Zeiss had an official presentation in Japan and the image on top shows their strategy and planned activities (Source: DC.watch). As you can see they don’t think that compact cameras and classic DSLR are growing markets. Smartphones, mirrorless system cameras and the very high end cameras are the growing (or stable) markets. That’s why they want to focus on high quality lens productions for top DSLR and Mirrorless cameras. And they also anticipated a new line for the future. My guess is that this could be the new Full Frame Zeiss lenses for the NEX-FF system 🙂
As I told you months ago the new NEX-9 Full Frame camera is due for mid 2014. And there will be also a couple of primes coming along it. Yep, exciting and expensive 🙂
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Zeiss Touit preorder links:
12mm f/2.8 at BHphoto, Adorama and Uniquephoto. In Europe at [shoplink 18497 ebay]CameraCenter UK[/shoplink] and FotoMundus.
32mm f/1.8 at BHphoto, Adorama and Uniquephoto. In Europe at [shoplink 18498 ebay]CameraCenter UK[/shoplink] and FotoMundus.
76 Responses
That’s a pretty wild guess because FF NEX must prove itself to be a significant market to dedicate resources to develop products for those markets.
Will it come with a CZ + Sony type of deal? Will it come only from CZ like the touit lenses? That’s the question.
Mind you that the Touit lenses came when Fuji and NEX have sold enough units to attract buyers owning these systems.
DSC (compact) cameras are a dying segment. However, they fail to recognise that high end DSC (like RX1 or an APS-C model) could be a market for growth just like the G1X and X100/s are. If they think of RX2 (50mm) RX3 (24mm) and RXZ (Zoom) then they may see more interest in high end compacts.
I would be interested in a 50mm RX2, for example. It would compliment my work very very well.
I agree. IMHO it’s more likely that they’ll produce another series of lenses for the mirrorless segment, i.e. for mFT, Nikon CX or whatever.
i heard they will make RX1 successor, hope it will be internal viewfinder, good improvement AF speed, improvement focus peaking like, more large aperture, improvement good distortion, and come with wide conventer lens like X100. that would be attractive and awesome 😀
Where did you hear this?
If it has internal viewfinder, it’s not RX. RX cameras are basically just an expensive P&S.
A D800 is also an expensive point and shoot then.
I guess it looks good for NEX, but nothing that looks like A-Mount is shown on the Sony/Zeiss chart.
No more Sony/Zeiss high End DSLR lenses planned?
DSLR segment marked as “mass market under pressure”. Whatever that mean.
Steve, looking at those charts I interpret that Zeiss don’t view Sony/Zeiss DSLR lenses (eg. the new 50/1.4) as high end, otherwise there would be a Sony logo at the top of that pyramid.
The second chart only confuses, as they show an Alpha DSLR next to ZE and ZF lenses; make no mention of Sony/Zeiss ZA lenses (we know one has been launched recently); and don’t clarify what high end is or will be.
In fact, it’s so confusing I keep changing from mind on what it all means.
Just like the Touit, the E-mount FF Zeiss lenses will be available to Fuji FF mirrorless too.
Anyone know where Sony Ziess lenses are made?
El Dorado.
HAHA!
The FF NEX is like the second coming of Jesus Christ – always around the corner. Why’s it taking so long? Because it isn’t coming.
Things that aren’t coming take forever to arrive…
Fullframe NEX already exists, it’s called a VG900.
Shush, don’t burst his bubble.
It’s a video camera. It doesn’t use all of the sensor and it doesn’t suffer from some of the quality issues that would affect a FF stills camera as the video image is equivalent to just over a 2mp stills image.
exactly, and right when people start to become disbelievers, it/He eventually comes.
Have faith in FF NEX prophecy you weak human…
How is it taking long? Was it announced? No. Geez.
SONY are continuing to drag their heels and there’s no guarantee that what they end up doing will succeed. A large hybrid-mount FF camera will trade off all the advantages of size, but without the benefit of an optical viewfinder.
Ideally, Zeiss need there own platform mirrorless camera which they can control and to ensure the longevity of their lens lines. One that can mount ZM or ZE/ZF or whatever ‘high end’ in that roadmap is intended to mean. Think M240 but without the rich dentist connotations.
A Zeiss branded mirrorless would dovetail perfectly with the Zeiss brand as a signifier for high IQ photographic equipment. There’s a clear gap in the market now, and Zeiss ought to partner up with a manufacturer.
The Zeiss Ikon is now selling at BHphoto for 1500US. How much do you think a digital body will be?
Hasselblad licensed the internals of the NEX7. If Zeiss could do the same with the RX1 and merge it with the mechanics of the Ikon they’d have a great camera. The M240 sells well at $7k, but I predict more photogs could justify $3.5k.
Alternatively, strip out the rangefinder optics completely and make it a pure mirrorless with GXR style peaking. Most of the technology is readily available from the big Japanese vendors. Such a camera would be instantly be a popular platform for anyone owning Zeiss (not just M) and Leica, Medium Format and T/S lenses.
Such a camera would definitely be of interest, no argument there. But at 3.5K it gets into the dentist territory. And when there is a FF NEX and a Leica alternative, not much space will be left for it.
Zeis is doing the right thing, I’m sure about that. The touit lenses will surely be a big success on the NEX, as their FF lenses are on DSLR. That’s what they will concentrate on. Then the RX1 and RX100 as high-end compacts, both with superb Zeiss lenses. The future will be mirrorless anyways, DSLR and SLT will die in a few years (at least APS-C), so FF mirrorless will replace them and we need new lenses for that. So I agree with Andrea, FF NEX will come soon.
We know that crop zeiss lens will not work with full frame sensor. I wonder ,will full frame lens work with crop sensor ?
of course my horse!
HAHAHA!
Patiently waiting for NEX-9N
Why is the Sony Alpha camera shown next to the ZF, ZE, ZF.2 lineup?
The graph does not really show much supportive info…
1st graph only shows them targeting CSC market as it has the strongest growth.
2nd graph shows them supporting
1. oly since 2004 thru ZM
2. sony since 2006 thru ZF, ZE, ZF2
3. CANON HIGH END 2014 <- its a CANON CAMERA PIC!
4. fuji, sony since 2013 thru Touit
And this is zeiss info and not sony!
missed out the 5th item
5. unknown lens product for 2016
Maybe Nikon lens? LOL
@JustSoldMySLT – that is exactly why it is so confusing, as ZE and ZF are for Canon and Nikon mounts, not Sony.
Fuji X-Mount Lens
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/img/dcw/docs/599/536/17.jpg
Not wonder zeiss is not concentrating on Sony guess their a/e-mount is not selling that well after all.
And going to target Canon lens market in 2014.
Fuji seems to be interested in the Photo Enthusiast market, Sony not-so-much. Lots of Primes and only two Zooms from Fuji. Sony is the oposit, lots of Zooms and a few Pimes. So who do you think spends the most money on Premium Lenses, Fuji owners or Sony owners??
True.
Largely depends on the owners themselves.
But then no zoom can beat a prime lens at its sharpness.
Not sure what you’re smokin! By my count there are 6 primes -vs- 5 zooms. Yes, more zooms than Fuji – but not more zooms than primes.
Primes:
16mm
20mm
24mm
30mm Macro
35mm
50mm
Zooms:
10-18mm
18-55mm
16-50mm
18-200mm
55-200mm
I believe the 18-55mm is being retired if it hasn’t already been.
It depends how you count.
There are three 18-200 mm E mount lenses by Sony: the “regular” one, the so-called “LE” (for lite/light; a re-branded Tamron) and the “PZ” (Power Zoom), optically identical to the regular one.
Ah yes, the Universaly Hated f/2.8 16mm. Sony does make Kit Primes 8-D that don’t compare to quality Fuji glass.
When will Sony announce a competitor for the up-coming Fuji f/1.2 56mm (=84mm FF)??
There are 14 different (the same) mFT 14-42 kitlenses. Who cares?
Sony 16mm f/2,8 is an excellent lens. I own Minolta 50mm f/1,2 so no need for that lens from Sony.
Sony owners do. It is obvious because Sony marketshare is way bigger.
And that guess about the a/e-mounts not selling is based on what? Yep, nothing.
JustSoldMySLT wrote:
“Not wonder zeiss is not concentrating on Sony …”
They are not?
ZA 50/1,4 + Touit 12/2,8 + Touit 32/1,8 and soon Touit 50/2,8 Macro is four lenses for Sony during 2013. Please tell me which brand will get noticable more lenses then that? Can’t see one other brand that is coming even close to four lenses!
“… guess their a/e-mount is not selling that well after all.”
“Guess”? So you have no facts? Really not the foggiest idea? Why write something coming out purely on thin air here?
I haven’t seen much figures for the A mount, but NEX is the number one seller on the world market. It sells more than doubble as much as number two and as number three (Oly and Panny).
Now we know we will be more right believing the opposite of what you’ll claim. You would at least be a little more right claiming that ‘the mirrorless cameras are not selling well after all – except for the NEX:es. Still, I think both Oly and Panny are rather happy with their selling figures anyway.
.
I wrote:
“… NEX is the number one seller on the world market.”
I hope everyone realized that I meant:
“… NEX is the number one seller on the mirrorless world market.”
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Sony E-mount Lens Road Map
http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/img/dcw/docs/599/536/37.jpg
only 1 20mm F2.8 lens for 2013… wow good job sony?
I’m not sure but the blue box seems to indicate REDUCED production for E-mount lens.
(i might be wrong find someone who could translate to confirm)
Lastly, so many lens with OSS… still wonder why people still insist IBIS on NEX.
JustSoldMySLT wrote:
“only 1 20mm F2.8 lens for 2013… wow good job sony?
I’m not sure but the blue box seems to indicate REDUCED production for E-mount lens.”
Where did you found that indiciation???
Didn’t you see the Zeiss logo for 2013, and the words “Carl Zeiss” clearly spelled out in the blue box for this year?
Besides, the translation of the ‘blue box’ has been done in some earlier post here on SAR, and what I recall it said that Sony is has rewritten its NEX lens lineup and is going to INCREASE the production of E-mount lenses to at least five per year, including high quality G- and Zeiss lenses.
JustSoldMySLT wrote:
“i might be wrong …”)
Yeah, obiously… 🙂
When you don’t know – don’t claim – ask questions!
Then you’ll avoid spreading misinformations, don’t causing trouble and don’t need to be embarrassed.
.
IF there will be a FF NEX out in mid 2014…
and IF the item 5 is really FF NEX lens…
mid 2014 -> 2016….
wow what a GAP!
Where do they show support Olympus from 2004 with ZM? That is support for Leica M mount cameras (at the time: Leica, Zeiss Ikon -the one in the photo-, Voigtlander and Epson)
Are you being serious with that graph interpretation?
Maybe the new Zeiss lanses are for a Sony MRDIUM FORMAT DIGITAL camera. Imagine the Image Quality you could get from a 6×4.5 Sony sensor.
😉
I think all of these camera makers and Zeiss might get blind-sided by fixed lens cameras. Let’s see how CSC and APS-C DSLR get affected by the RX1, X100s, Coolpix A, Ricoh GR, and Sigma DP of the world. I see this segment of the market heating up really nicely. If a 28mm lens cost $400 and a Ricoh costs $750, some may go for the Ricoh. If you can get 2 fixed lens camera with focal length 28mm and 50 or 75mm, some might decide to forego a CSC all together.
I see what Sigma is doing with a 28mm, 50mm and 75mm equiv DP cameras as very attractive. If someone like Nikon, Ricoh, or Sony does it next, I might just leave my NEX at home. No lens changing. Lens perfectly mated to the sensor. I say this might be the next growth sector for these camera makers.
Yep, totally agreed. Advanced compacts may have so many advantages over CSCs that only reason not to get it would be price. I mean, just the a look at DXO mark – best compacts beat CSCs easily.
If only prices would go down, and I’m sure they will, competition on the market will go high, and certainly some mirrorless will die as a result (eg. nikon 1 doesn’t hold a candle when you have RX100 or Coolpix A as an option, heck: even m4/3 can’t stand competition from Coolpix A – shame that Sony is afraid of loosing NEX sales and doesn’t release RX10)
Another point which is often omitted is that they are not limited by the sensor size. They can very well go beyond the current “full format”.
Odd that the high-end segment doesn’t have Sony next to Zeiss like the other levels does.
“High end” probably means the new line CZ 55/1.4 belongs to. It is MF only and thus not for A mount.
Sony have no high end model in this range. Sure the A99 is high priced, but it is a consumer FF camera (I’m not saying it’s no good but that it’s not a high level body)
Nonsense. How is the A99 a consumer FF camera?
It’s true, the A99 is nowhere near a high-end professional camera, and neither is the 6D/5D mk.III/D600/D800. They might be popular with pros, but consumers will buy them too – they are not true high-end.
And what is a pro camera then?
There is no strict definition of what is or isn’t a pro camera, but both Canon and Nikon have higher spec cameras than 5D and D800 that would be more fitting of the high-end description.
I don’t see why you’re getting so upset about whether or not the A99 is “pro” or not. Pros can use them, of course, but so can consumers. It’s price makes it in reach of both.
Oh, I am not getting upset over a camera 🙂 I just don’t understand the bashing the A99 receives most of the time here. And I am just practicing my english.
Pro: According to Canikon sites:
D4/D800/D800E
EOS 5D Mark III, EOS-1D X, EOS-1D C
IMO the A99 is a consumer grade camera, scene modes, partial mag alloy body, sd slots are all considered consumer class
And that’s it? Come on. Scene modes – don’t use them, not an issue. Partial mag alloy body – it might be seen as a negative, admittedly, but it is hardly much of an issue. As to the SD card, it will work perfectly well for most types of shooting. A pro camera is one that have the features required by a professional to do his job.
Which is the point I was making, Zeiss don’t believe that Sony have any plans for a TRUE high-end camera. That is VERY interesting as Zeiss would surely know if there was one coming.
It’s just a graph, you are trying to find too much in it.
and you are being naive. It isn’t “just a graph”.
Really? And what is it?
Meh – the only interesting thing the graph shows is who zeiss’ target market is… Their a-mount glass is aimed at the ff crowd (the only exception is the 16-80, but it barely deserves the zeiss logo). I do wonder how well apsc zeiss e-mount glass will sell when ff Nex arrives…
Hopefully the olympus partnership will give the enthusiast crowd some new options.
APS-C Zeiss lenses for e-mount will sell very well if they are half the price of FF Zeiss lenses.
Moreover, relatively lightweight APS-C Zeiss lenses are very well suited to the smaller and lighter form factor of NEX cameras, so sales should not be impacted particularly badly by the existence of FF lenses.
I see your point – the prices of the ff lenses makes the touits look like a bargain (assuming you’ve got the cash and aren’t planning on going ff later). If I was the cynical type, I’d say they inflated the ff price to avoid competing with themselves…
NEX-9 Full Frame for more than 1600 Euro? It can only be a niche product. Strange strategy …
“Yup, expensive and exciting”.
Nope… The more expensive it is, the less exciting it becomes. Cameras and lenses that can be afforded solely by Hollywood dentists and neurosurgeons is NOT exciting to most of us. I’m not putting s second mortgage on my house to buy the FF NEX, LOL.
I’m an avid NEX user (7 and 6), and I’m definitely wanting to upgrade to a better/faster focusing NEX body, with touch panel, etc. As an ex full frame shooter I also would love an FF NEX. But not at +2000 € body plus similarly priced lenses, when I can have a perfectly good (and much better performing in terms of speed, continuous AF etc) D600…
You’re exactly right, just the way I see it too. Full Frame yes, but not at any price…
I am not sure if this is going to scceed… they would have to make the whole system weathersealed so that even professionals will join the nex ff sys. If the do that then it will be insane because lots of extreme sports require a compact ergonomic camera for ff quality shots. BUT let us say that 2015 there is a next-gen (some kind of stacked sensor) aps-c sensor in the nex system, then the touit lenses and the sel24 are an amazing investment especially the 12mm!!!