DC.watch (translation here) reports that the new Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 SSM lens for Sony A-mount will be released in Spring. It has a 72mm filter diameter, circular aperture diaphragm, 8 lens in 5 groups and 45cm close focusing distance. Price is yet unknown. Editors’s note: Glad that we finally had a positive A-mount news 🙂
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P.S.: We have many Zeiss 50mm lenses for different mounts all priced between 500 and 800 dollars:
[shoplink 14186 ebay]Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* for Canon (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 14187 ebay]Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 ZE Planar T* for Nikon (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 14188 ebay]Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 50mm f/1.4 50/1.4 LTM (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 14190 ebay]Zeiss Normal 50mm f/1.4 for Contax (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink]
[shoplink 14189 ebay]Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50 ZF 50mm F1.4 Nikon Ai-S (see auctions on eBay)[/shoplink].
82 Responses
wonder what the price would be? 1.5k?
600€ ?
600 €? Never ever gonna happen!
400€?
€ 950
$2
Most likely similar to the 24/2 when it was released – ~ 1.300,-
If it’s of the same IQ skills than the other Zeiss it will be worth it.
The current Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 is quite lame.
Fully manually and in terms of sharpness beaten by the much cheaper Canon 50mm f/1.4 (non L!)
So not Zeiss always worth there money. Mostly but not always.
What would the price be? That’s easy: worth every penny.
My CZ glass never disappoints.
How is this “Official”? Are DC.watch an authority on product launches?
They probably read SAR…
Yeah, but through Google J to E translation.
Ermmm… E to J…
They’re at CP+ and reporting what they find, probably from the Zeiss or Sony reps. That’s pretty close to official IMO.
However an earlier report on SAR said:
“Digifoto confirmed that Sony will not share any info at the CP+ show about the possible release period of the new Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM A-mount lens. And neither they will unveil the final price.”
Not to mention that the product on show is a prototype, is it not?
This seems far from official.
Shhhhh!
Please don’t kill the mood…
Official or “official” who cares :-/
Most important is that Zeiss ZA 50mm f/1.4 SSM is coming because it was again on Sony Stand!
The A750 was a prototype too, it never appeared though!
Relax 🙂
If you have spare time, listen to Lilly Allen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8VZX4sHn-4
😉
You guys are right. They cancelled this lens and put all their efforts into an all new Karl Marx 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6.
Best Alpha news in three years.
This guy knows what’s up.
That is very good news
I think that it will cost arround the same price as the zeiss 24 f2 ssm
Price? Its no secret..80% its going to cost between the SAL24F2 and SAL85F1.4
Seriously dont see it going any cheaper. That will be beyond Sony and Zeiss. lol..
For people hoping for cheap.. seriously. Dont be silly. lol.
Will buy at that price point, BTW.
The Zeiss lens are that good.
Would love to read a release date from Sony. I really want to buy this lens so badly.
Spring 2013? or Spring 2014? and do we wait again a half a year til we get an a99 firmware update to get dual-af support? ^^
Andrea, any rumor of 85/135 CZ “SSM” ? 🙂
Dual AF support is good to have. But seriously. Do you really need it for every top of the line lens?
I dont think you will use the 50mm for wildlife or sports right. Why would you need very fast tracking for street or model shoot.
Yea..SSM on 85 and 135 will be so much more useful and if they can make the new 85 not to (zoom in and out during focusing that will be brilliant else its like a mega dust magnet.)
well i think most lenses would support dual af, but when i am right the problem is on the body-side. at least i dont think you need a firmwareupdate for your lens for dual af support
I need it because the normal AF cover too small focusing area. AF-D will expand focusing area significantly. Actually, the AF-D function almost meaningless to me. I want FW to enable the on chip PDAF for all A-monut lens.
I’m so glad to hear this! Just as you say Andrea, finally some positive A-mount news! Brings back hope and increases the morale here 🙂
+1
This is exactly the kind of news that gives us A-Mount owners some reassurance. But hey, E-Mount owners and trolls from Canon/Nikon boards will still come here to voice their “RIP A Mount” opinion…
very glad to heard this! 😀 go sony, please realease FF lens zeiss 18mm/f2.8, 35mm/1.4 SSM and 85mm/1.4 SSM too 😀
NOOOOO!! 72mm filter!!!
But I welcome anything at this point!
Even if it ends up being priced at $1500…
+1
I’ll take even unaffordable A-Mount news at this point 🙂
Why no? That’s the same as the 85, 20, and 24-70.
24 of course, not 20.
Cos I have over $1000 worth of 77mm filters lol
It’s selfish of me…. but hey, smaller “usually” mean faster focusing.
I rather prefer not to use filters on my zeiss and G glass.
Stepping rings are cheap my friend!
@Solo: Not even a ND Filter???
@J: Zeiss lens are beautiful… A Stepper does not do it justice…
the 24-70 has 77mm filter thread.
Zeiss 1635, 2470, 135, 70200G, 70400G have 77mm
Zeis 24, 85 and the new 50 have 72mm
70300G has 62mm
300G, 300G2 and 500G have 42mm
Meaning that for the main lens setup you only need 72 and 77mm filters
Don’t go for cheap filters. I’m only using Zeiss or Schneider-Kreuznach filters.
My contax zeiss 50mm f1.4 MANUAL FOCUS was $550 in 1993 So…..
Add an average of 5% inflation per year since 1993 and you’ve got yourself x2.653298 multiplier. That makes it $1459 in todays dollars….
My bad, little correction, it’s not 5% over 20 years. its about 2.5…
So thats x1.6386. Making it $900.
I think that sounds about right. The ZF/ZM lines the 50mm is among the least expensive.
Some of you may be interested in this information I got contacting Samyang:
https://www.facebook.com/fotogears/posts/564542486909179?comment_id=101386083¬if_t=feed_comment
I guess noone spoke about this before!
@emopunk
Many thanks mate! Cool news indeed. Would love a 50mm 1.2 lens from Samyang.
I guess it’s nice if we show them interest in A-mount release of such a lens. Imagine how useful and easy to use it would be with features of cameras like A99 or A77!!
Thanks! Very interesting!
Funny that when I contact people with the sweet face of my wife I always get kind replies 😀
If it is this spring, then good news indeed.
Thanks Andrea and Sony! 🙂
Can’t wait for this
Let’s have a look at Carl Zeiss prime lenses and their prices:
SAL24F20Z $1.399
SAL85F14Z $1.699
SAL135F18Z $1.799
So, it is easy to figure out where SAL50F14Z will fall. Actually, since it will come with SSM, it is very unlikely to think this lens will be cheaper than $1.500. My guess is $1.599.
I wan’t it but like all other Zeiss lens…I won’t be able to afford it.
Nine elements is quite complex for a 50mm.
Sigma 50/f1.4 has 8 elements with one aspherical. The focus distance is 45cm like this CZ. I still wonder the photo quality to justify additional $1.000
If it would be twice as good, I would gladly pay the price. But I highly doubt you can make a 50mm so much better than the Sigma, at the moment.
Can’t they? Manual focus Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 55mm f/1.4 ZE (Canon mount) and ZF.2 (Nikon mount) will be superlative and, according to Zeiss, cost around US$3,000.
Hopefully its better than the ZE/ZF 50/1.4 – which is nowhere near as good as the 35/2 or the 50 & 100mp, its even inferior to the C/Y 50/1.4 which can be had these days around $350.
Finally. Good news indeed.
The A mount !!! ITS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Great… Now we just need a Sony Alpha FF Body to match the quality of this lens…
Actually, I hope this lens is worthy of the fantastic Sony A99, Mr.Lee…!!
+100 on this… I bought the A99 about 3 weeks ago (and I’m using it together with the A900) and everyday I’m astonished by the image quality: paired with the Zeiss 24/70 and 16/35, the 70/400G and the 135STF images are simply amazing!
+1
I really don’t know where the dislike of the A99 of those Mr.Lee’s comes from.
Go and own an A99, shoot with it for a month or two, and then objectively judge it. If you would do so, trust me, you will love the A99 I bet.
Also these lens moaners – if you would own the complete Zeiss and G setup like I do (except the 300 and 500, they are just too expensive for my needs) you would miss nothing except some evolution of legacy lenses (e.g. SSM for 85 and 135, or a renewed 35G).
The one and only complaint I have is lack of hq weather sealing.
The A99 is the best ff body I have ever used and owned. It was so good that sold my 5d3. The A99 took about a week to get used to but once you get the hang of the EVF its actually better. I dont get why people hate SLT, im loving the pictures im getting. Keep up the good work sony alpha team!
+1… I LOVE my A99!!
MY A99 Rocks Hard
youre trying too hard to keep your job at Sony.
Yup, Looks like too many Sony employees in here… a99 is an overpriced under performer… Yes I understand it is better than your old a350/a300/a700/3 year old a900 that you sold on ebay…But wake up… Cant touch the Sony sensored d800/d600 that are both cheaper these days ! I know you want to feel good about your purchase but wake up, wake up, wake up…
I’m sure it will be at least as excellent as the Sony/Zeiss 85/1.4, therefore it may cost us about US$1500.00. Then, as much as I’ll want it, I’ll just wait for Samyang/Rokinon to launch an all-manual 50mm/1.4 for US$450.00 and get it ( just as I got the excellent Rokinon 85/1.4 )!
Long live the peaking focus…
Greetings,
I would be really happy if that rumors about release in Spring and construction with 9 lens in 8 groups became true. It would be really great news if ZA version would be one again a little before ZE/ZF 🙂 Like ZA Sonnar 1.8/135 or ZA Distagon 2/24. Even Planar 1.4/85 has two more elements and it gives better correction/performance, especially at close focus.
I was so worried that ZA Planar 50mm would be just an copy of Behrens/Glatzel Planar. I treasure C/Y Planar 1.4/50 but nowadays I prefer to shot with CZJ Pancolar 1.4/55. I am so happy it would be have new formula 🙂 Best regards, WZ.
Admin, it said 8 lens in 5 groups. 9 blades. Please correct it thanks
The article above reads “DC.watch reports that the new Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 SSM lens for Sony A-mount will be released in Spring. It has a 72mm filter diameter, circular aperture diaphragm, 9 lenses in 8 lens groups and 45cm close focusing distance.”
Unfortunately, this information is for the most part not correct.
Yes, the forthcoming Sony Alpha Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4/50mm ZA SSM (SAL-50F14Z) will have a 72mm filter diameter and will be released in spring 2013 – as it was announced by Sony at photokina last September.
Just a couple of days ago, I commented on an earlier SAR article
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-not-going-to-unveil-a-release-date-at-cp-show-and-fake-price-info-in-china/
and stated that the SAL-50F14Z would have 8 elements in 5 groups (including 3 compound groups) with 2 aspherically pressed glass surfaces (not plastics). The construction of the lens is quite complicated with both the front and rear groups and the aperture plane moving, possibly one reason for its rather large size. The other reason is that this is an SSM lens, and its motor occupies quite some room.
This was already discussed at Minolta-Forum and Dyxum months ago. The Mi-Fo thread even has cut lens diagrams of the SAL-50F15Z (as Zeiss presented them to forum members back in September):
http://www.mi-fo.de/forum/index.php?showtopic=32521&view=findpost&p=291545 [1]
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/help-want-a99-but-scared-to-leave-canon_topic92685_post1094286.html#1094286
Did Sony [2] change their mind and reworked the design of the SAL-50F14Z in the past months, so that it now suddenly features 9 elements in 8 groups as stated above by SAR?
Certainly not, that would be next to impossible in this short time unless they always had multiple competing designs. But since even the Japanese DC watch article clearly talks about 8 elements in 5 groups and a 9 blade circular aperture, we can be quite sure that the 8 elements in 5 groups figure is correct.
Matthias
Notes:
[1] Please check back in a couple of days, as our forum is currently down for maintenance.
[2] Note, that ZA lenses are designed and manufactured by Sony – Zeiss only approves their design.
Sounds like a really perfect lens to me!!
Can’t wait to hear and see more of it!
Great News Can’t wait