[shoplink 32624 ebay]
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This is the very first price drop on the world’s best AF lens (so says DxO). $223 off and 3 year US warranty at [shoplink 32624 ebay]GetDigital on eBay (Click here)[/shoplink]. This is a limited time deal and runs out in 48 hours!
I do own that lens and if you own an FE camera you absolutely HAVE TO own that lens. It’s that good!
Reminder: Open Box A7r camera with a $450 discount on [shoplink 32596 ebay]Samys eBay store (Click here)[/shoplink].
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91 Responses
I’d hate to be the moron who bought it at full price.
come on! this is the worlds best lens! you must be proud! i’m sure actually you are 🙂
Pretty sure he’s just trolling.
So it’s smarter to pocket the money and not take photos all this time?
It is smarter not to get taken for a ride and buy similar lenses cheaper.
Similar lenses? Cheaper? Such as?
$200 Nikon 50/1.8. No, not $1200.
They’re not in the same league… not in terms of size, not in terms of performance.
These have been $750 or so on Amazon for the international version for awhile, of course that one doesn’t have a US warranty though
Looks like a 3rd party Squaretrade US warranty in this case.
It’s a great lens. Just sad that it can only be used on a Sony camera. Astigmatism, less than 14 bit color, shutter shock all go to sabotage what a lens like this can do.
Adapt it to a Nikon body and see it’s true capability, producing photos like these:
My D810 pictures don’t look like this (esp. after the firmware update). Maybe you should practice a little harder.
This and all the other issues will be corrected on the new Nikon D820, so sell your D810 for half of what you paid for it and buy the D820.
Nikon: We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused.
Old joke. You just copied it from the Nikon “D760” fraction. I bought an A7ii in addition. Didn’t see any green flares so far.
A full frame nikon without problem?
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/55124878
D610,DF,D4s,D810 (really nothing serious with LENR). I have to say the D810 is worth every penny. Incredible camera. I like the A7ii, too with IBIS I didn’t feel a need for the EM1 any more.
The main thing the E-M1 has going for it is the 12-40 f/2.8. That lens is pretty incredible.
How exciting can a “24-80 f/5.6”-equivalent zoom lens be?
Yeah, the effective ISO and DOF control aren’t great but the lens is really razor sharp across the frame.
The sad thing is if Sony makes a FF equivalent, it would be cheaper, lighter, sharper and likely smaller, but still people will be complaining about how it’s not “fast” enough.
I wouldn’t be so sure about it being sharper as the 12-40 on the E-M1 is sharper than the FE 24-70 on the A7. But I agree that a series of small, slow, extremely sharp lenses for FF would be great.
Yeah no one knows what happened with the 24-70/4… likely different goals.
But if made with the same level of effort, a 24-80/5.6 FF would be better simply due to physics.
“But if made with the same level of effort, a 24-80/5.6 FF would be better simply due to physics.”
I definitely agree with you on this, the only issue is that no manufacturers are doing so. I would love some tiny razor sharp f/4 primes for landscape shooting. The 35 FE is fantastic but it’s way overpriced for what it is, especially when Canon has a 40mm lens that’s optically just as good for ~$100.
The Canon lens is not as good although it’s a solid performer.
They’re incredibly close . I owned both simultaneously and tested both on the A7R and there’s almost no difference. The only reason I kept the 35 2.8 was because the AF was poor on the adapted 40 STM.
Although sharp, etc., the non-L canons tend to have not as nice colours. I found the FE35/2.8 extremely contrasty and punchy compared to most non-L canons I’ve used. I didn’t own the 40/2.8 or use it long enough to remember off the top but i can’t remember it being particular special like the FE35/2.8 was.
How did the bokeh compare?
And so is any lens on full frame, stopped down at 5.6. And you save a lot of dosh, too.
They’re all more than adequate, problem being the end-user, many so inexperienced they cannot even get a sharp picture out of an A7R. What is the craft coming to, money can’t buy experience, but its taken at every camerastore!
Exactly his point and you missed it! The Sony compressed RAW isn’t an issue, neither is the shutter unless you’re the proverbial Ant(on) making Anthills out of nothing. You get it now?
Is that a total eclipse on a deserted beach, or an ultra close up of a blanket ?
If you think online chanting works or this is now becoming a magic spell of some sorts: I’m afraid nobody at Sony is gong “OMG He said 14bit 20 times on a rumor site, now by the power of greyskull we HAVE to DO SOMETHING OR BE DOOOMED!!!!!!!”
I know it feels different, but this website is not a 80’s cartoon, the products are actually made in the real world not in the comment section. but please feel free to put on a suicide vest and blow yourself up for ‘the cause’
So clearly you haven’t used a A7 series, much less an A7R. What do you shoot with now?
World’s best? LOL
Pick any 55mm AF lens and compare it to this lens , if you can get a better score than 42 I will send you a 55mm 1.8 for free
http://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Sony/Sony-FE-Carl-Zeiss-Sonnar-T-STAR-55mm-F18-mounted-on-Sony-A7R__917
Do you base your purchases on dxomark?
No , But I’m talking about the phrase “55/1.8 is the world’s best 55mm AF lens”.
I don’t remember talking about buying a lens in my comment !
Don’t worry, nobody really cares what you talk about.
at least you care :*
I’m sure the Sigma 50/1.4 (there are only few 55mm, but I guess you count 50mm lenses, too) Art will be at least of similar quality. https://photographylife.com/reviews/sigma-50mm-f1-4-dg-hsm/4 shows it to be sharper than the Otus in the center, very close in the mid section and trailing in the very corner. From 2.8 both are on par even in the corners. DXO shows the Otus to be better even at 1.4 across the whole field than the 55/1.8 (mounted on D800E, comparable to A7r). So the Sigma will have a similar score, if not higher. But why not agree to 55/1.8 best mirrorless AF lens tested and Sigma Art the best DSLR normal lens tested so far?
“So the Sigma will have a similar score,” ok, so, look it up on dxo mark? :)The only sigma 50 1.4 I can find scores 32.
It makes a difference on which camera body it was tested on. So far the new Art lens was only tested on Canon bodies at DXO. The 55 was tested on an AA filterless A7r, so to compare we need to have a test on an D800E or D810.
Exactly, I couldn’t find a equal test. Someone posted a link to a site that uses a scanner to test lenses to have a more common benchmark. Forgot the link but the idea of testing that way made sense.
Maybe you meant http://www.lenscore.org. Here the Sigma 50 Art has a higher score than the 55/1.8, but of course it is not a 55mm lens. So best 55/1.8 AF lens is still valid if 50/1.4 doesn’t count.
The website I remember was white, should have bookmarked it. Usually I just buy whatever I like without looking at the scores, just borrow the lens from a shop and shoot with it. I got into the sony gear to be light, mobile, get great video and sound. So it is a compromise, if I wanted the best I probably should have gotten a C300 and kept all my L glass.
This website uses a method to equalize conditions as much as possible. However, I agree with you to lend expensive lenses to try and shoot with them. I don’t know whether it is worth paying 4000 for an Otus, if the differences to the 55/1.8 or Sigma aren’t that drastic anyway.
Yes, something like the otus is maybe for a very specific type of customer who expects a very specific look and you have extreme mechanical accuracy. but I’mnot sure that is important, for cinema lenses with the mechanical accuracy and smoothness I understand, but practically, something like an otus I don’t know. It’s the old discussion held in the final cut / Avid editing camp: if one product can give you 98% of what the other has to deliver you buy the other product if you need the other 2%. Perhaps with 4K video something like an otus makes sense, but if it is for video a cine lens would be a better choice anyway.
I owned the old sigma 50mm (canon) it was sharp as well. However, near minimum focus distance, it would front focus. Near infinity, it would back focus. Really odd. The sigma 85mm wouldn’t do though…
The new ART lenses are different. Sigma stepped up their game with the new Art lenses, the older models had many issues and sample variation.
Simply the Sony FE 55mm is the world’s best 55mm AF lens , Otus score is better but it’s not AF lens.
Sigma ART is great but it is a 50mm not 55mm.
All what you said up there is correct but my main concentration was on the phrase “the 55/1.8 is the world’s best 55mm AF lens” that’s all my friend 🙂
I guessed you would mean it that way 😉 That’s why I mentioned it at the beginning).
Concentrating on 55mm lenses is indeed the best you can do with your resources. Be careful not to fry your two neurons.
na na na na na ,,,
Are there any other 55mm AF lenses on the market, aside from zooms?
That’s why it is the worlds best 😉
It doesn’t say 55mm in the title. It just states “worlds best AF lens.” The Sigma 50mm Art certainly fits that label and there’s definitely some telephotos from Canikon that beg to differ. (distortion, vignetting, chr. aberration, bokeh) Since you like DXO so much, take a look at the $200 Sigma 60mm that’s sharper than the “World’s Best” Sony.
The sigma 50 ART is technically excellent, but then look at the pictures, the rendering is crap. Most nervous bokeh of any modern 50mm I have seen
Stop reading this DxOMark junk. Not all numbers are created equal… don’t worship them.
Of course there is a lot of AF lenses which are sharper and have lower CA etc – but it is SAR, Andrea has to pump the rabid fan userbase. 😉
Such as?
Just go to any lens testing/review website. Sort by score and see the whole list of lens with higher test scores.
Where? The ones I can see have it at the top. Certainly expensive top of the line lenses might be slightly better wide open but the FE 55 1.8 tests pretty well the same as the Otus once we get past f2.
Where did you see it at the top? Except here on SAR which is not a test site…
Nikon 200/2 VR II, 300/2.8 VR II, 400/2.8, 85/1.4, 85/1.8, Sigma 35/1.4, 120-300/2.8 S etc. I am pretty sure Canon has better lenses too, DxO just does not measure them on a 36mpix camera.
LOL
IIRC, the II is for the VR, not the optics. The original versions 200/2 VR and 300/2.8 VR were just as good, before.
The Sigma A 50/1.4 is also a better lens… I certainly prefer it over the Otus 55 after testing them side by side.
Rented it once and it is superb. Best prime i’ve used ever.
“Limited quantities available” and they already sold 78 of them? Wow!
What if the limit is 1000? or 10.000? Still limited 😉
Is this a truly a US version of the 55, same as purchasing it new from an authorized Sony US dealer except for a non-Sony warranty? Or is there some other trick here?
Most probably a Japanese version sold in the similar price range or even lesser. Those don’t have US warranty and to make up the seller has added a 3rd party external 3 years warranty. Look for reviews for that warranty provider to see what you are getting into and how they honor the warranty. Not a bad deal, but not the Sony warranty that you will get in the US. Just not a crazy huge deal, Japanese versions are available for that price range most times.
See this listing’s description for an example. In this listing’s description, the seller has mentioned that it is a Japanese version whereas this featured listing does not.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-Sonnar-T-FE-55mm-F1-8-ZA-Lens-SEL55F18Z-Carl-Zeiss-Japan-Model-New/151380825186?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27673%26meid%3Da8aaa81f6e3a48e28e92e1b8f8516a8b%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D24%26mehot%3Dag%26sd%3D171429193013
… on the worlds best AF lens, the Sony 55mm FE!
HAhaHAHahHAHAAHHahHAHAhahAHhaHAHA
thank you !
just a troll who really likes his a7 🙂
Umm it’s tested to that level. Opinions differ as to rendering of course, but it’s very close to the Otus from f2 up.
You do realise that lenses exist in other focal lengths too, right?
Amazon UK had it for 666 euro, I forgot to buy one.. hah.
Living in the UK? How about this deal: http://www.expeditelectronics.com/sony-carl-zeiss-sonnar-t-fe-55mm-f-1-8-za-lens.html £511.40
And guess what? No affiliate link anywhere! Whoops!
Nerdo,
What is your opinion about this offer?
just 463 £!
Have you heard about this seller, reliable? this is the full price with tax?
or there are different in warranty?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Sony-Sonnar-T-FE-55mm-F1-8-ZA-Lens-f-1-8-Black-SEL55F18Z-Carl-Zeiss-/301161559517?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item461ea0b5dd
well this price is without tax and you will have to pay import duty unless you are in hong kong it seems. When I import stuff from hong Kong they will ad 21% VAT + 10% over the total amount including postage and VAT. Usually you end up paying around 35% on top. So it better be a amazing deal. As for warranty, if anything goes wrong you probably need to send it back to Hong Kong. I’m waiting for my local dealers to come down in price.
Thanks Nerdo,
And what about this link?
It seems to me that here this price is with tax and the total amount inclouding postage and VAT is 560£ with 3 year worldwide warranty!
I think 2 extra year is worth another 49£, can you suggest it to me over the 511,4£ link?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sony-Zeiss-Sonnar-T-55mm-F-1-8-ZA-FE-SEL55F18Z-3-Year-Worldwide-Warranty-/221594940505?pt=UK_Lenses_Filters_Lenses&hash=item3398167459
If you are in the EU and not in the UK it looks like a good deal. Perhaps you should mail the seller?
If it’s not F or EF mount then it can’t be the best…
Lay the crack pipe down.
This mean only one thing = the initial price was way to high !!! just as many other lenses.
I’m waiting for the twofer. Buy one get a 35mm 2.8 for free. YIPPIE.
Correction. This is NOT a deal. It’s a steal!
Awww…Come on…This is just becoming a sales site rather than a Sony Rumours site, and the worst part of it is that it is purely ‘E’ mount only and U$A only.
I know you make good money out of it but for the rest of the world and for other than ‘E’ mount Sony users it really is not good Andrea 🙂
“the worlds best AF lens, the Sony 55mm FE”
Come on admin… I thought you’re not going to make these silly claims any more.
Odd. DxO doesn’t say so o.O never did.
not to mention that afterwards, DxO tested lenses with the D800E and several Nikons and the sigma 35/1.4 scored higher.
double fail?
Will there be an OSS version of this soon? 🙂
BTW, what is the current going price in Japan?
Best AF prime LMAO
Yeah, I just spit out my coffee upon reading that headline. And it didn’t just say “best AF prime”, it said “world’s best AF lens”. PERIOD.
HAHAHAHA…!