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I just received a new message from a new source. Because the source is new please take the rumor with a grain of salt. He said:
“Sony will introduce a 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SAM telephoto lens (SAL-70300) to replace the current [shoplink 6885]Konica-Minolta designed 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 (SAL-75300)[/shoplink]. It is currently designated “budget teleconversion lens“”
Message for the new source: When is Sony going to announce that lens? Thanks!
P.S.: Links to the current Sony 75.300mm lens to [shopcountry 6885].
Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
56 Responses
shit sandwich!
Hahaha – you’ve summed up my thoughts very accurately.
Assuming it’s true, what’s the bet it’ll cost more than a second hand Minolta 100-300 APO and yet have worse picture quality?
Cost more, probably yes.
Worse picture quality… we don’t know.
What I do know is that it would suck to have a SAM motor.
Lol @ AVESTA
No more crappy optics Sony please, get back to producing zeiss colaborated beauties and legendary lenses like the Minolta 28 and 35 f2, 135 STF, 70-200 SSM! It’s not just soccer moms using your cameras!
Nonsense. Vast majority of users are looking for good optic cheaper lenses. 50mm F1.8 and 35mm F1.8 are two most popular Sony lenses ever made. Zeiss can go shove their $1000 lenses where sun doesn’t shine. That’s not what most consumers want.
Well, cheap primes are just fine in my view – just as long as they have good image quality.
It’s when they start making them cheap for the sake of being cheap, leaving them with ho-hum optics or worse that it becomes a problem.
Only downside for me as an A900 user, is that most of their easy choice lenses are APS only.
I want Zeiss 85 f/1.4 but only if they put SSM in it.
Why? People have got by with screw driven 85mm portrait lenses for decades – it’s the glass that counts, and both the Zeiss and Minolta are excellent (although I personally prefer the Minolta)
Agreed. I find no reason to repurchase this lens simply because it has SSM. The focus is perfect the way it is right now.
Let’s “focus” on new products instead of fixing things that ain’t broke.
Does this have anythin to do with Tamron USD 70-300? Could it be a rebadge?
SAM must go. its worse than screw drive especially in speed..
it is possible that new lens is the repacked tamron, since sony is the biggest share holder of that company!
+1 to “SAM must go”
Waste of battery power for no real benefits.
In lens motor is the future.
And those are SSM and SAM – point.
I’m not actually sure why you think it consumes more power than a motor in the camera body.
And also keep in mind that SAM is only the marketing label.
It says nothing about the quality of the motor itself.
So it is possible to get silent higher quality motors in future lenses.
AF Speed is more than the motor itself.
The only way to say “SAM is worse in speed” would be to compare a lens that exist with and without in lens (on SSM ring) motor.
That would be the 28-75 f/2.8 and 55-200.
I don’t know if there is actually a difference.
Why I wrote that in-lens motors are the future?
Because there is a certain benefit to them.
That is that they work with contrast detect AF, while screw driven lenses do not.
SAM (and SSM) lenses do offer AF on the NEX with adapter and the A560/A580 video modes.
And: no I’m not a fan of SAM.
I would love all lenses to have ring motors.
But for a extreme budget lens like a slow 70-300 this is unlikely.
SAM is not silent, SSM is… so junk SAM and just stay with SSM!
^ this one I wouldn’t mind 😀 SSM for masses! 😉
“In lens motor is the future.” Canon said that X years ago and I still don’t believe it.
“I’m not actually sure why you think it consumes more power than a motor in the camera body.” – Real life tests.
“So it is possible to get silent higher quality motors in future lenses.” – possible, maybe, might be…. that’s all I hear in regard of SAM – so far it’s crap, and crap only.
“AF Speed is more than the motor itself.” – that’s true. Type of motor doesn’t have much to deal with focusing speed. Yet another reason to dump SAM as soon as possible.
“That is that they work with contrast detect AF, while screw driven lenses do not.” – My screwdrive lenses work perfectly fine with contrast detection AF on Alpha 450 and Alpha 580. Tested it with my own hands. Please, verify your info before posting.
what sony need is a cheap 70 to 400 or another 100 to 400 with SAM!
it still dont beat my 100 300 APO!!!
it is sad that VC was removed on the tamron lens!
I saw an auction with an 100-300 APO with a film body go for under 50 euro once. I almost felt like bidding on it out of pity, even though I have better telephotos.
Everyone seems to be after beercans and don’t even think about the other options.
Hmm… I wonder if this lens will be any competition to Sigma 70-300 APO or OS. Right now these seem to be unmatched in a price to quality factor. Hope some good alternative will popup though I guess it’ll end up only as a hope….
They didn’t remove VC, this is almost assuredly the older Tamron 70-300 design not the new one with VC.
You can find the 70-300 G for around $800. Why would any one consider something that would cost maybe around 300 less with SAM instead of SSM and poor optics and build quality!?
I donțt think that this is the lens that Sony misses the most. There are Sigma and Tamron alternatives here, but the 70-300 G even being expensive as it is in comparison to those is still the best way to go.
Hey buddy, first of all, the post is talking about the 75-300 (not the 70-300 G), which you can get for 200-300. You and me, we both wouldn’t even consider to buy anything below “G” — but don’t forget that not everybody is that fond of photography and for most people 300 is a huge pile of money…
Agreed…just wanted to point out that Sony has a good performer in this focal lenght class, the best actually available in Sony mount. The cheaper 75-300 is nothing to be proud about, a consumer lens, quite soft wide open above 200mmm. It is quite affordable. It is of course screw-driven. Putting a motor inside and better optics would most certainly raise the cost to a level that would still be much lower than the G lens. This could somehow slow down the sales for the G.
I wonder what whould happen if they decided to lower the price of the G also…
Something that crossed my mind these days…I had the a850&24-70 zeiss out in the rain(not the heaviest) and also snow(cought by a snow storm on a mountain ridge) and had no problems what so ever.
This is not the case with my 85 zeiss which just got a tiny hair of dust inside…and had seen no such use, was kept in a safe environment.
I really start to think that weather sealed lenses should be a must from now on for the pricier Sony Zeiss and G lines.
Hmmm, the 85 ZA is my favourite and standard lens, use it for ~60-80% of all shots. The 24-70 is more a speciality for me. No probs at all so far with the 85 ZA, also no dust inside. But it seems to be quite normal to have a few tiny little dust grains inside a lens. All my Leica lenses do so.
The rumor is true this lens will complete the new 28-75mm F2.8 SAM
for Full Frame camera 😉
100-300 apo beats 75-300 SAL75300 but focus have issues and aperture is lacking once lights go dim..
that tamron 70-300 annv lens never gets release until NOW!!!!
i gave up waiting for it and went for 100-30 apo.
Some user of our German DSLR-Forumhave the Tamron USD now:
http://www.dslr-forum.de/showthread.php?t=878097&page=2
Most likely this is a rebadged Tamron 70-300 LD with SAM ported over from the Canon version.
If so, it’s a good little lens and FAR better than the awful 75-300. It’s no 70-300G for sure, but the Tamron and the closely related Nikon 70-300D and 70-300G non-VR are good performers. Hopefully it retains the Tamron’s excellent close-focus ability (to 1:2 magnification) as the Nikon versions lack that.
This does make sense, having a consumer-grade lens with more than 200mm reach is fairly important in the consumer market and the current 75-300 was pretty much the worst lens in that range currently available (it’s rivaled in quality by Canon’s equally bad 75-300).
As to SAM, as long as Sony doesn’t try and introduce anymore high-end lenses with it, I’ve nothing against it. It makes sense in the sub-$400 lens market and nets you AF on the E mount cameras. But anything over $400 should be SSM or screwdrive (28-75 SAM, I’m lookin’ at you here).
The older screwdrive version of the 28-75 is cheaper than the Sony SAM version, so at least there’s some choice there.
I had the Tamron 70-300 LD Di but returned it after a week due to the crappy AF (slow, hunting). I replaced it with a Big Beercan which had slightly better optical performance (less PF than the Tamron), faster AF and a focus limiter.
I would like to replace more of my Minolta pro glass with Zeiss but I have fear that Sony will keep moving to low end and E-mount.
And since I replaced my My old Minolta and old Sony with a pair of A850’s 18 months ago I have begun to believe my A-mount days would be ending the these camera’s.
Some days I read rumors here that make me beleive that Sony will rule the DSRL world with its A77 and flatten everyone with new pro replacements of the A850 and A900 talked about for late 2012 or 2013, but without better glass, what good is 24MP A77 or a 50MP A99 or A950?
Maybe this is a sign of things to come, more rebranding of 25 year old designs.
Not for me………..I already have a Minolta 75-210 f4 “beercan”.
What lenses are you feeling you’re lacking? Something outside the 16-135mm range?
Exactly. You can never please the whiners. There are already too many too expensive lenses (CZ 24-70, CZ16-35, CZ 24, CZ 85mm, CZ 135mm, 70-200, 70-400)
We actually need more cheap/fast lenses with good optics. 30mm macro, 35mm F1.8, 50mm F1.8, 85mm F2.8 were all move in the right direction. More of these are needed. a cheap 70-200 F4 is needed for one.
Also a cheap 50-150 F2.8 DT will complement nicely 16-50 F2.8 DT.
Cheap/fast lenses that aren’t DT crop format lenses would also be welcomed.
A cheap 50-150 F2.8 DT?
How cheap? You can’t have a 50-150/2.8 in that cheap price IMO.
I’d have to be cheaper or better than the black Minolta 80-200/2.8 to have much of a market.
You must be joking if an f1.8 speed is enough. Where are all the f1.4 lenses? Higher ISO simply results in softer images thanks to the NR.
If you can’t afford the faster lenses, do not disdain those who can and want those lenses.
“Higher ISO simply results in softer images thanks to the NR.”
oh, duh. 1.4 lenses result in softer images too, and lenses are unnecessarily larger, more expensive and overall crappier (harder to build, design, and overall worse).
@Irfan: Uhh… If you know only cheap crappy f/1.4, don’t blame all f/1.4 lenses crap. There are really excellent ones available — but they cost more than an apple and an egg!
@Whatever: Switch off NR and use a decent raw converter like Capture One.
Thank you!
For some of us, it’s not about price, its about sharpness, speed and image.
Lenses are tools for the photographer like a hammer and a screwdriver is to a carpenter. Because Sony has a Zeiss 135mm f1.8 and several other screwdrivers that are expensive doesn’t mean there is a complete set of tools available to a professional.
To a professional photographer the big difference between Canon, Nikon and Sony is the commitment to supplying the tools of the trade needed.
Sony continues to be behind Canon and Nikon in its selection of professional optics for full-frame cameras and is concentrating on the lower end product.
Just because I already have a Zeiss 24-70 f2.8, 135 f1.8 and a Sony 70-200 f2.8 does not mean that I don’t need a fast 50mm f1.4 of the same optical quality to compete with the IQ of my competitor using Canon or Nikon.
For some of us, its not about cost its about having the best tool to do the job.
To be fair, the current 50/1.4s from Canon, Nikon and Pentax aren’t really that great, either (the DA* 55/1.4 is pretty good though).
Of course, both Canon and Nikon make 50/1.2s.
Still no one to produce 8mm-400mm f1.0 this industry moves too slow 😀
If you walked into Zeiss HQ in Oberkochen carrying an attaché case with a million dollars inside, I bet they’d make one for you.
I dont have a million. that is why i am here. but adding all of us, breaking billion is possible 😀
today 15th May, 45 days to go! a77
It would be smaller and cheaper than 70-200 F2.8, especially if it’s DT.
The KM and Sony 70-300 was a fine lens. My copy is really outstanding and I paid $65 for it new! I’m a bit worried that Sony will take a fairly ideal consumer telephoto (works on FF sensors too) and in an attempt to tech it up (like they did with that small grip and some botched interface changes a few years ago on bodies) – ruin it.
But that might make my $65 lens, not a scratch on it, worth something more in the used market… So botch away Sony.
Stop Pancanikonpus to believe in A7X ! It will come in september/october only ! :-))
I agree with a DT 50-150mm f2.8!!! The focal length will be sweet for an apsc and the weight won’t kill my arms.
if the price would be good I’d surely be interested in this one 🙂
A low budget 70-300mm lens (not the SAL-70300G) has been rumoured at least since January 2009, probably earlier. Sony Canada lists a 70-300mm F/4-5.6 SAM with the tentative name of SAL-70300SAM at least since mid 2009. The same site now has been found to list a SAL-70300 without any detailed specs, perhaps just a newer name for this lens, since designators such as SSM or SAM are not normally part of SAL codes.
I have no idea, however, if the lens is still in the pipeline or has been abandoned in the meanwhile.
See http://www.mi-fo.de/forum/index.php?showtopic=23875&view=findpost&p=275349
Hm… it’s true. It really is there. Here:
SAL70300SAM ZZ 70-300mm F4-5.6 SAM NOT AVAIL
Andrea? We’ve got update to the news. It’s on the models list of Canadian Sony website.
It looks Available to me:
http://www.sonystyle.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SYSearchQuickView?storeId=20153&catalogId=100803&langId=200&productId=8198552921665345645
Andrea, that’s the SAL-70300G, a 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 G SSM design, which has been introduced in 2008.
The SAL-70300 (and SAL-70300SAM) entries at Sony Canada indicate a different design, low budget, non-G, SAM-based.