Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS review - Image resolution

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Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS

31 May 2019

Arkadiusz Olech

4. Image resolution

The resolution (meaning here the MTF50 function) test of the Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 G OSS was based on RAW files from the Sony A7R II. In the case of that mirrorless device the decency level we set about 39-41 lpmm and some of the best fixed-focal lenses have been able to exceed 70 lpmm, for example the Tokina Fírin 20 mm f/2 FE MF (72.6 lpmm) and the Voigtlander Apo-Lanthar 65 mm f/2 Aspherical 1:2 Macro (78.5 lpmm).

Let's check how the Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS compares – its results in the frame centre, on the edge of the APS-C sensor and on the edge of full frame presents a graph below.

Sony FE 90 mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS - Image resolution

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As macro lenses are often one of the sharpest devices in any given system I expected the Sony 2.8/90 G would be able to break the resolution record of the Apo-Lanthar 65 mm f/2. The standard was raised really high because the Voigtlander is, after all, a faster lens and it is easier for it to break resolution records; small wonder the Sony didn't manage to perform better. Still, it has to be emphasized that the result of over 70 lpmm by f/4.0 and almost 70 lpmm by f/5.6 are excellent anyway. What's more, you get images of very good quality already from the maximum relative aperture, where the MTFs reach almost 57 lpmm.

As it befits a good macro device, we don't have any reservations concerning the edge of the frame either. Even on the very demanding rim of full frame the results, at the maximum relative aperture, exceed 45 lpmm so safely above the decency level. The peak of the performance on the edge of the APS-C sensor amounts to almost 60 lpmm and on the edge of full frame – over 55 lpmm. They certainly allow you to produce images of very high quality.

At the end of this chapter, traditionally, we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart; they were saved as JPEGs alongside RAW files we used for the analysis above.

A7R II, JPEG, f/2.8