Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount - Review

Introduction

Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens is an exceptional lens that is highly versatile for everyday use. It is a high-quality lens designed with a minimalistic design, making it very portable. The lens is also one of the few macro lenses that are affordable without sacrificing its quality.

In this review, we take a closer look at the Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens, breaking down its features and benefits. We also went through its customer reviews and ratings to give you a better understanding of how the lens performs in real-life situations.

Design and Build Quality

The Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens has a simple, compact 6-group 7-element design that ensures it is very portable. The lens comes in a silver finish, which enhances its aesthetic appeal. Measuring only 2.4 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches and weighing 4.9 ounces, the lens is incredibly lightweight, making it very handy for outdoor photography or traveling.

Additionally, the lens's build quality is very impressive, just as you would expect from Sony's products. The barrel and mount are constructed of high-quality plastic that is durable and doesn't feel cheap.

Macro Performance

The Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens is a brilliant macro lens that boasts a minimum working distance of only 9.75cm with 1:1 magnification. This means that the lens can capture subjects at extremely close distances with a lifelike reproduction ratio.

The lens's advanced magnification ratio also blurs the background and enhances the image's focus on the main subject, resulting in a very detailed and vibrant image.

The internal focusing system is backed by a stepping motor, which ensures a smooth and silent focus transition, making the lens suitable for video capturing.

The Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens has a fixed focal length of 30mm, which is not zoomable. However, the lens's focal length is a perfect fit for portrait photography, producing images with a natural-looking perspective and a great depth of field.

Performance in Low Light

The Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens's maximum aperture is f/3.5, which might not be the best for shooting in low light conditions. However, the lens's performance in low light situations is impressive, thanks to Sony's built-in image stabilization feature (SteadyShot).

The SteadyShot technology ensures that the lens delivers sharp and shake-free images, even in low light conditions, without requiring you to increase the shutter speed or ISO settings, which can sometimes result in image quality compromises.

Compatibility

The Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens is exclusively compatible with Sony's E-mount cameras. It is perfect for Sony's mirrorless cameras, such as the Sony A6000, A6300, A6400, and A6500.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens's pros and cons, according to its verified buyers:

Pros:

- Exceptionally portable and versatile for everyday use

- Sharp and detailed macro images with excellent bokeh

- Affordable without compromising on quality

- Smooth and silent focus operation for video capture

- Built-in image stabilization ensures better image quality

- Mimimum working distance of only 9.75cm with 1:1 magnification is impressive

Cons:

- Lacks zoom feature, limiting its versatility in certain photography situations

- The maximum aperture of f/3.5 is not ideal for low light photos

- The plastic construction of the lens body might not be durable compared to the metal build in other lenses.

Conclusion

Overall, the Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens is an excellent product that offers outstanding performance in everyday photography. It is highly recommended for anyone looking for a macro lens that is affordable, compact, and versatile.

The lens's exceptional macro performance, portable design, and video-friendly features make it an excellent option for amateur and professional photographers alike. However, its fixed aperture and lack of zoom might not make it ideal for certain types of photography.

Nonetheless, with its 4.6 rating out of 5, based on over 200 verified buyer reviews on Amazon, the Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount Macro Fixed Lens is undoubtedly an excellent investment for anyone who wants the best value for their money.

Sony SEL30M35 30mm f/3.5 e-mount

View Product Price