Sony NEX Lens Lineup: Anything else?

[bugmenot]

So far, this is the lineup of Sony E-mount lenses for the NEX cameras and camcorders:

Sony Lenses:

• SEL-16F28: Sony E 2.8/16mm with VCL-ECF1 0.62x Fisheye Converter and VCL-ECU1 0.75x Ultra Wide Converter.

• SEL-24F18Z: Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 1.8/24mm
• SEL-30M35: Sony E 3.5/30mm Macro
• SEL-35F18: Sony E 1.8/35mm OSS
• SEL-50F18: Sony E 1.8/50mm OSS

• SEL-1018: Sony E 4/10-18mm OSS
• SEL-1650PZ: Sony E PZ 3.5-5.6/16-50mm OSS
• SEL-1855: Sony E 3.5-5.6/18-55mm OSS
• SEL-55210: Sony E 4.5-6.3/55-210mm OSS

• SEL-18200: Sony E 3.5-6.3/18-200mm OSS
• SEL-18200LE: Sony E 3.5-6.3/18-200mm OSS LE
• SEL-18200PZ: Sony E PZ 3.5-6.3/18-200mm OSS

Sigma Lenses:

• Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN
• Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN

I don't know about you, but these seem like quite a number of lenses for a new, from ground up camera system that launched just over two years ago.

As you may have noticed, most NEX lenses come with Image Stabilization (OSS), and all NEX lenses have a full metal mount and metal body cover.

Also, most NEX lenses share the 49mm filter size. Very convenient.

We also know that there is a possibly constant aperture Sony G Zoom Lens coming sometime in 2013 as well. I look forward to that.

Of course, I have to mention the vast selection of A-mount lenses available through adapter (with AF),
and the countless lenses available with adapters for manual focus usage.
There are also many E-mount specific Cinema lenses by Zeiss, as well as other manual lenses by Rokinon/Samyang and SLR Magic.

I personally would like to see a 75/80/85/90mm f/2 lens, especially the 85 f/2 lens.

Now, I present you with two questions:

1. What other lenses would you NEED? What angle of views are VITAL to your style pf photography?
2. What lenses would you realistically (not a 25mm f/1 pancake) WANT?

 

[kossi008]

How about a more pocketable 24mm?
The Zeiss may be the king of available light and image quality, but it's not really small. A small and light 24mm f/2.5 or so would be my thing...

 

[bugmenot]

How about a more pocketable 24mm?
The Zeiss may be the king of available light and image quality, but it's not really small. A small and light 24mm f/2.5 or so would be my thing...

Good point. A 35mm equivalent small lens (pancake?) would be very useful indeed.

Here is the lens lineup by Sony in Quarter 2/3 of 2012.

Interestingly enough, the is mention of a Snap (Pancake), which to me sounds like the lens you are looking for.

There is also mention of a Middle Telephoto, which sounds like what I was looking for, an 85 f/2.

Other than those two, I think only the Sony G Zoom lens and and another Zoom lens have yet to be announced.

What I do find disheartening is the lack of any medium telephoto macro lens of any kind.

 

[Bimjo]

Zeiss has entered the game with some E-mount lenses.

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/hot-news-zeiss-announces-the-2-812-1-832-and-2-850-macro-for-nex/

 

[bugmenot]

Given the Zeiss launch, I think we need an updated list. Haha. Of course, it doesn't help that half these lenses are not available or barely available for purchase in many parts of the world.

The new list:

Zeiss Distagon 2.8/12mm*
SEL-16F28: Sony E 2.8/16mm
Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN
SEL-24F18Z: Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 1.8/24mm
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN
Zeiss Planar 1.8/32mm*
SEL-30M35: Sony E 3.5/30mm Macro
SEL-35F18: Sony E 1.8/35mm OSS*
SEL-50F18: Sony E 1.8/50mm OSS
Zeiss 2.8/50 Macro*
SEL-1018: Sony E 4/10-18mm OSS*
SEL-1650PZ: Sony E PZ 3.5-5.6/16-50mm OSS*
SEL-1855: Sony E 3.5-5.6/18-55mm OSS
SEL-55210: Sony E 4.5-6.3/55-210mm OSS
SEL-18200: Sony E 3.5-6.3/18-200mm OSS
Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC
SEL-18200LE: Sony E 3.5-6.3/18-200mm OSS LE
SEL-18200PZ: Sony E PZ 3.5-6.3/18-200mm OSS

The lenses with an asterisk at the end are not available for purchase yet. Most will be available for purchase by the end of 2012, with the exception of the Zeiss lenses coming in mid 2013.

 

[paulfish4570]

a 50mm equivalent that is the equal of my smc pentax-m 50/1.4 that does not cost more than $500. with that, i'd be all over a 5n or 7 ...

 

[bugmenot]

a 50mm equivalent that is the equal of my smc pentax-m 50/1.4 that does not cost more than $500. with that, i'd be all over a 5n or 7 ...

Well, first of all, I suggest considering the NEX-5R if you will be purchasing in the future. However, right now, the NEX-5N has a $200 discount on B&H and Amazon.

Anyway, a fast 50mm equivalent lens was announced just a few days ago by Sony. It is the Sony E-mount 35mm F/1.8 OSS (SEL-35F18). Technically, not as fast as your Pentax 50/1.4 (since such a lens would need to be a 33mm f/0.95? Though SLR Magic announced a 35mm f/0.95 manual focus NEX lens), but it is perhaps the only 50mm equivalent lens in the market with stabilization and completely quiet auto-focusing mechanism.

 

[chrisso]

Thanks for the updated list.
Yummy, can't wait for the Zeiss prime wide!

 

[NeeZee]

Well, first of all, I suggest considering the NEX-5R if you will be purchasing in the future. However, right now, the NEX-5N has a $200 discount on B&H and Amazon.

Anyway, a fast 50mm equivalent lens was announced just a few days ago by Sony. It is the Sony E-mount 35mm F/1.8 OSS (SEL-35F18). Technically, not as fast as your Pentax 50/1.4 (since such a lens would need to be a 33mm f/0.95? Though SLR Magic announced a 35mm f/0.95 manual focus NEX lens), but it is perhaps the only 50mm equivalent lens in the market with stabilization and completely quiet auto-focusing mechanism.

Huh? A f/0.95 lens is always faster than a f/1.4. Has nothing to do with focal length or crop factor, does it?

 

[paulfish4570]

thanks, bug. same speed isn't necessary; quality rendering is ...

 

[bugmenot]

Huh? A f/0.95 lens is always faster than a f/1.4. Has nothing to do with focal length or crop factor, does it?

Hm ... I may have misinterpreted something there ... possible. I just assumed that if the focal length is multiplied by 1.5, then the Focal Length divided by Diameter (F/D) would also be multiplied by the same factor. So my assumption was that a 33mm f/0.95 lens would have the same angle of view AND depth of field as a 50mm f/1.4 lens when comparing them wide open. Again, I may have misunderstood.

thanks, bug. same speed isn't necessary; quality rendering is ...

Haha. I understand. However, given the lack of reviews, sample images and even the availability of this lens right now (should be available by the end of November), I cannot make any comments on that. 😱

 

[kxl]

Hm ... I may have misinterpreted something there ... possible. I just assumed that if the focal length is multiplied by 1.5, then the Focal Length divided by Diameter (F/D) would also be multiplied by the same factor. So my assumption was that a 33mm f/0.95 lens would have the same angle of view AND depth of field as a 50mm f/1.4 lens when comparing them wide open. Again, I may have misunderstood.

You did.... "focal length is multiplied by 1.5" - It's not.

 

[bugmenot]

You did.... "focal length is multiplied by 1.5" - It's not.

Again, my wording is ambiguous and throwing even myself off. The crop factor of 1.5x does multiply the focal length by 1.5, but it is only the angle of view that is equivalent to a focal length x 1.5 lens.

Anyway, I don't want this thread to turn into a discussion of that. I barely even care about such numbers. I see what I like to capture through the viewfinder, whether optical or electronic, and capture it. Whether it looks like a certain focal length's angle of view on a full frame sensor is not of my concern.

 

[laoyou]

Zeiss has entered the game with some E-mount lenses.

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/hot-news-zeiss-announces-the-2-812-1-832-and-2-850-macro-for-nex/

Hope they are FF lenses.

 

[bwcolor]

Zeiss FF lenses... Great.. if Sony comes up with a FF camera that can take the lenses, but bad in that FF would mean much larger, heavier lenses.

 

[fotomeow]

Zeiss FF lenses... Great.. if Sony comes up with a FF camera that can take the lenses, but bad in that FF would mean much larger, heavier lenses.

the Sony RX1 just came out: 35mm FF fixed 35/2 Sonnar lens. $2800.

 

[fstops]

Huh? A f/0.95 lens is always faster than a f/1.4. Has nothing to do with focal length or crop factor, does it?

A F/0.95 in a 1.5 crop sensor has the same depth of field of a F/1.4 in a full frame sensor [0.95*1.5=1.4]... The aperture setting gets multiplied by 1.5 (or whatever the crop factor) the same as the focal length.

However, its light gathering ability is the same as F/0.95 in a FF sensor.


The tiny sensor P&S cameras with f1.8 and so on are good for low light shooting but useless for bokeh. On the plus side one can shoot at f1.8 and still have the same dof as f8 on a FF sensor - keeping the ISO down.

 

[kxl]

Again, my wording is ambiguous and throwing even myself off. The crop factor of 1.5x does multiply the focal length by 1.5, ... Whether it looks like a certain focal length's angle of view on a full frame sensor is not of my concern.

Not ambiguous, just incorrect. A 50mm FL on a sensor "full frame" (1.0X) is still a 50mm on a 1.3x crop, on 1.5x crop or 1.6x crop. It is the AOV that changes.

Also, may not be your concern, but it should be. Not picking on you but want to make sure others who read this thread have the correct info.

 

[bugmenot]

You did.... "focal length is multiplied by 1.5" - It's not.

Huh? A f/0.95 lens is always faster than a f/1.4. Has nothing to do with focal length or crop factor, does it?

A F/0.95 in a 1.5 crop sensor has the same depth of field of a F/1.4 in a full frame sensor [0.95*1.5=1.4]... The aperture setting gets multiplied by 1.5 (or whatever the crop factor) the same as the focal length.

However, its light gathering ability is the same as F/0.95 in a FF sensor.


The tiny sensor P&S cameras with f1.8 and so on are good for low light shooting but useless for bokeh. On the plus side one can shoot at f1.8 and still have the same dof as f8 on a FF sensor - keeping the ISO down.

Not ambiguous, just incorrect. A 50mm FL on a sensor "full frame" (1.0X) is still a 50mm on a 1.3x crop, on 1.5x crop or 1.6x crop. It is the AOV that changes.

That's where confusion comes from. Right above you another person says you are wrong. So what to believe? I know the lens formula and focal length won't physically change as a result of crop factor, but the angle/field of view changing causes you to get an image that is similar to an equivalent on a 1x sensor of the focal length times the crop factor.

So in the end, we come back to the focal length x crop factor. Simply saying I am not correct doesn't make it incorrect.

Subject framing is significantly different between different sensor sizes. Focal length multiplying may not be the correct term, but it is widely used to describe field of view crop factor.

Same thing with depth of field. From one sensor size to another, the amount of difference is about the same as the crop factor.

As much as I dislike Ken Rockwell, in this subject his quote makes the most sense: "Multiply a lens' focal length by a camera's factor to get the focal length of a lens which, when used on a full-frame or 35mm film camera, gives the same angle of view as that lens does on that digital camera."

The physical lens is the same, eg. a 50mm, but the image is significantly different and with higher than 1 crop factors, the image is significantly "cropped" (less than half the area of the 1x image when capturing it with a 1.5x crop sensor), giving the illusion of longer reach, and by thinking that the focal lengths are "multiplied", it allows one to make a quick calculation without getting technical, even if the terminology is incorrect.

 

[jtm6]

Only marketing experts could convince millions of people that a half-frame sensor (e.g. Nikon's DX) is 2/3 of a FF sensor. But they didn't stop there... that half-frame sensor magically makes lenses physically grow by 1.5X for "longer reach!"