Late to the party but I've been down this road. When I started out, I focused way too much on just getting the sharpest lens possible and ignored how much space I'd actually have to move around. Be careful with those long macro lenses if you're shooting in small kitchens or cramped booths. I've had times where I literally couldn't back up far enough to get the whole plate in the frame. Reliability is huge too... nothing kills the mood like a lens that keeps hunting for focus while the steam is disappearing off the dish. To give better advice tho, I gotta ask: what kind of environment are you usually shooting in? Are you doing mostly top-down flat lays or are you going for those super tight detail shots of textures?

I totally feel the pain of trying to fit a whole table setting into the frame in a cramped kitchen! I was doing a shoot for a local bistro last week and literally had my back against a greasy wall trying to make a 90mm work... it was such a disaster lol. I was sweating and the chef was staring, it was basically a nightmare tbh. Like someone mentioned, those long focal lengths are amazing for texture but sometimes you just need more room to breathe. Honestly, I've had fantastic results switching to something a bit wider for my DIY setups at home and in small shops:

• Sony FE 50mm f/2.8 Macro is my absolute go-to for top-down shots now because it is so versatile
• Sigma 70mm f/2.8 DG Macro Art is incredibly sharp and way cheaper than the fancy Sony G stuff
• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 if you just want one lens that does it all, even if it isnt a true macro lens\n

You save so much money and headache by not forcing the long lens in a small space... trust me on this one! I love the 50mm because you can actually get the whole plate and some of the table decor without standing on a ladder.

Finally someone says it. Ive been thinking this for a while but wasnt sure.

For food photography with a Sony camera, I highly recommend the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens. Some key advantages of this lens for food photos:

• 90mm focal length provides a flattering perspective and working distance
• 1:1 macro capability allows you to capture intricate details and textures
• f/2.8 maximum aperture gives a shallow depth of field to isolate the subject
• Optical SteadyShot (OSS) helps minimize camera shake for sharper handheld shots
• Extremely sharp optics render fine details with excellent clarity

I've used this lens extensively for food photography and have been very impressed with the results. It's an outstanding lens purpose-built for macro work like food.

Any updates on this?

You may also try Laowa 100mm 2x macro Fully manual for a cheaper price with manual focus.