Macro Lens For Sony Alpha

keithg89

Can anyone give any advice on the best value 50mm macro lens for a Sony A200? I've seen some Minolta 50mm 2.8 lenses on ebay and reviews seem very positive. Has anyone here any first hand experience? Going by reviews the Minolta is a better lens than the Sigma 50mm 2.8. Anyone any opinions on this? Thanks

Gregor Samsa

I have the Sony 50 2.8 macro, which is just a re-badged version of the Minolta one (maybe different lens coatings too, but not much change).

It's a great lens, but I think that 50mm is too short for many (most) macro uses. You have to get very close to your subject, and that's not ideal for insects, etc. If you're using it in a studio on non-flighty subjects, it's fine. So it depends on your subject matter really.

About a year after I got mine, the hassles of having to get too close to stuff got to me, so I picked up a Sony 100mm 2.8 Macro, and I find that focal length much more suitable for macro. I hardly use the 50mm now at all.

keithg89

Thanks for that. I want the 50mm to double up as a portrait lens which will be its main use but I do want to start into macro work. So if I do get serious into macro I can always upgrade to the 100mm.