exceptional image quality and sharpness even at extreme magnifications<\/li>\n<li>Optical SteadyShot (OSS) and IBIS make handheld macro shooting possible<\/li>\n<li>Supports teleconverters for up to 2.8\u00d7 life-size magnification<\/li>\n<li>Fast, quiet autofocus with four XD linear motors<\/li>\n<li>Doubles as a high-quality portrait lens<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n        \n                  <div class=\"cons\">\n            <div class=\"badge-section-title-wrapper\">\n              <span class=\"badge badge-section-title\">Reasons to Avoid<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <ul>\n<li>AF\/MF focus clutch is too easily moved by accident<\/li>\n<li>Slightly heavy and bulky compared to shorter macros<\/li>\n<li>Autofocus is not the fastest when shooting portraits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n        \n      <\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"spec-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"badge-section-title-wrapper\"><span class=\"badge badge-section-title\">Specifications<\/span><\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"spec-inner-wrapper\">\n          <ul class=\"product-specs key-specs\">\n                                          <li><strong>Focal Length: <\/strong>100mm<\/li>\n                                                        <li><strong>Maximum Aperture: <\/strong>f\/2.8<\/li>\n                                                        <li><strong>Magnification: <\/strong>1.4x native, up to 2.8x with teleconverter<\/li>\n                                                        <li><strong>Aperture Blades: <\/strong>11<\/li>\n                                                        <li><strong>Optical Design: <\/strong>17 elements in 13 groups (2 XA, 2 ED)<\/li>\n                                                        <li><strong>Image Stabilization: <\/strong>Optical Steady Shot (OSS) and compatible with IBIS<\/li>\n                                                        <li><strong>Weight: <\/strong>750 grames (1.54 pounds)<\/li>\n                                                        <li><strong>Weather Sealing: <\/strong>Dust and Moisture Resistant<\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n\n          <ul class=\"product-specs full-specs\">\n                      <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n      <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"product-box-footer-wrapper\">\n    <ul class=\"buttons-wrapper\">\n\n              <li><a class=\"button button-amazon\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" role=\"button\">Shop at Amazon <i class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n      \n      \n        \n                                      <li>\n              <a class=\"button button-others\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1646208-REG\/godox_ring72_macro_led_ring.html?BI=1047\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" role=\"button\">Shop at B&amp;H <i class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                  \n      \n    <\/ul>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">An Unprecidented Macro Lens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sony\u2019s FE 100mm F2.8 GM OSS\u00a0 macro lens is a rare creature, a lens that\u2019s capable of creating a truly macro image while also being versatile enough to be a portrait lens with excellent image quality. It\u2019s also one of the very few lenses that can achieve magnifications greater than life size. When using Sony\u2019s teleconverters, it\u2019s capable of shooting nearly three times life size, with fully functional autofocus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have shot macro photography for decades, and my favorite shooting is of a category of macro I call hyper-macro. These images are at magnifications greater than life size, which reveal the smallest details in a subject. I have tested at least a dozen macro lenses, and for years, I shot the manual focus Canon MP-E 65mm f\/2.8 1-5x Macro. I loved the Canon macro because it was one of the few lenses that provided greater-than-life magnification. As a manual lens, it was cumbersome to use, and sometimes, successful shots were more accidental than intentional.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sony 100mm FE F2.8 Macro GM OSS macro is one of the best, if not the best, macro lenses I\u2019ve ever shot. Image quality is amazing, and coupled with Sony\u2019s insect-detection AF, it\u2019s able to focus on my favorite subjects with speed and precision that is beyond impressive.\u00a0It easily moved Canon&#8217;s macro to second place, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/sony-fe-90mm-f-2-8-macro-g-oss-sel90m28g\/\">Sony&#8217;s previous 90mm macro <\/a>lens to third place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With its optical image stabilization (OSS), especially when combined with Sony\u2019s in-body image stabilization (IBIS), the lens has given me the ability to handhold subjects that would previously have required specialized tripods. It blows my mind that this lens lets me follow insects as they move from flower to flower without camera shake running the shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"633\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215742\/Image-20251010-BGPNue9w.jpg\" alt=\"A photographer taking close up photos of bees\" class=\"wp-image-1034345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215742\/Image-20251010-BGPNue9w.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215742\/Image-20251010-BGPNue9w-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215742\/Image-20251010-BGPNue9w-768x475.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215742\/Image-20251010-BGPNue9w.jpg 1196w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the best macro lens available today, and possibly of all time. It\u2019s not without quirks, and it\u2019s not without tradeoffs, but I\u2019m already putting money aside to add this lens to my arsenal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most \u201cmacro\u201d lenses aren\u2019t truly macro\u2014they\u2019re really just close-up lenses. A genuine macro lens delivers a 1:1 reproduction ratio, meaning your subject appears life-size on the sensor. Photograph a 7 mm bee, and it covers 7 mm of the sensor. On a 60-megapixel camera, that tiny bee alone makes up about three megapixels of detail, leaving plenty of room for creative background blur and composition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210621\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09254.jpg\" alt=\"A cmacro shot of a human eye with the photographer visible in it.\" class=\"wp-image-1034285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210621\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09254.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210621\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09254-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210621\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09254-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210621\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09254.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A 0.67\u00d7 \u201cmacro\u201d only gets you about two-thirds life size, but Sony\u2019s new FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS pushes things much further, or much smaller if you will. It can reach 1.4\u00d7 native magnification, and when paired with a 2\u00d7 teleconverter, up to 2.8\u00d7 <strong>life size<\/strong>\u2014so that same bee nearly fills the frame, revealing extraordinary texture and color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At these levels, focus becomes razor-thin: at f\/2.8, only about a millimeter is sharp at 1:1, and barely a third of a millimeter at 2.8\u00d7. Stopping down brings more of the subject into focus but cuts the light dramatically, often making a tripod or extra lighting essential. That\u2019s the trade-off of true macro\u2014tiny worlds, enormous detail, and a rewarding challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898.jpg\" alt=\"A honeybee in its apiary\" class=\"wp-image-1034292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past, capturing that much detail meant sacrificing speed or stability, but Sony\u2019s built-in <strong>Optical SteadyShot (OSS)<\/strong>and in-body stabilization (IBIS) help counteract the light loss. Together, they make it possible to shoot handheld several stops slower while keeping even the smallest subjects sharp and steady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If I owned this lens, I\u2019d invest in a lens-mounted ringlight to help with illumination when stopped down. I used to photograph macros with Canon\u2019s 90mm 1x-5x manual focus lens, and it was a fantastic system, but it was in an era pre-image stabilization and required a lens-mounted flash to light subjects enough to freeze them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Natural light is great in macro photography, but often having an additional lighting source aimed at the subject can help it pop against the background. With prices ranging from $30 to $300, there are plenty of options, including this Godox ring light. Godox is known for solid, affordable third-party lighting tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<section id=\"product-1034335\" class=\"product-box\">\n\n  \n  <div class=\"product-image\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10212505\/1624445143_IMG_1556796.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Godox Ringlight Product Shot\" \/>      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"awards-badge\">\n      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"product-box-header-wrapper\">\n    <div class=\"title-wrapper\">\n\n      \n      <div class=\"title-price\">\n        <h3 class=\"\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B09685NGWJ?tag=imaging-resource-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Godox RING72 Macro Ring LED Light<\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n              <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"product-box-body-wrapper\">\n\n    \n          <div class=\"desc-wrapper\">\n        <div class=\"badge-section-title-wrapper\"><span class=\"badge badge-section-title\">What We Think<\/span><\/div>\n        <p class=\"p1\">The Godox RING72 Macro Ring LED Light is a portable, daylight-balanced (5600K) continuous light designed for macro and close-up photography, as well as creative portraiture. Featuring 72 LEDs in a circular design, it provides soft, even illumination with optional left\/right control for shaping light and creating natural depth or distinctive circular catchlights in eyes. It mounts directly to most lenses via included adapter rings (49\u201377mm) and can run on either four AA batteries or an optional lithium-ion battery, offering flexibility for studio or field use.<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    \n    \n      <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"product-box-footer-wrapper\">\n    <ul class=\"buttons-wrapper\">\n\n              <li><a class=\"button button-amazon\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B09685NGWJ?tag=imaging-resource-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" role=\"button\">Shop at Amazon <i class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a><\/li>\n      \n      \n        \n                                      <li>\n              <a class=\"button button-others\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/product\/1646208-REG\/godox_ring72_macro_led_ring.html?BI=1047\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" role=\"button\">Shop at B&amp;H <i class=\"fas fa-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n            <\/li>\n                  \n      \n    <\/ul>\n\n      <\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lens Design &#8211; A Beefy Body With Good Tactile Controls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sony FE 100mm F2.8 GM OSS is a large lens, though not as large compared to other Sony lenses, and definitely not that large when you consider it does double duty as a portrait lens.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At 750 grams (1.54 pounds), it\u2019s certainly not the lightest macro I\u2019ve used, and with a height of 118mm (4.75 inches), it\u2019s a handful. But Sony\u2019s previous 90mm 90mm F2.8 Macro G is 602 grams (1.32 pounds) and 130mm (5.14 inches) tall.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The extra height of the new 100mm Macro is likely to accommodate the 1.4x and 2x teleconverters, which need a bit of space for the specialized mounts they require.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compared to Sony\u2019s 135mm f\/1.8 portrait lens, the 100mm macro is both smaller and lighter, so as a combined portrait and macro lens, it takes up less space and weight in your bag than dual lenses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For macro shooters, the weight and size are less of a concern than the controls (and much less of a problem than the image quality, which I\u2019ll discuss shortly). This lens has every switch and function you could want as a macro shooter, though it\u2019s also where one of my few \u201ccons\u201d crops up.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The barrel of the lens has a focusing ring with distance markers in, something I didn\u2019t realize I missed on lenses until testing this one. The markers are in feet, meters, and focus magnification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"738\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10194841\/Image-20251010-3fZ0Gyyb.jpg\" alt=\"Sony 100mm macro on a blue table with white background\" class=\"wp-image-1034257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10194841\/Image-20251010-3fZ0Gyyb.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10194841\/Image-20251010-3fZ0Gyyb-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10194841\/Image-20251010-3fZ0Gyyb-768x554.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10194841\/Image-20251010-3fZ0Gyyb.jpg 1787w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>The controls on the Sony 100mm macro are plentiful and well placed.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In practice, though I don\u2019t use the markers, because I\u2019m either shooting in autofocus or I\u2019ve got the camera on a tripod and am using Dynamic Manual Focus (DMF) to get much subject distance. DMF zooms in on your subject as you turn the dial, making it possible to get pinpoint accuracy without ever looking at the focusing ring.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Buttons and Toggles: Lens Controls Make Macro Shooting Easy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two programmable buttons used by default for focus hold. I use these buttons constantly while shooting macro. Even with autofocus, sometimes it\u2019s faster to stick the lens in manual and move the camera forward and back to get perfect focus. As an example, when shooting insects gathering nectar on a flower, you can hold focus on the edge of the flower so that when the bug comes around from beneath a petal, it\u2019s in focus without having to rely on autofocus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is an aperture ring that can be set to clicks between stops or smooth turning without clicks, which makes this a capable video lens. Moving up the barrel, there is a switch for OSS, as stabilization isn\u2019t needed when shooting with a tripod. That\u2019s followed by a focus limiter switch, which prevents the lens from trying to focus past macro distance to reduce focus hunting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Usually, DMF needs to be set in the camera\u2019s menus, but the 100mm F2.8 Macro has a dedicated switch to enable or disable DMF. When shooting tiny stationary subjects, DMF is great, but when trying to focus on moving subjects, DMF can ruin a shot as the viewfinder is taken over with a magnification of the image.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10220755\/stamenmacro.jpg\" alt=\"A hypermacro of a stamen has an otherworldly look\" class=\"wp-image-1034347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10220755\/stamenmacro.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10220755\/stamenmacro-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10220755\/stamenmacro-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10220755\/stamenmacro.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">At 2.8x lifesize, the stamen of flowers take on another worldly look.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two ways to switch to manual focus on this lens, three if you count the programmable focus hold buttons. And one way drives me insane.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trouble With the Toggle &#8211; My one Gripe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The massive focus ring at the front of the lens doubles as a toggle between manual and autofocus. Pushing this collar forward sets the lens into AF\/MF mode, where the camera menus determine if autofocus or manual focus is being used. Pulling the collar back switches to manual focus mode.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And here is my biggest gripe about this lens. The force needed to switch between the two is minimal; you can slide it easily with two fingers, and you can even use a single finger to push it forward or pull it backward. The distance between these two settings is only a few millimeters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10213936\/DSC9449.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1034338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10213936\/DSC9449.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10213936\/DSC9449-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10213936\/DSC9449-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10213936\/DSC9449.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t mind having this control, but I think it requires a locking mechanism. I missed more than one shot where I accidentally switched to manual focus. A secondary issue is that I usually flip the lens hood backwards when shooting with the teleconverters, so the hood doesn\u2019t bump into my subject. I like to leave it on the lens so I don\u2019t lose it, but it covers about half of that collar, making it harder to use.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that is my one issue with the lens, and it\u2019s not a dealbreaker by any means. The only thing I have to complain about on this lens is a switch I bump when I\u2019m not paying attention. It\u2019s rare that there\u2019s only one \u201ccon\u201d in a review, and that it\u2019s such a small thing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Video Guide to Macro Photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-imaging-resource wp-block-embed-imaging-resource\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"kp4tBMHr2O\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/news\/video-a-complete-guide-to-macro-photography-for-beginners\/\">Video: A complete guide to macro photography for beginners<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Video: A complete guide to macro photography for beginners&#8221; &#8212; Imaging Resource\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/news\/video-a-complete-guide-to-macro-photography-for-beginners\/embed\/#?secret=T8ulIaZZSt#?secret=kp4tBMHr2O\" data-secret=\"kp4tBMHr2O\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Internal Design Choices, Amazing Optics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sony 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS uses four of Sony\u2019s fastest XD linear motors, where some of Sony\u2019s earlier GM lenses only had one or two of these focusing motors. Sony says that the system focuses nearly twice as fast as its 90mm macro.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These motors are pushing (or pulling) 17 lens elements in 13 groups, including 2 XA (Extreme Aspheric) elements and 2 ED (Extra-low Dispersion) to reduce image distortion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, the more elements and groups, the better the image quality, as each of these optical components is designed to correct the light entering the barrel before it hits the sensor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 100mm macro also employs all of Sony\u2019s lens enhancements, like&nbsp; Nano AR Coating II, which reduces ghosting and flare, and a fluorine coating on the front element to minimize grease and water adhesion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The aperture, which runs from f\/2.8 to f\/22, uses an 11-blade circular diaphragm. The number of aperture blades determines how soft the background defocus or \u201cbokeh\u201d will be. Many high-end portrait lenses use a nine-blade design, so an 11-blade aperture creates, in theory, much softer backgrounds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In practice, it\u2019s hard to say if an 11-blade or 9-blade design would have the same look, but in a macro lens, the soft defocus of the background and foreground is a key part of an image\u2019s appearance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210457\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09169.jpg\" alt=\"A cat with mouth open showing its teeth\" class=\"wp-image-1034281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210457\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09169.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210457\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09169-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210457\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09169-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210457\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09169.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>As a portrait lens the Sony macro has great subject isolation, and color rendition. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The lens is dust and moisture-resistant, with sealed gaskets at all moving parts. I wouldn\u2019t take this lens out in heavy rain, but I wouldn\u2019t go out to shoot macro in the rain either.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Subject Detection, or not<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While the insect-detect autofocus worked well, not all subject detection modes work, due largely to how a macro lens works. Insects are easy to track when they occupy the majority of the frame. The part closest to the camera is the bug.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I did get the insect AF to lock on bug eyes, though I\u2019m not sure that was anything other than focus luck. I was as likely to capture an abdomen as an eyeball. I mean, can a camera really tell the difference between the eye of a bee or a spider? And what about earthworms and slugs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10205401\/DSC08786.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1034279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10205401\/DSC08786.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10205401\/DSC08786-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10205401\/DSC08786-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10205401\/DSC08786.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Extremely close subjects, like those of my cat&#8217;s eyeball, are outside the capabilities of animal subject recognition. At a close distance, its eye is more of an abstract shape than a recognizable subject. Even with Animal AF on and limited to eye priority, it still focused primarily on the fur around his eyeball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210501\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09203.jpg\" alt=\"A close up shot of a cat's face\" class=\"wp-image-1034282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210501\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09203.jpg 683w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210501\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09203-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210501\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09203-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210501\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09203.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Eyes are usually detected by their position relative to the shape of the face. At this distance, there\u2019s no such thing as a face.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why manual focus is so important on a macro lens. Since the AF wasn\u2019t locking on his eye, I simply put it in manual focus and moved back and forth until I saw the shot I wanted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210514\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09227.jpg\" alt=\"A close up of a cat's face\" class=\"wp-image-1034284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210514\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09227.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210514\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09227-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210514\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09227-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210514\/20251009-Sony-100mm-Macro-DSC09227.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>With a small autofocus point I was able to pinpoint the eyeball, while the last shot missed it. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re going to shoot autofocus macro, put the lens in a super small focus point and control that point with the joystick or with tap-to-focus on the LCD screen to increase your chances of in-focus images.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not a knock on the lens, but it is an important consideration when shooting at hyper-macro distances. AF systems aren\u2019t really designed to recognize a subject from a few millimeters away.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a portrait lens, it\u2019s not the fastest to focus, but it is reasonably quick. It\u2019s slow compared to similar focal lengths from Sony or even Sigma, like the 135mm f1.4 DG Art we reviewed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-imaging-resource wp-block-embed-imaging-resource\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"6csCNlNIuT\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/sigma-135mm-f1-4-dg-art-hands-on-a-portrait-lens-sony-should-have-made\/\">Sigma 135mm F1.4 DG Art Hands-on: A Portrait Lens Sony Should Have Made<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Sigma 135mm F1.4 DG Art Hands-on: A Portrait Lens Sony Should Have Made&#8221; &#8212; Imaging Resource\" src=\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/sigma-135mm-f1-4-dg-art-hands-on-a-portrait-lens-sony-should-have-made\/embed\/#?secret=3fk0PRW2Qw#?secret=6csCNlNIuT\" data-secret=\"6csCNlNIuT\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Sigma 135mm f1.4 DG Art Review: The Portrait Lens Sony Should\u2019ve Made\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xLOILvyQKXk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Image Quality and Resolution<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With macro photography, and especially macro photography at 2.8x lifesize, image quality isn\u2019t just crucial, it&#8217;s the whole point. You can get away with some softness in a distant subject shot with a prime lens, but you can\u2019t have a blurry eye of a bee if that\u2019s the subject of your macro.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Macro shots are tack sharp. You could photograph the point of a tack and have it in focus. Even zooming in to two hundred percent, I see no image aberrations, although with such a narrow focus range, it would be hard to see them if they fade into the background blur.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In shots of honeybees, the individual hairs of the insects are visible. They look so fuzzy, I want to pet them. (Fun fact, while honey bees aren\u2019t okay with being touched, their larger bumblebee cousins are, and you can give them a light pet with your finger while they\u2019re gathering nectar.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210655\/DSC08935.jpg\" alt=\"A honebee in the apiary\" class=\"wp-image-1034294\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210655\/DSC08935.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210655\/DSC08935-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210655\/DSC08935-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210655\/DSC08935.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210659\/Image-20251010-eFMokdiU.jpg\" alt=\"A drop of sugar water sticks to the hairs of a bee.\" class=\"wp-image-1034295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210659\/Image-20251010-eFMokdiU.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210659\/Image-20251010-eFMokdiU-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210659\/Image-20251010-eFMokdiU-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210659\/Image-20251010-eFMokdiU.jpg 1841w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>This shot is so detailed you can see a drop of sugar water on the hairs of the bee.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The colors are rendered brilliantly on this lens, with good saturation and excellent tonality where the subject fades into background defocus. On flower shots, I tweaked the saturation, mostly because the lighting I used ended up making the images look flat. A ring light would have helped with the overall saturation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In portraits, the background blur isn\u2019t as pronounced as on a f\/1.8 or f\/1.4 lens, naturally, but the softness is impressive with a good distance between subject and background.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I was being briefed on this lens, I had high hopes and also high expectations. I\u2019m passionate about macro photography, and while I love the Sony 90mm macro, the specs of this lens, especially the ability to use teleconverters, seemed too good to be true.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few instances where a piece of camera gear meets all my expectations, and the Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS is one of those lenses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1034343\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215638\/DSC08859.jpg\" alt=\"bee with its probiscus out\" class=\"wp-image-1034343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215638\/DSC08859.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215638\/DSC08859-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215638\/DSC08859-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215638\/DSC08859.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A bee mid sip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1034342\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215635\/DSC08372.jpg\" alt=\"Tiny wildlflowers against a green background\" class=\"wp-image-1034342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215635\/DSC08372.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215635\/DSC08372-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215635\/DSC08372-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215635\/DSC08372.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tiny flowers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" data-id=\"1034341\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215632\/unnamed-file-e1760133558716.jpg\" alt=\"An ant against a rock\" class=\"wp-image-1034341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215632\/unnamed-file-e1760133558716.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215632\/unnamed-file-e1760133558716-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215632\/unnamed-file-e1760133558716-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215632\/unnamed-file-e1760133558716.jpg 1304w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1034340\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215131\/DSC08334.jpg\" alt=\"A macro of a purple flower with yellow stamen.\" class=\"wp-image-1034340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215131\/DSC08334.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215131\/DSC08334-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215131\/DSC08334-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10215131\/DSC08334.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1034292\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898.jpg\" alt=\"A honeybee in its apiary\" class=\"wp-image-1034292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210648\/DSC08898.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1034286\" src=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210625\/DSC08361.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1034286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210625\/DSC08361.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210625\/DSC08361-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210625\/DSC08361-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210625\/DSC08361.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Unprecidented Macro Lens Sony\u2019s FE 100mm F2.8 GM OSS\u00a0 macro lens is a rare creature, a lens that\u2019s capable of creating a truly macro image while also being versatile enough to be a portrait lens with excellent image quality. It\u2019s also one of the very few lenses that can achieve magnifications greater than life [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":1034289,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":""},"review-lenses-category":[],"review-lenses-section":[],"coauthors":[12049],"class_list":["post-1034357","review-lenses","type-review-lenses","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Hands-On Review: Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS \u2013 The Best Macro Lens Ever Made? - Imaging Resource<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this hands-on review, we test Sony\u2019s FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS lens\u2014an extraordinary macro lens offering up to 2.8\u00d7 magnification, exceptional sharpness, and beautifully smooth bokeh for both macro and portrait photography.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/https-www-imaging-resource-com-lenses-hands-on-sony-100mm-f2-8-stf-gm-oss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hands-On Review: Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS \u2013 The Best Macro Lens Ever Made? - Imaging Resource\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this hands-on review, we test Sony\u2019s FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS lens\u2014an extraordinary macro lens offering up to 2.8\u00d7 magnification, exceptional sharpness, and beautifully smooth bokeh for both macro and portrait photography.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/https-www-imaging-resource-com-lenses-hands-on-sony-100mm-f2-8-stf-gm-oss\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Imaging Resource\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-20T13:56:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/media.imaging-resource.com\/2025\/10\/10210637\/DSC08470-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1365\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"15 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"David Schloss\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/https-www-imaging-resource-com-lenses-hands-on-sony-100mm-f2-8-stf-gm-oss\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.imaging-resource.com\/lenses\/https-www-imaging-resource-com-lenses-hands-on-sony-100mm-f2-8-stf-gm-oss\/\",\"name\":\"Hands-On Review: Sony FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS \u2013 The Best Macro Lens Ever Made? 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