Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro

Sony

E 30mm F3.5 Macro

Released September 2011

A 138 g APS-C E-mount macro prime with life-size magnification and a 9.5 cm minimum focus distance.

Mount
Sony E
Focal length
30 mm
Max aperture
f/3.5
Stabilisation
No
Weight
138 g

What reviewers say

Both praise compact size, close-up sharpness and life-size magnification, while noting softer corners and the very short working distance. Sony Alpha Lab finds good value and useful everyday performance on the NEX-7; Sony Alpha Blog is more critical of general-purpose sharpness on the Alpha 6000 and highlights colour fringing and onion-ring highlights. Their overall recommendations differ.

From sonyalphalab.com and sonyalpha.blog

Optics

Lens type
Prime
Focal length
30 mm
Maximum aperture
f/3.5
Minimum aperture
f/22
Macro lens
Yes
Optical construction
Seven elements in six groups
Special elements
One ED glass element and three aspherical elements
Diaphragm
Seven rounded blades
Angle of view
50° APS-C

Mount and compatibility

Mounts
Sony E
Image circle
APS-C
Image circle detail
APS-C coverage; 45 mm equivalent field of view
Teleconverter support
Not compatible with Sony E-mount teleconverters

Focus and stabilisation

Autofocus
Yes
Minimum focus distance
0.095 m
Maximum magnification
1×
Optical stabilisation
No
Autofocus detail
Internal autofocus motor; maker does not identify a specific motor technology
Focus distance detail
9.5 cm minimum focus measured from the image sensor; approximately 2.4 cm from the front of the lens at closest focus
Magnification detail
1.0× life-size maximum magnification
Stabilisation detail
No optical stabilisation

Design

Filter diameter
49 mm
Maximum diameter
62 mm
Length
55.5 mm
Weight
138 g
Controls
Manual-focus ring; focus mode selected on the camera; aluminium-alloy exterior
Dimensions detail
62 mm maximum diameter × 55.5 mm length
Weight detail
Approximately 138 g lens; separate hood and caps excluded
Lens hood
ALC-SH113 cap-type hood, supplied
In the box
ALC-SH113 hood, front cap and rear cap; no case listed
Release detail
Sony Japan announced this exact lens on 8 June 2011 for September 2011 availability. Main release retains the maker’s month precision; exact global first day is not established. Two independently authored full reviews read: Sony Alpha Lab Jay on NEX-7 (2012) and Sony Alpha Blog Marc Alhadeff on Alpha 6000 (2018). Lab’s corner test acknowledges imperfect subject-plane alignment; its general-purpose/value recommendation is more positive than Blog’s. Maker length 55.5 mm supersedes Blog’s inconsistent 62/65 mm figures. No unpublished weather-resistance or coating claim added

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 1:1 maximum magnification
  • 138 g lens weight
  • 9.5 cm minimum focus distance

Cons

  • No optical stabilisation
  • Approximately 2.4 cm working distance at closest focus

Closest rivals

Model
MountFocal lengthMax apertureStabilisationWeightReleased
Sony E35 mmf/1.8Yes154 gNov 2012
Sony E24 mmf/1.8No225 gDec 2011
Sony E20 mmf/2.8No69 gMar 2013

Sources

  1. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL30M35/spec.html
  2. sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL30M35/feature_1.html
  3. sony.jp/CorporateCruise/Press/201106/11-0608
  4. sonyalphalab.com/my-sony-e-30mm-f-3-5-macro-lens-review
  5. sonyalpha.blog/2018/08/26/sony-e-30mm-f3-5-macro

Photo: sony.jp

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