Launched in Europe 5 days ago the new Sony cameras now have been officially released in US and Asia too! You already know the specs of the new stuff so here are the brand new links to the price info and preorders in USA (links will be continually updated):
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM A-mount lens at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via AlphaCameraDeals).
Sony SLT-A58 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Black Sony NEX-3n at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Silver Sony NEX-3n at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
DT 18-55mm at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Sony 70-400mm at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and SonyStore USA (via ACDeals).
Sony HVL-F20 Flash at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony HX300 at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Black at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Orange at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony TX30 Pink at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 Black at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 RED at BHphoto (Click here).
Sony WX300 White at BHphoto (Click here).
And here are the European preorder links:
The Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 SSM can now be preordered at Wex UK.
The NEX-3n can now be preordered at Sony DE, Amazon DE, Sony UK, Wex DE, Wex UK, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES, Sony NL, Sony SE.
The A58 can now be preordered at Amazon DE, Wex DE, Wex UK.
104 Responses
Getting the 50.
Me too! cant wait to plug it in my A900.
Yup. Me three. I’ll likely wait until June to buy it though, as I don’t see any reason to part with my money now and wait for 3 months for the thing to ship, slash get “built to order”.
But I’m super excited to finally be able to shoot wide open with a 50mm lens other than my CZ 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom. My SONY a850 and even my SONY a700 certainly push the limits of what my old Minolta 50mm f/1.4 lens can do, sharpness-wise (wide open at least). Actually. The a700 shows off that lens’s softness even more than the full frame 24 MP bodies do, as even at only 12 MP, the a700 has more MP located within its APS-C region than the 10 MP that are located in the APS-C region of a 24 MP a900, a850, or a99.
I’d hate to pixel peep a Minolta (or current SONY) 50mm f/1.4 lens, shot wide open on a 24 MP a77 body. Now that’d be SOFT!
You’re right, no point preordering it and lock in your cash, I shoot wedding as well, and still really in love with my A900 😉
the Zeiss has priced me out…
I know. It is the most expensive 50mm 1.4 for SLR’s but, it all depends if this lens will outperform every other 50mm out there and then maybe its price will look justified. Up until photozone, or slrgear review this lens we won’t know.
not a good deal for Zeiss 50mm!
I’ll have to wait and see if the Zeiss is substantially better than the Sigma (which I own). Given the price, I don’t think a swap is in the cards but I’ll be curious.
Well, you don’t have to wait my friend to compare with the Sigma!
CZ WILL out perform any lens in it’s class IMHO. No worry at all!!
I’ve mentioned before, but unless the performance of the 50mm is almost beyond belief and compare it is a complete waste. 99.9% of the population won’t be able to tell in the 0.01% of occasions where there is a measurable difference!
The only motive I can see is bragging rights and that is the poorest of all reasons to buy camera equipment.
A far more interesting nugget that seems to have gone under the radar is the new HVL-F20M flash, which uses the new shoe! That would be a neat addition to carry around in a pocket for a little fill. However, no-one seems to have noticed it here!!!
It’s $1349 on my screen.
Ford discount 🙂
$1,249.99 in my screen!!!
1129.99 on my screen.
The 70-400 G2, contraty to THE COMPLAINTS that people here lodged, seem to be reasonably priced (or at least the price increase did not push the price up to $3000 US). Hopefully, it’s at least as good as the previous model, which was/is quite good.
The NEX-3N pricing is great. You can see that Sony really wants to sell a lot of NEX cameras in the low end. A good strategy. The days of DSLRs/DSLTs being the bestselling cameras is giving way to the rise of mirrorless cams.
@Almazar80:
> … The days of DSLRs/DSLTs being the bestselling
> cameras is giving way to the rise of mirrorless cams
Those small/cheap/UBIQUITOUS p&s cameras far outsell
the combined volume (by about 10:1) of DSLR/DSLT *AND*
mirrorless/interchangable-lens models…
Overall, though, the shifting volume seems to be sliding
toward cameras in phones… Dedicated cameras (as such)
are dropping in sales-volume …
Yes, camera phones are more than good enough for many people, thus the sales of compact cameras are nor growing (and may be shrinking). The next step up would be the CSCs, and the NEX3N could sell in large quantities (for a non phone camera), since it’s price and size are ideal for many who may wish to upgrade to better image quality.
70-400G2 for $2200? Oh… I would buy that if they’d sell it in UK for the equivalent! (1400 GBP – sounds like a good deal when old version runs for 1100 GBP) I’d buy it in a moment!
Sadly… corporate logic most likely will translate it to 1800 or more and that’s quite steep :/ 🙁
damn it! I hate to be right! 1799 GBP: http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-sony-70-400mm-f4-5-6-g-ssm-ii-lens/p1536098
The existing is around 1,400GBP, what you’ll get for 1,100GBP is a grey import from eBay and the like. Still 400GBP difference though, but they’ll want to shift old stock.
Bleah… seems you are right >_< well, if so than it looks like a price of new 70-400 is quite decent, "only" 400 GBP for new AF and coatings isn't a bad deal (assuming these coatings actually make a difference). We'll see how it goes and how the price shapes. Need to get this lens for very late summer, so no rush for me.
Don’t forget to add sales tax to that price, then take account of the week GB pound. The difference is less than you think.
And an extra year of warranty.
Are they nuts? The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM price is much less than that! What I need is a 35mm 2.0 lightweight lens or a 24-35mm 2.0 lens, but not a doubled lens type!
I’m afraid Zeiss isn’t really interested in what You need but rather in manufacturing quality lenses 🙂
Think about it – new Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 is rumured to be $3000. I can’t see ZA lens to be only a small fraction of that. If you can’t afford it – it’s obviously not a lens for you.
Sorry but his is to simple. A company should work for users, not for marketeers, … if you want to be successful on the market, you should work with an user experienced approach. Also, Sony has no answer to the Canon EOS 6D nor to the Nikon D600At @ this moment, but this is another Story. I think about to change to Nikon …, although I’ve got a few good G-lenses. And that’s a disappointment.
Zeiss branded lenses are expensive. If you can’t afford them, buy the Sony 50mm.
I think some of you have to realize that Zeiss didn’t have anything to do with the pricing of this Planar 50; Zeiss might take a fixed fee to design this lens, or a certain percentage of each lens being sold. I will wait and see the performance of this Planar 50, but as Zeiss said, this design is already at its limit (hence going with a Distagon instead). If it’s not head and shoulder above all the 50/1.4 out there (or as good or better than the Lux 50 ASPH) then Sony is quite delusional.
Zeiss came up with the latest Ultra Performance line up (most notably the Distagon 55) certainly for the small niche market of people wanting the ultimate performance. They have enough income from other sources to go with this high-margin low sale segment. This is totally different from the rationale behind this Planar 50. I think Sony should realize that the current Sony 50 is quite inadequate compared to other brands’ options. This Planar should be a statement that Sony Alpha system has strong line-up and accessible for most FF users. Pricing it at $1500 doesn’t make any sense, unless the price reflects the performance.
That’s not the point … the priority list is not user centered. The same with the NEX lenses … expensive or poor-quality. It would be a fast 23mm 2.0 or 1.8 very nice! … and please less plastic. A Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS with is not enough. It should be a 2.8 – 4, internal focusing with floating elements … more innovation please!
Rolleiflex – I think you should compare other brands 50s before jumping into conclusions. None of them is good. And your insight into Sony’s deal with Zeiss is most amazing. Who is your source?
Sky: I have shot more than a dozen of fast 50s (1.4 or faster) from various brands. Admittedly, I exaggerated a bit about the inadequacy of the Sony 50, but it definitely needs a newer design to cope with the upcoming higher MP camera.
As for the source of my insight to the Sony Zeiss relationship, unless you can produce your source saying that Zeiss actually dictates the price of the ZA line-up, what we’re speculating here is all hearsay. From various fora discussions, I have not come across the claim that Zeiss has any say in the price of the ZA line-up. Most suggest that Zeiss come up with the optical design and Sony does the rest. Whether Zeiss get a one-time payment for each design, I’m not sure (thus presenting the two possibility).
Yea, Sony does not replacement for 50 f/1.4 that’s more affordable, so is Canon and Nikon to match high-res cameras. I can’t argue with that.
However if you support your claims by “fora discussions” than we have nothing to discuss here. Only more unreliable source of information is salesman from random shop in your neighborhood.
Like I said, all hearsay and speculation, though if you really have a reliable source that Zeiss has a say in the ZA price, I would love to know.
“A company should work for users, not for marketeers, ” – hehe, still living in a Disneyland? Company works for accountants. Every single one.
@ skywalker are you kidding me? If you want to maximize your profit, you have to satisfy the needs of your customers … or you will be gone in the future …
Sky is right my friend… Shareholders don’t give a dang about “future” with any one company. They get in and out to make the fast buck. They can move their money to the latest greatest without guilt. It’s only the marketing departments that make users feel comfortable.
but they want the maximum of dividend … right? All the same … the lens is to expensive and disappointing …
You haven’t seen this lens even in a shop, not to mention: using it and you already JUDGED that it’s disappointing?! Come on… grow up man!
Indeed … the affordance is false for the money …
we need lenses for our requirements, not to boast …
50 f/1.4 matches perfectly to my requirements. 70-400 is very close to perfection (seems like it’s missing weather-sealing – it’d be a perfect match to my camera otherwise).
So it does match my requirements and I don’t see how any of these lenses are “to boast”. Yes, these are not lenses for YOU but don’t let your PERSONAL feelings come before everything else.
Indeed … it’s my personal opinion, but you do not disprove my arguments.
D600 images look like crap on dp reviews
Sure, that’s why this camera got the gold award of 87% ….?
I assure you, this new ZA will not suffer the legendary focus shift issue of the Canon 50/1.2… None of the ZA’s have focus shift (nor the Minolta’s).
Check out Photozone and look at all the CaNikon focus shift on their top glass… (usually at the bottom of page 2 on every lens test). Especially bad on the Nikons (even their uber 200/2 VR and 85/1.4 G)… It’s one of the main reasons I won’t be changing systems any time soon.
I’m also very confident the new ZA will have extremely good mid frame and corner sharpness across the range of f/stop… setting it far away from the Sigma offering.
Good point on the 50/1.2 L price comparison! Sony/Zeiss will come down to earth soon, hopefully before they close down the A mount line.
Zeiss ZM 35/2 is about $1000, and only a couple of hundred grams weight. It just won’t work on a A-mount camera.
^^^ that’s a Canon though!!!
NOT Carl Zeiss!
I was just looking at the CZ50 on Sony’s website and reading the ‘FEATURES’ section. I noticed this interesting tidbit under the ‘DUST AND DRIP RESISTANT DESIGN’
“The lens offers dust and drip resistance that meet the standards of mid-range models like the α99 and α77. The main drive unit is sealed with rubber packing, etc., to realize ample dust and drip resistance as a system when mounted on a camera to withstand tough usage in harsh environments.”
Calling the A77 ‘mid-range’ makes sense, but calling the A99 that, is interesting. Is Sony hinting that they have a high end camera coming out in the future? (something more than the FF Nex?)
we can only hope 🙂
Good to know it won’t create dust, or drip lubricants into the environment. I hate high polluting lenses (HPL).
“Good to know it won’t create dust, or drip lubricants into the environment. I hate high polluting lenses (HPL).”
Err… what?
Don’t you hate it when a lens drips its guts out all over your hand… polluting the environment?
This lens is advertised as “dust and drip resistant”, preventing inside junk from getting out.
I was hoping for “weather sealed”, preventing outside junk from getting in.
TEST POST
Why can’t we reply to posts!!!! Please fix this messageboard!!!
Nobody would be dumb enough to think that the lens is designed to stop “inside junk from getting out”!
Unless they mistook my joke for serious.
Are you serious in thinking that the “dust and drip resistant” meant preventing the stuff from inside the lens to come out? In my many years of photography, I have not seen any liquid oozing out of any lens (let alone at a substantial amount). I hope this is just your attempt of joking.
Refer to my post just above yours.
You should consider that, on internet comment boards, jokes lacking any humourous content whatsoever don’t actually come across as jokes.
No doubt. I’m such a good comedian, that I have to make pictures for a living. Won’t be quitting my day job.
Hoping somebody would just go with it… oil well.
According to SAR there *was* a higher-end Sony A-mount in 2013.
It shows Sony’s lack of commitment to A-mount that they favour a FF NEX over a pro A-mount camera. They couldn’t even be bothered to weather seal the 70-400mm or get it and a revised 70-200mm out with the A99 launch.
Make believe, eh? 😉
Yeah… and SR4.
Here it is.
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sr-new-sony-highend-alpha-camera/
Yes,
But, today it would be more than 30MP, not have any mirrors and have a EVF with a screen better or equal to any iPhone and have a fast CPU and big buffer.
Frank, I was also really shocked to learn that the new 70-400 didn’t offer better sealing.
I just assumed that in 2013 every new professional (expensive) lens would come with it.
“Calling the A77 ‘mid-range’ makes sense, but calling the A99 that, is interesting. Is Sony hinting that they have a high end camera coming out in the future? (something more than the FF Nex?)”
With all of the recent activity in the telephoto G lens (500/f4, 300/f2.8, 70-400/f4-5.6) It would be logical that Sony has an internal roadmap for high-end full-frame A-Mount cameras and not just using an adaptor on a NEX. But for this to really have any chance of working and gaining enough market share Sony needs to do much more.
Even with the entire recent new lens, Sony is falling behind faster than its announcements. The Zeiss 16-35/f2.8 was never really very good and way soft in the corners, the Zeiss 24-70/f2.8 is no longer the king of that hill and even though the Zeiss 84/1.4 and 135/1.8 are still incredible and the reason I’m still shooting A-Mount, both could benefit from the motor , sealing and coatings being used on the new 50/1.4, and if Sony could quickly release these and a mirrorless a9 body and beat the others to market, Sony with the Zeiss lenses would quickly become a bigger factor in professional 35mm format digital photography.
you say the 24-70 is no longer king of the hill. I would like to know what would you say is better and how much better is it??
Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8
“how much better?” 6 months a year better.
Where I live it rains for half the year and is completely dry for the other. All the outdoor nature stuff I like to photograph looks better the half of the year where it is raining. The Tamron is sealed the Zeiss is not, so really it doesn’t matter how sharp the Zeiss is if I cant use it.
This new 50/1.4 however looks good.
I am really disappointed to see that the new 70-400 is not sealed either.
1499$ trololololo
i think the Sigma EX 50mm f/1.4 is the “wiser choice”.
Or maybe the Samyang 50mm f/1.2 will kick asses, who knows. The Samyang 14mm f/2.8 is the sharpest 14mm lense according to DxO
I’m still using Minolta f/1.7 on my A99 and it kicks ass. If 50 Zeiss is performing miracles that show images better looking that 30+ year old Minolta then I will buy it…
Vamp898, you are right Samyang 50 might be a goow way to go, I have 14, 35 and 85 and I’m very happy with the performance of these lenses.
You might be better off getting the Sigma 50mm f1.4 and stopping it down. It’ll be sharper than your Minolta at f1.7 and it’s HSM so pretty quiet.
According to Photozone, the Sony performs pretty well – if you don’t open it up more than F2. It’ll be interesting to see if the Zeiss’ performance, and how it rates compared to the old Sony unit, and the Sigma (would Zeiss make this lens if they didn’t think they could surpass the competition???).
Beyond MTF, Zeiss seems to be emphasizing the silent SSM motor – which makes it better for video. Perhaps the lens will be of interest to those who are taking large sensor videos.
In terms of price – have a look at the range of Zeiss lens costs at B&H photo – including fixed focal length. This model is well within norms in terms of cost (and, I think that many of the other lenses don’t have AF). So, this might just be the cost of doing business for high end lenses.
Finally, Zeiss would produce a high end alpha lens if alpha cameras were coming to an end, don’t you think?
Photozone are correct, the Sony 50mm f1.4 needs stopping down to f2 to sharpen it up. The Sigma 50mm f1.4 is slightly better, but not as much as people say.
I guess people who say it’s sharp wide open have a different view to me on what sharpness is, or my expectations of the Sigma were too high. 😉
On full frame the new CZ should be sharp across the frame at that price and that’ll hopefully be the difference between it and the Sony/Sigma ones. It may even surprise is and be tack sharp in the centres at f1.4.
I just ordered the 50mm Zeiss! Can’t wait for this. I’m really bummed that I have to wait ANOTHER three months, though, for delivery. Oh, well.
I agree with others that talked about the Samyang 14mm…. I love that lens and it kept me from buying the Zeiss 16-35. Yes, I’m sure the Zeiss would have been better, but for the few times I really need a lens that wide, I was happy with the $400 Samyang over the $1600 Zeiss 16-35. the manual focus doesn’t bother me at all. I use RTLens to fix the strange image flaws in the Samyang and it comes out very nice, indeed.
I admire the bravado of early adopters. True renaissance men with legendary fearlessness.
And although they tend to get shot more than the humble pilgrims waiting for reports, we await the reports most eagerly with highest respect.
Congrats on your new lens John. I’m sure it will be stunning.
Probably revelationary (is that a word?).
Right behind you buddy… but behind you.
Ordering a lens that hasn’t been tested? More money than sense…
Well not necessarily… What is our faithful expectation of ZA if not predictability of high IQ across the lineup? There are notable traits found within every ZA prime thus far. Even performance wide open, excellent OOFA, mature contrast, great shadow detail, and most importantly beyond any CaNikon, NO focus shift. (I honestly don’t know how any D800 user can photograph any close up portrait with the viewfinder problems combined with the Nikkor focus shift problems).
We can expect the new ZA to fit right in with the rest of the family. And no doubt buying new comes with some nice return policy long enough to check it out.
but I think that he has more sense than you, and even more money 🙂
How do you know? Simply put, if I wanted it, I could easily buy it.
I have yet to be disapoointed with a piece of Zeiss glass. Why should I assume this one will be any different?
You shouldn’t. It will be spectacular… and all the test sites will rave about it, warning CaNikoPuss to get their act together before Sony takes them over faster than a wireless flash delay.
Yes, with this lens, wars will cease. Natural disasters will be no more. It may hold the keys to eternal life!
Were Jesus to pick a standard lens to shoot with… He’d pick the new ZA50/1.4.
Go to the camera store… The big boy CaNikons are displayed with 50/1.4’s. Sony just wanted something substantial to show during hands on side by side comparison. It’s a show piece.
Although the manufacturer MTF’s look pretty good, they’re not quite at the level of the ZA85/1.4… but look to have substantially better wide open midfield and corner performance of the Siggy 50/1.4.
Are you talking about the new Zeiss 50/1.4 MTF? If so, would you link me to it? Thank you.
ZA50/1.4 MTF
http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666536155
Siggy 40/1.4 MTF
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/product/50mm-f14-ex-dg-hsm
Gotta click the tech specs link.
FYI, the Zeiss is calculated at 40 lpmm while the Sigma is at 30 lpmm. So this Zeiss is indeed above and beyond the Sigma both center and corners in theory. Too bad, none of the ZA, even though slower, beats any of the Jahre’s. And this Zeiss is still not as good as the Lux Asph in the center (though better in the corners). This is not yet the pinnacle of the Planar design.
Aren’t those Leica lenses at least double the price?…
I agree though. Based on the MTF charts between the Sigma and Zeiss, the Zeiss will have better resolution.
MTF from the Zeiss 50 is close to MTF from the $3,000 50mm Leica Summilux. Slightly lower contrast but more homogeneous towards corners. Also close to the 85mm F1.4 ZA and a bit better than the Sigma 50.
So what would be the price of this lens if it had it’s manufacturer’s name on it- Cosina.
A new traveĺ flash !!!!!
What is exactly the main differences with the old HVL F20AM ?
The old one fits iISO shoe native mount. The new one is a hack n’ stack trainwreck of a design, looking merely to have spit glued the old one onto a shoe adapter for the new cameras.
A58 is NOT shipping for TWO Months April 20th – WOW
That mean INDEPENDENT Third Party Reviewers will NOT have
Production Models with Firmware 1.0 to test, until May 1st
DEAR SAR Readers –
WHAT Websites and WHICH Lab Review sites???
DO YOU ALL – Believe are the most credible ??
Which RANKING service reviews have the Best Credible Rankings???
I mostly use these THREE plus some independent YouTube Reviewers with samples
http://DPReview.com
http://FredMiranda.com
http://Dxomark.com
What Do you all recommend?? What are you favorites?? Please Share – Thanks
This is the worst place to get reliable info.
Feel free not to return.
Feel free to be a fanboy, fanboy.
That’s to be expected from you!
frank
I’ll be very interested in this lens, but the wild card may be the manufacturing. I happened to buy a 24 f2 from B&H and was not impressed. The lens was just not sharp, period. I happened to try the same lens at a Sony demo booth and it was very sharp!
Check the reseller’s return policy before buying.
Well so much for hoping the burst buffer would be longer on the A58. Looks like they cut it to the bare minimum. Hope to god it supports faster SD cards.
I Don’t do sports, and I don’t plan on “pray and spray” as being my main mode of shooting. Still kinda sucks though.
Fine: 7 frames, Standard: 8 frames, RAW & JPEG: 5 frames, RAW: 6 frames
I want to see some image samples already! When they announced the $3000 55mm lens, they had a whole video about it. They were that proud.
Relax the 50mm f1.4 is just another pointless lens that a few big wallet folks will buy to brag about using a CZ prime but 97% of A mount users will happily ignore. $1500 for a 50mm f1.4 is comical at best there were far more important lenses that needed doing than this boutique lens which about 3 people will buy
come on CZ, one more to go! 35ZA~
Geez…maybe it’s a little bit pricey but hey…name another weathersealed, AF, 50mm f/1.4 Zeiss Fullframe lens in the market…??? It’s the only one in the market!
I don’t see too many people complaining about the new Zeiss 55mm f/1.4 expected price (3000Euros) even though it’s manual focus only…
because the 55/1.4 is a CARL ZEISS; and thid 50/1.4 is a SONY? perhaps?
There is absolutely no way in hell I will ever pay that much for a 50mm f1.4, Zeiss or no….for one third of that I can get the sigma and tweak in photoshop to get the exact same results…pass…
No 60p mode on the A58, while the A57 has it? Guess I’ll have to wait for the A77 upgrade to see if Sony doesn’t downgrade the features to buy a second body.