That lens alone makes it worth to buy the [shoplink 8454]NEX-7[/shoplink]. And if you need to read a real review of that jewel go at Photographyblog (Click here). They rated the lens as “Essential” and they write: “With great build quality, fast auto-focusing and incredible image quality, this is one lens that we’re very sad to send back to Sony.”
The Zeiss lens proves that it is possible to make a great lens for a high resolution sensor like the 24 Megapixel used for the NEX-7. So please Sony, do release some other new Zeiss!
Oh, and don’t forget to send this lens to our American cousins too! They still struggle to find it in Stock somewhere. It’s only available way overpriced at Amazon (Click here) and [shoplink 8450 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. ut at least the other much expected lens (the 50mm) is in Stock and shipping at Amazon (Click here).
Reminder: Sony launched a new rebate action on the NEX-5n in USA stores. You can get it for $50 less than usual at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). And do not forget to pair this camera with the finally now in Stock 50mm f/1.8 lens (Click here to grab it at Amazon).
42 Responses
Of course it’s possible to make good lenses for NEX-7. The question is wheter they need to cost that much or they can be priced more reasonably.
The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 DN is a superb lens and it costs ~1/5th of the Sony/Zeiss E-Sonnar.
I thought the reviews were not so enthusiast about it.
If that is the case..that says something about the reviews and the testers and not the lens. 😉
You can buy three good lenses: the Sigma 30mm + Sigma 19mm + Sony SEL 50mm for less money than the Zeiss 24 mm alone. That´s ridiculous.
You can also buy 10 Volkswagens for the price of one Ferrari. What do you want to tell us?
May be the price of the Ferrari is ridiculous too. 🙂
good as in better than nothing? lmao. quality not quantity
… and get a D3200 for half the money and then choose from a far wider range of lenses. NEX7 is for fan boys.
Sure, Ken. Just as long as you can make do with a tiny plastic body, one control dial, and a tiny viewfinder.
Alpha is for sonyboys. Prove me wrong.
I think it is incorrect to compare an entry level crippled body like the D3200 to an enthusiast magnesium alloy camera like the NEX-7 ? Can you slide the D3200 into your camera pocket and go around shooting ? I doubt it. You can do that with the NEX-7 and a 16mm prime. 🙂
If we were to use that yardstick to all Nikon cameras then, no one would buy a D7000 or D300s now with the D3200 having more MP than the latter two cameras.
@ Steve
For what? For bad colors and less resolution till ISO 800 included?
Troll?
Who sticks the crappy 16mm on a 24mp sensor ? Only a fanboy. Who worries about multiple control dials when aperture priority and exp comp is all you need ?
Nikon have made the right choice with the 24mp sensor – they’re going to sell a bucketload more D3200 than Sony will sell NEX7.
This is bad news for every NEX owner. Quit the fanboy attitude. Think about our future as NEX users. NEX isn’t a system. Nice bodies, shame about the lenses ?
You guys keep harping on about colours and blah blah… colours can be pp’d. Lens quality problems can be reduced but essentially, WE NEED MORE GOOD GLASS.
WAKE UP SONY !
The new Sigmas (30&19mm) are decent lenses and offer good value for the money I agree.
I use often the 19mm instead of my Sony 16mm, but they are no match for the Zeiss, especially on the NEX-7.
I do realize that you qualified your statement by noting the price difference with the Zeiss, but it is important to note that if you have a NEX-7, it is the only current lens capable of getting the full capability of its sensor.
I said this often; if you plan to buy the NEX-7, buy this lens, if you buy the 5n, then I would recommend all lenses including the Sigmas, except the Sony 16mm and 18-55. These are junk at any price.
Glass matters more than camera!
“Junk at any price”- totally agree. 🙂
I have the NEX-7. The Sigma 30mm rocks it. 🙂
The E-Sonnar is the best 24mm in E mount. 🙂
It is a great lens but I do not like the different varieties of CA it spews out at inopportune moments.
I have noticed CAs too, not to often but they are there…however according to the reviewer…
“Chromatic Aberrations
Chromatic aberrations, typically seen as purple or blue fringes along contrasty edges, are only notable by their complete absence from our test shots.”
Time to leave the studio and take picture in the real world!
The photographer and the photographs content are more important than the sharpness of the lens. I’ve taken some great pictures with the 16mm and 18-55. At 5.6 or so the edges are decent, plus who really inspects the edges on a stunning photograph?
I think their sample image #20 shows quite a lot of CA:
http://img.photographyblog.com/reviews/sony_carl_zeiss_sonnar_t_e_24mm_f_1_8_za/sample_images/sony_carl_zeiss_sonnar_t_e_24mm_f_1_8_za_20.jpg
Or am i wrong?
Jorg,
I agree with your sentiment.
One can make great shoots with any type of lens.
The photographer is the ultimate arbitrator when it come to good pictures.
Our discussion here was if the current NEX lenses are optically any good.
The NEX-7 is an expensive camera and has a “difficult” sensor.
The NEX lenses are not cheap and optically are not that good on the NEX-7.
In fact I would consider the 16mm a terrible lens.
Max aperture is f2.8 but only at 5.6 does some of the softness at the edges disappear.
What is the point of have a somewhat fast lens when you have to slow it 5.6 to be useful?
This is not good.
Agreed. I have both. Still, one should expect a 24/1.8 lens to cost more than a 30/2.8, since it is both wider and faster, but, if you’re ok with the Sigma 30’s focal length and speed, it is a no-brainer.
.
posted above.
Errr… I just don’t see the same things as the lens tester did. The Leica 50 looks to smoke all… and tester placed it last? That’s probably why tester didn’t post images side by side for comparison. Difficult to compare in current layout.
Perhaps I’ve gone blind.
Now where is that SUBMIT COMMENT button?
For readers like me who haven’t yet memorized the list of available lenses for the Sony NEX-7, this post refers to the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA lens which carries a list price (at the Sony.com store) of US$1,099.99.
“For readers like me who haven’t yet memorized the list of available lenses for the Sony NEX-7” — It’s not that hard, lol.
mmmm I will try to summarize to see if I got good memory…seems like a good game to kill some time
8mm f/3.5 fisheye (rokinon)
16mm f/2.8 wide (sony) +10mm fisheye and wide 12mm converters
19mm f/2.8 wide (sigma)
24mm f/1.8 wide zeiss (sony)
30mm f/2.8 normal? (sigma)
30mm f/3.5 macro (sony)
50mm f/1.8 telephoto (sony)
400mm f/6.3 telephoto (kenko)
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit (sony)
55-210mm f/3.5-6.3 telephoto (sony)
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 all-around, not walkaround hehe (sony)
yeah thats about right…and a black 18-200mm coming this summer yay!!! lol
Actually, it should be called essentially without lens!
I’ve had the 24 1.8 Zeiss for just over a week and the Sigma 30mm for about three weeks. The sigma is a fine lens for the price but it does not come anywhere near the IQ of the Zeiss. I love this lens and it may stay permanently attached to my NEX-7.
In what way? Unless you have a bad copy, the Sigma should be sharper.
I’m really begin to get sick and tired of hearing the NEX-7 and CZ 24mm f1.8. Can we talk about something else?
Why?
c’mon sony give us more zeiss lens please!!
whats the point? all the sensor going to nikon!
I love hearing these reviews… it makes me justify my purchase every little bit more (in addition to already loving the snaps that come of this thing)
I just pulled the trigger on the sigma 30 after this review: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/04/nex-7-lens-imatest-resolution-comparison. looks promising.
The Sigma 30mm is the only thing right now that would make me buy a NEX. It is just about small enough.
i know its too early to talk about it..but if the kit lens,50mm f1.8 and the 18-200mm cant keep up with the 24mp of the NEX-7..we’re expecting the new NEX-5N will have a revamped or updated version of the NEX-7 sensor.. that will mean we will have 2 NEX cameras that surpasses the E-mount lenses except the Zeiss 24mm f1.8!!!!..WHAT to do then??? stuck with the NEX-F3???
Why on earth would you expect the next iteration of the NEX-5 to have a sensor better than the NEX-7!? You think Sony would pull a “Nikon 3200” on themselves!?
…and the remote release port is still missing on the Nex-7, not to talk about the proprietary flash hotshoe from the old Minolta times.
Wonder how many ppl care. Would much sooner see IBIS and GPS than a remote port and a revised flash hotshoe.
What is it you hope to gain from using an ISO hotshoe? Adapters are peanuts and the iISO is a better mount.