Sony FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS
Launch MSRP
$1,500- Weight
- 700g
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Min focus
- 0.57m
- Max mag.
- 0.25×
- Formula
- 13E / 10G
- Released
- 2017
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 1x Aspherical
- 1x ED
- 1x Apodization (APD)
- Nano AR Coating
- Aperture range
- f/2.8 — f/20
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 700g
- ⌀ × length
- 85.2 × 118.0mm
- Filter
- ⌀72mm
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- Yes · de-click
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Optical
- Teleconverter
- Not supported
- AF speed score
- 7.0 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 0.57m
- Max magnification
- 0.25× (1:4.0)
Optical character
STF stands for Smooth Trans Focus. An apodization filter darkens the edge of the aperture, so out-of-focus areas fade out without hard-edged discs. The price is light loss: the lens is f/2.8 for depth of field but T5.6 for exposure. Sony made it as a dedicated portrait and flower lens and nothing else in the range renders backgrounds like it.
It combines that blur with G Master sharpness at the focus plane, Optical SteadyShot and an 11-blade aperture. A macro switching ring shortens close focus from 0.85m to 0.57m for 0.25x magnification. Unlike the older A-mount STF, it focuses automatically, using a Direct Drive SSM motor.
Reviewer consensus
Reviewers agree the bokeh is in a class of its own: backgrounds dissolve into smooth gradients, highlights have no outlines, and busy foliage that would look nervous through a conventional lens stays calm. Sharpness at the focus plane is very high from wide open, and colour aberrations are well controlled.
The trade-offs are the T5.6 light transmission, which pushes up ISO indoors, and AF that is slower than conventional fast primes and slows further in low light. Testers note it is a specialist lens that is hard to recommend as an all-round 100mm, and that it is heavy for an f/2.8 short telephoto.
Owner sentiment
Owners shoot portraits, flowers and still life with it, and many call the background rendering the reason they stay with Sony. The aperture ring and macro switching ring get positive mentions, and OSS helps compensate for the light loss.
The complaints are dim indoor light at T5.6, AF hunting in low light, especially on older bodies, and the inconvenience of the macro ring for close focus. Several owners describe it as a lens that comes out for specific work rather than one that stays on the camera.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Unique apodized bokeh with no hard edges
- +Sharp at the focus plane from f/2.8
- +Optical SteadyShot
- +Macro ring for 0.25x close-ups
- +Dust and moisture resistant
Weaknesses
- −T5.6 light transmission
- −AF slows in low light
- −700g for an f/2.8 100mm
Six-axis rating
- Sharpness
- 8.9
- Bokeh Rendering
- 9.8
- Autofocus Speed
- 7.0
- Flare Resistance
- 8.0
- Build / Sealing
- 8.8
- Value / Size
- 6.8
Editorial 0–10 ratings synthesised from published reviews.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Sony E (FE) · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 100mm |
| Category | Short Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/20 |
| Construction | 13 elements in 10 groups |
| Special elements | 1x Aspherical · 1x ED · 1x Apodization (APD) · Nano AR Coating |
| Aperture blades | 11 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Direct Drive SSM (DDSSM) |
| Minimum focus | 0.57m |
| Max magnification | 0.25× |
| Stabilisation | Optical |
| Teleconverters | Not supported |
| Weight | 700g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 85.2 × 118.0mm |
| Filter thread | ⌀72mm |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | Yes |
| De-clickable aperture | Yes |
| Release year | 2017 |
| Launch MSRP | $1,500 USD |
Sources
Specifications
- electronics.sony.com/imaging/lenses/full-frame-e-mount/p/sel100f28gm
- imaging-resource.com/lenses/sony/fe-100mm-f2.8-stf-gm-oss-sel100f28gm/specificat
- mhohner.de/sony-minolta/onelens/e100f28gm
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_FE_100mm_F2.8_STF_GM_OSS
- phillipreeve.net/blog/review-sony-fe-100-f-2-8-stf-gm-oss-lens/
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSFE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS vs 100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
- VSFE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS vs 100mm F2.8 ED UMC Macro
- VSFE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS vs FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS
- Laowa
100mm f/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
100mmF2.8- WT
- 650g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.25m
- MSRP
- $449
MFRING - Samyang/Rokinon
100mm F2.8 ED UMC Macro
100mmF2.8- WT
- 730g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.30m
- MSRP
- $549
MFRING - SonyG Master
FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS
100mmF2.8- WT
- 646g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.26m
- MSRP
- $1,500
AFSTABWRRING·DC
