Originally reviewed by us in 2019, we’ve updated our Irix 150mm f2.8 lens review. This is a manual focus lens that has cool features like weather resistance and 1:1 macro focusing. Irix lenses were also pretty innovative with features like black light ink being used and a lens focusing lock. They haven’t released anything new in years when speaking about lenses. But the 150mm f2.8 Dragonfly is finally available for Sony E mount. How is it? We updated our review accordingly.
Our new update includes revamped conclusions along with updated sections overall. Here’s the updated text. And you can check out the entire review right here at this link.
Ergonomics Update September 2023
The Irix 150mm f2.8 Macro lens is now available for Sony E mount. Specifically, it works with full-frame cameras. The biggest updates to this lens have to do with the fact that it’s been reformatted for mirrorless. Ergonomically speaking, we’re talking about the addition of a working aperture ring. This ring can be set to the A-mode so that you can manipulate it via Sony’s dials too.
Ease of Use Update September 2023
There isn’t much of an update here when it comes to speaking about the ease of use. Unfortunately, Sony’s focus peaking hasn’t improved all that much overall. That goes even for later and newer Sony cameras than the Sony a7r III that we tested this lens on. So with that said, use a tripod when using the Irix 150mm f2.8 Macro lens. Otherwise, we recommend that you shoot at low continuous burst with a flash. This will compensate for any problems you have with your own breath shifting the focus when focusing down at macro ranges.
Even beyond that, all manual focus lenses have issues with image stabilization when shooting handheld if they’re telephoto lenses like this.
Focusing Update September 2023
Focusing with this lens is still really difficult at macro ranges. However, I didn’t have any issues with camera shake — which is a nice continuation of what I experienced with the other variant of the lens. Focusing is really only difficult if you’re using the Sony system.
Since then, we’ve tried to use this lens adapted to new Canon RF cameras and have found that the settings just don’t work anymore. That’s quite unfortunate as I really liked this lens.
Now, for Sony cameras, I’d probably only ever use it with a flash and at a fast shutter speed because telephoto manual focus lenses can be difficult to work with.
On Sony
On Sony cameras, the performance is really about the same that you’d expect with the Canon variant. The lens’s optics are the same. And it’s really then only about setting everything up to work as best for you as possible. Here are some sample images we shot with Sony.
Who Should Buy This Lens?
If you’re still shooting with a DSLR, then this is a nice lens to consider. But adapting it to your mirrorless camera system might create some problems you didn’t foresee. If you’re shooting mirrorless, then consider it for Sony. But also know that at the macro ranges, this lens will be very hard to work with simply because of how Sony’s focus peaking and magnification aren’t all that friendly.