The image on top shows you the new 28-135mm f/4.0 FE Powerzoom lens on the new A7s. You can here some more interesting tidbits about the lens from minute 6:00 of that video:
Both the Powerzoom and XLR mic kit are marked “under development”. Therefore no price and availability info have been released.
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Looks like the perfect lens for candid street shooters!
Too small (and way too fast) for that. 😉
Yes, except that its a camera mainly for video shooters. They tend to have slightly larger lenses and some other stuff, tripods anyone?
That doesn’t look stupid at all…
clearly missed the point of this being a cinema camera, compared to cinema lenses this is tiny.
You’ve clearly missed the point that it still looks stupid.
Muhahahahahaha… what a good laugh
nice, small and compact lens. i like it !
Ok more seriously WHAT is the point of a smaller body (vs. a DSLR for instance) when optics are that humongus ??? NONE !
That the package can also be small with other lenses, where as the DSLR will always be large. It’s commonly referred to as choice.
Not sure why everyone is screaming “this is small camera, it needs small lenses”.. The primary use of $300-$700 camera is to shoot pics of kids running around. But at some point, you’d want to shoot pics of kids playing football and you’d need longer lens. I’d prefer a huge good lens than a small crap one. I think camera should be a rear lens cap – easy to carry around and in function of the lens. Not the other way round. And I hate that you have almost no e-mount tele lenses just because people think ‘these lenses look stupid on a small camera’…
Look, I routinely use a Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM on the NEX7 and A7, so I’m all for versatility. BUT, there are trade-offs to those smaller bodies, that we all embraced for a reduction of bulk. Now THIS monstruosity is a lose-lose situation. You lose all DSLR related goodies like faster AF (and yes, I’ve owned the A6000, give me back my Nikon D700, thanks), and you also lose portability. For general purpose (which the focal is supposed to be) it just defies its own concept.
It’s for movie purpose….
Comparing it with NEX7/A7 which is photography oriented…. is half brained comparaison.
Generaly in movie, you have a monopod/tripod + others XLR accessories. So anyway you aren’t looking for portability.
This is a video centric lens, you think video shooters care about losing DSLR AF capabilities (which for video are likely worse…)? Reminds me of people on Dpreview complaining about the size and price of Cine lenses (which make this one look compact) . You’re not the target market.
And it’s no more ridiculous looking than a DSLR with a 500mm f/4. Arguably even less so.
I agree with Claire. The size of lenses makes a difference in a world of increasingly smaller, powerful cameras.Given that fabulous image sensors are becoming a commodity (in this respect I am perfectly happy with any state-of-the-art mirrorless out there at the moment) lenses become – once again – the element that decides on how useful a kit is. This is not to say there is no use for a bulky, fast lens but I might also opt to a) correct some stuff in post-processing or b) wait some time and accept the fact that my next cam will offer stellar sensivity / usability / versatility (easily off-setting the ‘somewhat faster’ lens).
The big exception in my book is video shooting. If pictures have to be captured 50 or 60 times per second a faster lens can make a world of difference.
I agree with Claire. The primary advantage of small mirrorless cameras is – you guessed it – the size. The *ability* to go small. This doesn’t mean every lens needs to be small though. There should be tele lenses as well BUT if there is not enough small lenses available (currently Sony has 16mm, 20mm and 35mm primes and the 16-50mm power zoom) then what’s the point of a small body? Bad ergonomics? Limited controls? Short battery life? Features that were left out because of the size constrains?
Finally, somebody speaking some sense! I get the “small body needs small lens” crap every day, even from Sony.
Oh, not to mention the “balance of weight” of the body and lens, whatever that means. If the camera is front heavy, balance it on the lens. If it’s rear heavy, balance it on the body. It’s that simple!
Plus one. The whole issue seems to be some pseudoesthetical concern.
Agreed. I don’t understand the argument people keep making regarding small lenses. There are so many benefits to a small system like the E-mount system, yet people get hung up on compactness as the only benefit. It seems pretty silly.
There’s simply no way to make a powerzoom like this one into a pancake, at least not in any way which would do justice to someone’s photos/videos.
-135mm is not “long lens”.. it is short tele and still huge. 28mm short end is useless in that kind of lens.
I agree. Things are as big as they need to be. Who cares if a camera is small and a lens is big?
I agree 100%. It’s what I’ve been saying these past few days. Why would I want a lens with a 67mm filter size on an A7, when I could have the same lens but in _58mm_ diameter on a full frame Canon 6D? The bulk in my bag would be about the same.
I thought the whole point of mirrorless was quality in a compact package? Or was that just for the m43 line (because Fuji lenses are also by no means small — more like standard sized, with their 52mm and 58mm filters)?
You’re talking about a lens for stills, this is specifically for cine applications.
There’s a whole industry (motion) looking hard at the FE Sony cameras and this is what they have asked for. It may not be for us, but it’ll help establish the system professionally and that helps the rest of us get what we want eventually.
For one thing, a smaller body means a smaller flange distance, which means the system can adapt any number of lenses from any number of legacy systems. These lenses are often decent to great quality and often much cheaper than modern native lenses of similar quality. Additionally, nobody is forcing people to buy a lens this big. If it doesn’t suit a persons needs, they don’t have to use it. They can Stick to any number of relatively small lenses available for the system (in the case of the E mount system, that’s quite a few lenses which can be adapted).
Thing is, they’re not going to be able to make a decent power zoom in this range of focal lengths into a pancake. It’s simply not feasible. Lens size is always going to be an issue if the only reason someone purchases an E mount is for compactness. However, the lenses like this one are going to be just as big for a DSLR. Add on the weight of the DSLR, and it’s clear that even with lenses this big the E mount is relatively compact. This argument always confuses me. If someone really wants compact, they should go with a point and shoot. That’s the whole point of P&S design.
Huge and only f4.0.. looks more like 300mm f2.8.
It looks huge with A7s. In fact, it’s not bigger than CZ24-70/2.8
Only F4 because it covers 28-135 and is constant F4
WTF new XLR((((
XLR-K1M very very much better!!!
I have the XLR-K1M, its lovely, but mounting it is a kludge with the flimsily flash-bracket. This new one is obviously aimed at journalists who need to get it on & off the camera fast or maybe they’re tied down to a tripod for say an interview. On a tripod the XLR-K1M doesn’t work well with quick release plates as the “flash-bracket” gets in the way.
This is a welcome addition and furthermore it gets the “pack-size” down even smaller, nice job Sony. I think these guys are really thinking this system through, it may appear slow to get off the ground but the FE-Series is becoming a very good multi-media camera system!
psst, Sony. it’ll be more logical to put fast lenses on sensitive camera (it’s a win/win).
And in my mind, fast lenses start at f1.4 and below…
Fast lenses: I agree more or less. However, I do like my Oly 45mm F1.8 since I hardly have to stop it down (unlike anything I have used in the full frame world). Put another way: numbers alone do not make me happy.
The reason why I find the NEX / Ax00 (and to a lesser degree the A7x) world increasingly interesting is the simple fact that decent $1000 zoom lenses are becoming available which may prove more versatile than my current m43 / prime lenses setup (keywords: versatility, excellent achievable resolution, ease of use).
What prevents me from jumping ship are the somewhat unfortunate dimensions of some lenses on one hand and ingenious stuff such as the Oly 12 – 40mm (I don’t own it yet) on the other hand.
Last remark about ‘fast’: the combination of the GX7 and a prime occasionally requires me to stop down a bit because there is *too much* light. Amazing.
Fast primes? I agree.
Zooms start at f/2.8 IMO.
Is it April the 1st?
Everybody is assuming this lens is designed only for the A7s.
This lens will be perfect for the A77 and A99 replacements when they arrive in e-mount 😉
If so, then wouldn’t it have worked better the other way around? How are you going to stick an FE lens straight onto an A mount camera? Whereas if this had been an A mount lens, you could easily use it with an FE camera (but why would you want to?). Sony’s strategy is a mess.
Wooooosh!!!
Sorry I missed your joke. It probably wasn’t very good. Hoho.
Good thing you saved face with that gutbuster.
look at the picture, it says for movie, that’s why its got gear teeth and a massive hood. not meant to be small.
wow finally a XLR kit that plug directly in the shoe instead of some awkward cable, kudos Sony
Don’t need a bloody Videopowerzoom.
What about the promised new FE lenses? Where is the updated road map?
Andrea please tell us!
If you think that’s funny, wait till you see this!!!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8480632100_65ed21060d_b.jpg
That’s a classic! Funny how the proportions Lens X Camera remain the same!
(one can imagine how monstruous is that Sigmazilla)
That would look awesome on my A7. Or maybe on my nex-5R ?
lol, notice how it’s optimally balanced by the DSLR body
it s a fake pic?… i don t think even schwarzenegger would be able to hold such huge lens 😉 unless u wanna do bodybuilding excercises at the same time than your photograph job… I m sure paparazzi would be visible at 1 km around with such gear 😀
For now i m glad with my Sony A6000 and its small 16-50 and 55-210 lenses and I will have no prob to carry them out and play my modest paparrazzi 😉
28-135/4, very useful even at f/4 since a7s has insane usable high ISO. But why powerzoom? Is conventional zoom not smooth enough? Don’t all real cine zooms zoom mechanically? Mechanically coupled zoom could be both smooth and swift responding, don’t get why they have to make this a power zoom.
Using a manual zoom for videography might be OK for full-time professional camera operators who do it as an everyday job, but the A7s is probably not aimed at such folk. It’s far easier to achieve a smooth zoom whilst filming using a powered lens. I suspect they are aiming at well of amateurs and people who have to do some part-time filming. Possibly for wedding videos, business videos, (modest) music videos, reportage and so on.
The thing has focus gears attached to it. Not bundled as an add-on not sold as an accessory…I think that means it’s meant to be used with rails and follow focus.
OK – possibly I should have said some professional camera operators, but I still expect that it will be aimed at some more informal uses too. Of course we also ought to bear in mind that this lens will fit some of Sony’s dedicated video cameras (and I’m sure this sensor will get used in dedicated
Come on guys..
It’s a standard zoom lens for videographers – who can’t operate the zoom during recording unless it is motor operated and silent.
Mark Weir spends most of the clip talking about how flexible the A7s is in terms of accepting optics with a variety of mounts through adapters. A powered standard zoom is something you don’t find as easily by going that route. Problem solved. A necessity for Sony to be viewed as a viable alternative to the competition in this market.
Without the hood its really not that humongous for a 5x zoom video lens, just look to the Zeiss “Compact Prime” being displayed on the camera with the rig.
And as has been pointed out – when you take the camera out of the rig and mount your tiny 35mm summicron, you’ll really appreciate that versatility 😉
Sweet! Keeping the e-mount small and light. ;^)
Yes, it looks much more balanced now. I think this is exactly the reason why mirrorless exists. Well done, Sony. I’m so buying this for my run and gun projects.
I just realized there was a camera on the picture…
Only a complete idiot would buy this lens. If you need to film 4k just pony up the money for the F55.
Agreed, just >$20,000 difference in price, only idiots would mind.
There are alternatives available that are less expensive than the F55. It makes more sense to buy a 4k Video Camera than a tiny mirror-less camera, external 4k recording device, and ridiculous looking power zoom.
Would love to see that hanging under a small drone.
The A7S requires a external device like the AXS-R5 to record 4K which can’t be attached to a drone.
First you’re assuming there will be no portable 4K recorders on the market when this camera becomes widely available or shortly after, second it assumes people would only buy this camera for 4K, rather than a combination of things it is capable of. As it stands, it appears to also be capable of good quality portable video and extremely low light video, not to mention FF quality stills in a small and lightweight form factor.
I am assuming nothing. The camera was launched without a built in 4K recorder which is absolutely absurd in this day and age. The camera is incomplete, and this lens is a complete joke.
It almost as stupid as trying to sell a car without an engine.
http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-NEXFS700R/
You do know that the 4k capable FS700 has an e-mount, right?
Why did you even mention the F55 in the first place then? And the Ursa is a 8kg beast that would still cost more.
But hey, we can’t let videographers look ridiculous!
Nice, they make the URSA in full frame now???
Hey, I’m a complete idiot, and I dont want to buy this lens!
Big size, big price, and get some like this, but for full frame?…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSE1-1KGrNg
The new sony ( zeiss) 24-70 f4 oss it seems has the same problem . Huge distortion , of course all new a7 series, has correct software , but as all we know this is decrease resolution , unfortunately .
Wow, the distortion makes it unusable for out-of-camera video! Or did you turn off in-camera distortion correction?
You can’t use any correction in-camera in professional camcorders like FS100 or above, because…. they don’t have it afterall.
It looks like Sony is going all out with the full frame E mount system
now and not so much with the legacy Minolta A mount (A77,A99 etc).
Sony’s pushing these (FE) cameras hard, because they’re trying to take market share away from the other mirror-less manufacturers.
A-Mounts are normally announced in the Summer, and released in the fall. This tradition isn’t going to change anytime soon.
Once the FE smoke clears the A-Mount cameras will release. I’m pretty sure the model numbers for 2014/2015 are A66, A77II, A88, and A99II.
The A66, A77II, A88, A99II sales will likely benefit from the Winter 2013 / Spring 2014 alpha marketing buzz.
that zoom looks ridiculous on the small a7s body LOL …..once you attach all of these big lenses, the advantages of having a small body is totally diminished imo….Sony needs to innovate smaller lenses/accessories to match the small a7s body….guess you can’t have the cake and eat it too!
You’re right. The benefit of a small body is completely lost… until you put a smaller lens on it again.
…and IMO it looks absolutely badass.
It will be more at home on the FS 100 / 700.
That is an odd-looking rear lens cover.
Where is OSS the most important for video .
I’m curious: Why is there a big focus (no pun intended) on producing power-zooms for video by Sony? Within the last 10 or so cinema movies I’ve seen I think I can count the number of zooming shots on one hand. Maybe it’s useful if you’re chasing fast-moving kids/animals and don’t care about making your audience motion sick, but considering that the power-zoom makes it terrible ergonomically for normal photography I’m confused as to why this is a priority at all.
For shooting broadcast, ENG, live events, and for small crew shoots (where you don’t have someone to pull focus or zoom).
But who in their right mind would want to shoot an ENG production with a VistaVision-sized sensor? Nobody wants a documentary that is constantly pinging!
E-mount is used on more than the a7s:
http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-NEXFS100U/
http://pro.sony.com/bbsc/ssr/product-NEXFS700R/
Focus pulling would be useful, but is power-zoom really any easier or more accurate than twisting a lens ring? Even the 16-50mm NEX kit lens is power-zoom, and that would drive me nuts trying to use it for that reason.
Not when you have a sizable rig on your shoulder and you are running around.
This actually gets my blood boiling. We all thought Sony has put its act together and they show THIS?
A 4k camera that actually can’t record 4k. High speed at 2,5 FPS and a battery life enough to record 25 minutes of footage. Then they annouce a lens three times the size of it – with motor driven zoom, surely a measure to improve the battery performance even more.
I’m lost for words – WHY?! This kind of technology belongs on A-mount size cameras which could handle all this adequately, but even knowing that the A77 mk2 is around the corner, I feel that Sony can not be trusted.
We are all waiting for the FE lens which were announced for Q2/2014 on Sony’s official roadmap, but they are nowhere in sight. What is going on?
FE 70-200/4 was scheduled for shipping in February – has anyone seen one live?
What happens is that Q2 started 11 days ago.
Yeah. A convenient travel zoom it is not. 🙂
Now they have 3 (three!) standard slow zooms. In otherwise empty system. I like their product managers. 🙂
How is a 28-135 constant f/4 powerzoom lens in any way ‘standard’? I’ve never seen such a lens bundled in a kit. Same goes for the Zeiss.
Looks nice. SO hows the year of the A-mount going… Oh right, the A-mount is dead, dead, dead. Anybody still in denial, or has opinions swung my way now? 14 months now and still not a peep from Sony about any new A-mount product releases, How you like them apples?
I’m pretty sure everyone agrees with you. You dont have to try to convince anyone anymore.
There is no A-mount anymore.
Bill, you Dan’s brother? Did you get dropped on your head at birth, too?
Hey, I got dropped on my head at birth, I resent that!!!
Probably because Sony releases their A-Mounts in three of four year intervals. The A700, and A900 were on the market for four years before they were replaced. The A77 has only been available for less than three, and the A99 has only been around for 18 months. So do us all a favour and shut-up.
Spew you Tr0ll sh!t somewheres else.
That’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve heard all day. The A-Mounts are selling out everywhere since the A77’s price dropped to $800.00, and the A99 price has been lowered to $2149.99 in many retail locations in Canada, and the US.
E-Mounts are collecting dust, and A65/A77/A99 continue to sell.
The A-Mount sells well in North American, and Europe. E-Mounts don’t. The original plan was to launch the A77 successor in 2015. I know for a fact the A77’s replacement was brought forward by one year to build upon its successes specifically in North America, and Europe.
Some of us on this forum have already seen the new product SKU’s, know their release dates and are preparing orders for the new models for our respective retail chains.
Again? I’ve yet to be wrong. I said it very clearly, no A-mount releases from Sony, not in over a year. Nothing’s changed. I was told I would be proven wrong numerous times over last year and earlier this year, and everytime the mysterious release was to come-nope! No, I’m afraid I have been right every single time, that us undeniable, because no A-mount camera has been release, he’ll not even publicly acknowledge by Sony. How you like them apples. Yep, A-mount is dead, dead, dead.
Dan
With all due respect, you’re either a true fool or a Canikon fanboy who enjoys creating drama and fear.
Anyone with a level head knows this is absolute garbage. Sony is committed to A-mount.
The real question is what rock will you be hiding under in 6 months when more cameras and lenses are launched, and people are pelting you with rotten tomatoes?
Funny I ha e been saying it since last February and thus far I’ve been proven right. Even Admin has to admit that fact. It’s only conjecture that anything A-mount from Siny would be released. As seargant Friday days, “just the facts” and in this case, no A-mount cameras period in over a year, none at all. A-mount is dead, dead, dead.
Dan
K. So it’s settled then. You’re just a fool.
Just because something hasn’t happened, that doesn’t mean it wont.
You’re looking at just the surface; the iceberg is below the surface.
Agreed
Agreed
Agreed
I dont want to be on the good ship Dan; its about to hit an iceburg…
I agree too.
Agreed!
You’ve proven nothing. Unless you can provide a shred of evidence that supports you position, which you cannot. The only thing you’ve proven thus far is your need to purposefully, and deliberately upset people on this forum. It makes you a nothing more than vile creature, that should be scorned.
Dan, you havent proven a damn thing. Just because you’ve been exploiting the design focus and release cycle for your own agenda, that doesnt mean you’re right. Sony doesnt have unlimited resources. They cannot focus on E-mount and A-mount at the same time. Do the two lines share engineers and technology? Sure…but there’s clearly an E-mount focus right now, and that is to help lure people like yourself away from Canon with the FAR SUPERIOR Sony technology in cameras like the A7s. In a few months, once they have the momentum going with E-mount, you’ll see A-mount do the same thing.
Your conclusion for determining that “A-mount is dead” is using the same reasoning that just because no one has sailed around the world, that it MUST be flat.
Get up off your ass, you’re cutting off the blood flow to your brain.
Danny boy, I’ve seen the future of A-mount – in person – and it’s quite bright.
Hate to ruin your day like that, sorry.
I’ve seen Dan’s future, and its filled with more of his stupid comments!!!
My mother dropped me on my head over a dozen times when I was young. A-mount is dead, dead, dead.
lol
Dan needs to be flogged.
Dan is a disgrace to the human race
Yeah, killed off by this small and light e-mount cine lens and the budget a7S to pair it with. Such a funny troll! ;^)
http://andrewwonder.com/blog/entry/jello-shots-sony-a7s
Hey guys, did you see this video :o(……….. I was sooo hyped but now I will hold my breath for a bit with my A7R before to jump in 4k resolutions.
wonder if this 28-135mm f/4.0 FE Powerzoom lens will be controllable with a LANC remote for rigs and remote on jibs etc ? or even wifi-able app for remote control on a smartphone would be trick ?
Yesterday i tested a6000 autofocus for video. When using knob to lock AF, it jumps like any others contrast af systems. I do not believe in this “pdaf on sensor” points, because my old old old Pana GH1 focuses better and without any focus jumping, when locking focus via half press shutter.
I have the XLR mic kit. I it works perfectly with my a99. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892383-REG/Sony_xlr_k1m_XLR_Adapter_Microphone_Kit.html
Wow that thing is f’n expensive. I can get a nice external recorder with twice as many xlr channels for half the price.
That is because it does not use phase-detect or even most of the contrast-detect points during video. The full AF system is only available when taking stills.