Sony Reveals G Master 100mm f/2.8 STF Lens with ‘Breathtaking Bokeh’

The next lens in Sony’s high-end G Master line has been revealed, and it promises the “highest ever quality bokeh for an alpha lens.” Say hello to the FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS.

This new mid-telephoto, full-frame prime lens was built with bokeh in mind, and make no mistake of it. “The new 100mm STF is built to produce truly unique, magnificent and beautiful bokeh, while maintaining the exceptional standard of resolution that is showcased by Sony’s entire line of flagship G Master series lenses,” writes Sony. “Making it a powerful photographic tool for any portrait, fashion, nature or wedding photographer.”

This is made possible thanks to a new 11-blade aperture and an optical apodization lens element that works sort of like a “neutral density filter that increases in density towards the edges” (read: built-in vignette). This is the same idea at the core of the Laowa 105mm f/2 STF lens, and it promises “beautiful transitions of in-focus to out-of-focus areas.”

If you’re worried that this STF design will produce a vignette, Sony would like to promise that the lens’ design “ensures that vignetting is kept to an absolute minimum.” The fact that they need to mention that in the release is telling.

The lens supports both contrast AF and focal-plane phase detection AF2, and features Sony’s Super Sonic Motor (SSM) autofocus system, Optical SteadyShot (OSS) stabilization, and a built-in macro switching ring that allows up to 0.25x close-up shooting.

The new FE 100mm f/2.8 GM lens will ship this March for $1,500. And yes, you can already pre-order it here.

One More Thing

Like Tamron earlier today, Sony wasn’t content releasing just one lens. In addition to its bokehlicious new 100mm GM lens, Sony also unveiled an FE 85mm f/1.8 lens for portrait shooters.

The FE 85mm f/1.8 mid-telephoto prime is being marketed as an “extremely versatile, lightweight and compact” addition to Sony’s line of FE lenses that will be particularly appealing to newer full-frame shooters who need to find a good balance between quality and budget.

“The new prime lens features a 9-bladed circular aperture mechanism that ensures smooth, natural looking bokeh, and a double linear motor system to allow for fast, precise and quiet focusing,” writes Sony. “It also has a focus hold button that can be customized and assigned together with functions in the camera body like the popular Eye AF feature.”

This dust and moisture resistant lens also ships in March, but at a more agreeable $600. To pre-order one for yourself, click here.