Sonystore US now marked the 300mm lens as “No Longer Available”. There are still two left at Amazon (Click here) but the replacement of the lens should be announced within the next few weeks…maybe along two other zooms the 70-200mm and 70-400mm lens.
P.S.: The RX1oo has already 71(!) user reviews on Amazon and only four of them negative (click here to read them all).
36 Responses
FINALLY…first!!!!
You guys know that there is no price to win for being first? 🙂
yeah…sure, buts it nice to get in there 1st just the once 🙂
Why? It’s VERY odd.
200mm/2 sony!! that would be great! 😀
I know right… Even a 200/2.8 would be more welcome and helpful addition than replacing an already top performer. I just don’t get these re-designs of lenses five years young and less. I think the consumer would rather have SSM versions of 85/1.4 and 135/2 rather than what we are actually getting… nada?
It must have something to do with video… I don’t fathom it, the effort spent doing such a thing when no one I know of has asked for redesigns of existing glass.
But something goofy is going on. They had to include 500/4 G compatibility in the a77 firmware upgrade. I fail to understand why that lens wouldn’t work with that camera from initial design… from the lens design. What other cameras will it not work with? Some really odd ball maneuvering going on. Seems kind of shady on Sony’s part.
They’re not redesigning it, just updating the mechanics (faster SSM unit, nano coating, weather sealing).
Minolta did they same when they released the HS version of the original 300/2.8.
” I fail to understand why that lens wouldn’t work with that camera from initial design… from the lens design” – firmware upgrade was suppose to add in-body lens correction, not actual compatibility, cause if you google – you can already see shots made with this lens on A77, so obviously it works 😉 (fun fact: according to initial reports 500F4 focuses roughly 30% faster on A77 then Canon 500mm f4 IS L does on 1D Mk.IV)
The 300/2.8 G SSM is actually much older than five years, as it is the same lens that Minolta introduced in the early 2000’s (I believe it was 2003, though one could check the Dyxum database to be sure). Both Canon and Nikon have updated their versions of the 300/2.8 fairly recently. The key question for some, who actually might be interested in getting the lens, is the price of the replacement lens as the “current” one was/is already ultra-expensive. The price of the new 500/4 does not provide any reason for optimism that it will be “reasonable” (for what the lens is/will be).
So I presume this new lens will be weather sealed.
Btw how many weather sealed lenses is there in our system..
I know of the 16-50mm but are there any others??
Sony Japan has also marked it 生産完了 some time ago.
This, or the replacement, is a lens i would love if someone gave it to me! 🙂
’til then, I dream of the day where I can spend this kind of money on something I don’t need…
Great, that’s all we need. Another lens you have to take out a second mortgage to buy. Why make another $7000 lens and sell 10 total, when you can make a good $2000 lens you can sell 1000 copies of?
It’s the stuff headlines are made of.
its part of sony’s plan to attract the pro’s, just look at the photographers at the olympics, they carry all maner of long focal length lenses, not too many small pancake prime lenses on show there.
There was that one guy with the lens cap on. And the guy who let Usain Bolt use his camera. Those weren’t huge lenses. Plus, the people who were shooting at the Olympics already had their $10000+ lenses. Why would they switch when they already got the range they need? I imagine the patience for someone new into pro sports photography to use Sony would be thin. If Sony wants to build that market, they need to be all-in and they need to target the World Cup or the Olympics for showcasing their stuff. Maybe they’re shooting for Rio.
tsk tsk…. always crying about ur friends wife too yuong n pretty… and u r too oooold n nasty.
The Minolta version is cheap if you REALLY want it.
Maybe you need to take a second out to buy one, but I’ve had my Minolta for years and think that good optics as an investment in what I do.
If image quality is important then you pay the price.
When I first started you needed a darkroom and that cost money. Now you need a computer and software.
It all costs money
Joe is right!! why make a $2000 lens when you can make a $50 lens and sell hundred of thousands of them???
FFS, Sony can’t win on SAR. They get complaints because of the lack of pro lenses and then when they update the SSM and weather sealing they get complaints for that too. Make your minds up people, do you want Sony to attract the professional users or not?
I have a good 85mm f/1.4 Z lens I paid $1500 US for. I would pay $2200-$2500 for the exact same lens with SSM and weather sealing. I would also pay 2200-2500 for a 135 f/1.8 with SSM and weather sealing. Maybe 2800. But not $7000+ for a 300mm f/2.8. I would rather see production dedicated to a little more flexible range.
the guys with the 300mm would pay double if it was zeiss branded. and everyone with the kit lenses say what are u blaberous ranting of no one ever needs a 85 135. so who care what ur point, hater?
The Contax 300/2.8 is very rare because people weren’t willing to pay double for Zeiss branding.
Never used this lens to be honest, but why is it outdated? It has great image quality, okay-ish AF operation and a nice 2.8 aperture. Don’t see the point for a new version just now.
Weather sealing and SSM on all premium lenses, that’s why.
It is already SSM but they may put faster SSM like the new 600 and also nano coating.
There’s a new 600? Wha?
Sorry my mistake, I mean the new 500. Have no idea about the 600.
Yes I know that. Re-read what I put.
“Weather sealing and SSM on all premium lenses”
Don’t go raising the price further, Sony.
There’s something I don’t understand…on previous rumor, this site published that the new lens will not be a G lens, but they’ve discontinued a G lens…so, what’s going on?
“CZ” lens
In true Sony form (on the american website) the 300 is missing from the “G” series lineup however, it is displayed in the page that says “shop all “G” series lenses”… Also, they still haven’t added the Carl Zeiss 24/f2.0 SSM lens to the Zeiss link…
Another cancel-before-the-replacement strategy…sigh…
Yep. coming soon…..please, no more of that.