{"id":575,"date":"2018-07-16T16:24:13","date_gmt":"2018-07-16T15:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=575"},"modified":"2024-04-21T14:02:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-21T13:02:28","slug":"sony-fe-28mm-f2-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/sony-fe-28mm-f2-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Long-term Review: Sony FE 2\/28 – A Smart Compromise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"SEL1635z-6\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sony FE 2\/28<\/strong> is a small and affordable fast prime for the Sony Alpha 7 series. Can it convince in the field as well as on paper? I have owned it for more than three years now and share my experience in this long-term review.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/h1>\n

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<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n64 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n60 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n49 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n200 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n1:6.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n0.29 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n9 (rounded)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n9\/8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Sony FE 2\/28 sells for $448 at\u00a0amazon.com <\/a>or B&H photo\u00a0<\/a>(affiliate links). If you purchase the lens through one of these affiliate-links I get a small compensation with no additional cost to you.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"fe28-2\"<\/a>Build Quality<\/h1>\n

The Fe 2\/28 has a metal mount.\u00a0The focusing ring and the lower part of the lens hull are made from aluminium.The upper part of the lens (a bit more shiny in the picture), the filter thread and the intestines are made from plastics.<\/p>\n

This design looks quite nice but the softer aluminium easily attracts scratches of which my copy now has quite a few.
\nThe focusing ring feels very smooth but it offers enough resistance and it has zero play.<\/p>\n

The lens hood is a bit flimsy, rather thin and cheap plastic, it is the same as the one for the old E 3.5-5.6\/18-55 Kit lens. Sony’s ZA lenses have much nicer hoods.<\/p>\n

All in all I think the build quality is okay but nothing to get excited about.<\/p>\n

\"fe28\"<\/a>
plastic at the front, metal at the back<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Size,Weight and Handling<\/h1>\n
\"SEL28f20\"<\/a>
Minolta MC 2\/28 | Minolta MD 2.8\/28 | Sony FE 2\/28 | Canon nFD 1.4\/50<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lens is very small for a fast 28mm lens<\/strong>, above you see it besides a much bigger and heavier Minolta MC 2\/28 and a still bigger Minolta 2.8\/28.\u00a0At 200g the lens is also the lightest 2\/28mm lens I know of<\/strong>. The FE 2.8\/35<\/a> is even shorter and lighter but also a stop slower.<\/p>\n

Handling is quite\u00a0good overall, the focusing ring is very wide and feels nice, the lens hood is just the right size<\/strong>: it protects the front lens effectively without adding too much bulk.<\/p>\n

\"fe28_1\"<\/a>
on my Alpha 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Manual Focus<\/h1>\n

As mentioned before the focusing ring feels nice<\/strong>, what I don’t like too much is the focus by wire implementation.<\/p>\n

The problem here is that it matters how fast you turn the focusing ring<\/strong>, so if I turn it by 20\u00a0degrees very fast the focus changes from 29 cm to infinity. If I turn it slowly\u00a0it takes more than 360 degrees (one full turn) to change focus from the close focusing distance to infinity.\u00a0It also feels like there is a small lag<\/strong> between the moment when you turn the focusing ring and when the lens reacts.<\/p>\n

Manual lenses where the focusing ring is coupled directly to the focusing helicoid are nicer and faster to use but with a little patience you can focus the FE 2\/28 very precisely. So manual focus works okay but it isn’t very enjoyable <\/strong>(says a hardcore manual lens user<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Autofocus<\/h1>\n

AF worked well and precise, it is one of the faster FE lenses. So you will be limited mostly by your camera. On my a7II the small Sony is quite responsive when there is enough light but it slows down noticeably in lower light. On the a7III I would expect excellent performance.<\/p>\n

Optical performance<\/h1>\n

Bokeh<\/h2>\n

The FE 2\/28s bokeh is smooth for a wide-angle lens.<\/p>\n

It is very smooth at short distances,<\/strong> still pretty good <\/strong>at portrait distances <\/strong>and more nervous <\/strong>at long distances.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
great bokeh at a very short distance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"the<\/a>
the bokeh in the center is still very smooth but the corners deteriorate a little<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"the<\/a>
At this distance bokeh is good in the very center and okay outside of it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scenario 1: Close Focus, semi demanding background<\/strong><\/p>\n