Big Lens Announcement - FE 35mm F1.4, 28mm F2, 16-35mm F4, 90 macro and 24-240!

[YYV_146]

Image credit to Sonyalpharumors.

Pretty amazing announcement - the FE lineup just doubled to a total of 11 lenses (12 if you count the wide angle converter)...😀

 

[FrozenInTime]

There no doubting that's a Distagon ... it's enormous.

Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 must be smaller ( tomorrow ? ) but will it work well with both RF and mirrorless bodies ?

 

[YYV_146]

There no doubting that's a Distagon ... it's enormous.

Zeiss ZM 35/1.4 must be smaller ( tomorrow ? ) but will it work well with both RF and mirrorless bodies ?

Yes. I shudder to think how an A7 would look with that on it...

The regular A7 and A7s play well with most RF 35mm lenses. I've mounted a few and the only one with glaring issues is the color-skopar. The A7r will be trickier, though...

 

[Paddy C]

I have found with the FF A-mount line that Sony favoured fast, high-end lenses that are, necessarily, quite expensive.

I had a feeling the FE line up would be similar. I've bought expensive lenses before but now think my money is better spent elsewhere.

It's unfortunate for me because I think Sony is doing so many interesting things with the cameras themselves.

 

[j.scooter]

Why make a huge announcement about a lens that won't hit the shelves for at least 6 months (Mar 2015)?

IMO they should have just updated the lens roadmap

 

[YYV_146]

I have found with the FF A-mount line that Sony favoured fast, high-end lenses that are, necessarily, quite expensive.

I had a feeling the FE line up would be similar. I've bought expensive lenses before but now think my money is better spent elsewhere.

It's unfortunate for me because I think Sony is doing so many interesting things with the cameras themselves.

I have investment in alpha SLT mount as well. IMO the SLT is more suitable as a sports/wildlife body, and Sony recognizes this. The technologies introduced with the A77ii and the 500mm introduction demostrates their will to develop the a mount. Don't expect to see many standard lens or WA announcements, though - just like Canon.

A mount still arguably has the single best portrait lineup of all current system (50&85 high performance, only 135mm 1.8, only true STF lens). So I won't be so quick to dismiss it...

 

[YYV_146]

Why make a huge announcement about a lens that won't hit the shelves for at least 6 months (Mar 2015)?

IMO they should have just updated the lens roadmap

My guess is that Sony wants to be very vocal about these lenses in order to draw people into the A7 system. By next March they'll have another series of announcements.

 

[Samouraï]

That 35/1.4 FE is enormous. Is it a retrofocal design? I'm not impressed by Sony's lens announcements today. No 85/1.8 is a real disappointed. Only the 28/2 FE with the two WA adapters has piqued my interest. Those are the types of ideas I like to see. But I don't shoot WA, so...

Altogether, I don't see anything I want to buy. The 55FE and 35FE are flashes of brilliance to me.

If the 28-135FE Power Zoom handles and performs well, I may pick that up for video work.

 

[Samouraï]

...only true STF lens)...

I haven't been following much to do with the 56APD from Fuji, but it's apparently not as impressive as the 135 STF. Maybe you can explain to me what the deal is with Fuji's STF-style lens.

 

[jsrockit]

Finally, the 28mm I've been waiting for. Very happy.

 

[YYV_146]

I haven't been following much to do with the 56APD from Fuji, but it's apparently not as impressive as the 135 STF. Maybe you can explain to me what the deal is with Fuji's STF-style lens.

My uneducated guess is that Fuji did not as strong a center density filter as the STF. The STF cuts out ~75% of the light (1.5 stops) while the Fuji only cuts out about half a stop. I think this is where the difference lies. The Bokeh circles of the STF are therefore perfectly "melted" while the Fuji ones aren't.

 

[jsrockit]

No 85/1.8 is a real disappointed.

90mm 2.8 isn't that horrible in the meantime...

 

[f16sunshine]

It looks like a nice line up is coming.
I've never quite understood the tiny camera and big heavy lens thing with Sony.
I understand the lenses have physical requirements. Why not build an appropriately sized body to go with the lenses.
Mirrorless ,...does not mean make the camera as small as possible!

Yes... it's just subjective. I like the A7 series. The size is nice with RF size lenses. Bigger than that .... it's not so nice in hand.
A bit larger body would be a big improvement especially with lenses like that Distagon f1.4/35mm.
I used the Contax Version of the f1.4/35 and I'm sure this FE version is derived from that one optically.
It's a big heavy lens with a lot of glass. A small body does not balance well and will be fumble-y in use.

 

[jsrockit]

Yes... it's just subjective. I like the A7 series. The size is nice with RF size lenses. Bigger than that .... it's not so nice in hand.

I like the way the A7r feels with the Zeiss 35mm 2.8 FE lens... feels right. The 55mm feels like a zoom on the camera, but it is so damn good that I got over the fact that it is a bit too large for my taste.

 

[GaryLH]

Why make a huge announcement about a lens that won't hit the shelves for at least 6 months (Mar 2015)?

IMO they should have just updated the lens roadmap

Nothing new.. They are doing what Fuji has done. Pre-announce lenses that they have the final design worked out and show the lens roadmap ahead of actually release. Other companies now do this more often now as well.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

It looks like a nice line up is coming.
I've never quite understood the tiny camera and big heavy lens thing with Sony.
I understand the lenses have physical requirements. Why not build an appropriately sized body to go with the lenses.
Mirrorless ,...does not mean make the camera as small as possible!

Yes... it's just subjective. I like the A7 series. The size is nice with RF size lenses. Bigger than that .... it's not so nice in hand.
A bit larger body would be a big improvement especially with lenses like that Distagon f1.4/35mm.
I used the Contax Version of the f1.4/35 and I'm sure this FE version is derived from that one optically.
It's a big heavy lens with a lot of glass. A small body does not balance well and will be fumble-y in use.

I agree w/ jsrocket. The 35f2.8 feels right.. Everything else so far does not. I really use mainly my old rf glass on this camera. I don't think I will pick up any other Sony lenses right now.

Gary

 

[Paddy C]

I have investment in alpha SLT mount as well. IMO the SLT is more suitable as a sports/wildlife body, and Sony recognizes this. The technologies introduced with the A77ii and the 500mm introduction demostrates their will to develop the a mount. Don't expect to see many standard lens or WA announcements, though - just like Canon.

A mount still arguably has the single best portrait lineup of all current system (50&85 high performance, only 135mm 1.8, only true STF lens). So I won't be so quick to dismiss it...

For me the issue is that although I might invest in one expensive lens for my most-used focal length, I like to have options as to how I fill out the rest of the lineup. Sony doesn't offer this in FF Alpha and doesn't look like they are going to in FE mount either. At least not for a long time.

The FE mount is now going to have:
Zeiss 35/2.8 ($800)
Zeiss Loxia 35/2 ($1,300)
Zeis 35/1.4 (1 kidney)

 

[Kwesi]

It looks like a nice line up is coming.
I've never quite understood the tiny camera and big heavy lens thing with Sony.
I understand the lenses have physical requirements. Why not build an appropriately sized body to go with the lenses.
Mirrorless ,...does not mean make the camera as small as possible!

Yes... it's just subjective. I like the A7 series. The size is nice with RF size lenses. Bigger than that .... it's not so nice in hand.
A bit larger body would be a big improvement especially with lenses like that Distagon f1.4/35mm.
I used the Contax Version of the f1.4/35 and I'm sure this FE version is derived from that one optically.
It's a big heavy lens with a lot of glass. A small body does not balance well and will be fumble-y in use.

I agree.
Unfortunately Mirrorless body enthusiasts keep asking for smaller and smaller bodies so....

 

[YYV_146]

For me the issue is that although I might invest in one expensive lens for my most-used focal length, I like to have options as to how I fill out the rest of the lineup. Sony doesn't offer this in FF Alpha and doesn't look like they are going to in FE mount either. At least not for a long time.

The FE mount is now going to have:
Zeiss 35/2.8 ($800)
Zeiss Loxia 35/2 ($1,300)
Zeis 35/1.4 (1 kidney)

Only so for 35mm...with 50, 85 and 135mm there are multiple options in a mount.

And of course, there is always the option to go Sigma.

 

[kxl]

The 55mm feels like a zoom on the camera, but it is so damn good that I got over the fact that it is a bit too large for my taste.

Agree with this when using the "base" A7R, which is why I added the battery grip, which makes the body as tall as or even taller than DSLR's but not quite as fat. I am looking forward to that FE 28mm/2.0.