Lens Summary
Brand: Sony
Also Known As: Sony 28-75mm f/2.8
Lens Type: Zoom Lens
Format: Full Frame / FX
Focus: Autofocus
Lens Mount: Sony Alpha
Release Date: 2009-08-27
MSRP Price: $898
Made in: Japan
Infrared Rating: Good
Production Status: In Production
Lens Description: If you use a 35mm full frame or an APS-C format camera, this award-winning lens offers an ideal balance of brightness, zoom range and image quality for a wide range of situations you're likely to encounter in everyday shooting. The fact that it features a constant, bright F2.8 maximum aperture at all focal lengths offers significant advantages for hand held and low light shooting, as well as for creating gorgeous defocused backgrounds.
Sony 28-75mm f/2.8 SAM Specifications
| Lens Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Zoom Lens |
| Focal Length | 28-75mm |
| Mount Type | Sony Alpha |
| Format | Full Frame / FX |
| Compatible Format(s) | 35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor DSLR (APS-C Sensor) |
| Compatible with Teleconverters | No |
| Zoom Ratio | 2.67x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:4.5 |
| Optical SteadyShot / AntiShake (Image Stabilization) | No |
| Aperture Information | |
| Aperture Ring | No |
| Maximim Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/32 |
| Maximum Angle of View (Full frame or larger format) | 75°-32° |
| Optical Information | |
| Lens Elements | 16 |
| Lens Groups | 14 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
| Focus Information | |
| Focus | Autofocus |
| Built-in Focus Motor | Yes |
| Direct Drive Super Sonic wave Motor (DDSSM) | Yes |
| Internal Focusing | Yes |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.38m |
| Distance Information | Yes |
| Filter Information | |
| Filter Size | 67mm |
| Accepts Filter Type | Screw-on |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weather / Dust Sealing | No |
| Mount Material | Metal |
| Dimensions | 7.75 x 9.40cm |
| Weight | 565g |
| Other Information | |
| Available in Colors | Black |
Lens Construction and MTF Chart
I was new to full frame cameras when I purchased a Sony A99; this lens was available at a discount. I was satisfied with the lens performance, but would frequently read from the “experts” that the Zeiss 24-70 f/2.8 SSM was a better lens. Believing the experts, I bought the Zeiss with the intention of selling the 28-75. While waiting to sell my lens, I made a comparison using my own unscientific methods. I took various photos indoor/outdoor under identical conditions and found the lenses are very very close in image quality. If fact, the 28-75 frequently gave slightly better image quality at 28mm (not always) with the Zeiss giving slightly better image quality at 50mm & 70mm (not always). Frequently heavy duty pixel peeping was necessary to tell the difference; often there was none. The Zeiss contrast was consistently better than this lens. In the corners the Zeiss was consistently softer. As a result of closely examining hundreds of images, I sent the Zeiss back. I didn’t need two lenses that were nearly identical. If I had to do it over again I would have looked closely at the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8.
In this comparison, I included an old $85 Minolta 50mm f/1.7 lens. The Minolta is way too soft at f/1.7 but is very sharp between f/4.0 & f/8.0, better than both these lenses at the same f stops. Go figure.