It’s quite frustrating to get delays over delays on the new Sigma A-mount zoom lens release. Today Sigma Germany informed one of our readers that they will release the 24-105/f4 Art and 18-35/f1.8 DC A-mount zooms in mid May.
You cannot preorder the 24-105mm zoom yet but the Sigma 18-35mm can be preordered at Amazon, BHphoto and Wex UK.
Here is the original Sigma Germany mail:
Guten Tag Herr XXX,
wir danken Ihnen für Ihr Interesse an unseren Produkten. Leider ist uns nicht bekannt, warum man mit der Lieferung der Sony Anschlüsse so lange wartet, oder zögert.
Lt. Aktuellem Lieferplan sind die Sony Anschlüsse ca. für Mitte Mai geplant.Mit freundlichen Grüßen
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It’s quite frustrating that such nice lenses are not made for E-mount. Not even the new 50mm F1.4 Art lens.
Sigma might not design new ART lens for e mount these years.
What puts me off the 18-35 is that it probably won’t be compatible with whatever version of af-d ends up on the a77ii (whereas the 16-50 almost certainly will be). And the bulk, obviously…
I assume the demand exceeds supply of Canikon mounts which are usually preferentially treated in production.
As long as Sony doesn’t have a bigger market share, we will need to wait every time again when new lenses will be announced.
The uncertainty of the A-mount’s future will not improve the situation.
Sony have already stated that A-mount is NOT going away. That isn’t a rumor, it’s fact direct from Sony. So why are people still people still thinking that the a-mount future is uncertain?
Don’t get me wrong – I do also not believe that A-mount is going down.
But it is and has not been no real proof for Sigma what Sony said. And this certainly has had effect on their sales because more people were jumping on the E-mount train last year.
Results speak louder than words.
When did they say this? The only thing I recall being said was that they were committed to a mount. Could construe that to mean about anything. “We have 4 different E to A adapters to prove our commitment to A mount”…..You know. Nobody knows what’s going to happen with A mount but the signs in my opinion don’t look good but I don’t care either way. I don’t have lots of money invested and it’ll still take good pictures so big deal. The biggest tell to me is this push to rename the (yes I said rename even though technically they always had the logo) NEX line to alpha and giving them the “A” product names. This to me is the most indicative move toward shutting down the mirror box line of cameras. Will be interested to see what happens. Hope my gut feeling is wrong actually.
I’m in the same boat – a commitment to the mount could mean anything. I’m hoping for the best but anticipating a corporate shafting…
Legally, a commitment to the mount means that they will support it. Meaning, at the least, that when your A-mount gear breaks, they’ll be willing and able and have the parts to fix it. At the most, it means they’ll continue development of it. But…at what level?
The problem, as other have pointed out, is that ‘a commitment’ is a VERY subjective term. And, Sony knows this!
They prioritise by market share, so it always goes Canon, Nikon, Sony then Pentax (if they bother). I know it’s crappy for us but it makes sense from their perspective… At least we’re past the will they/won’t they stage (which sparked a load of a-mount is dead rumours)
This is exactly what I meant.
Actually it is more like Canon, Nikon, Sigma, Sony, then Pentax. They’ve got to appease their 5 camera owners before the Sony and Pentax.
Funny that while I see frequently on B&H the Nikon and Canon mounts go from “In Stock” to “Back Ordered” quite frequently, I have yet to see the Sigma mount go “Out of Stock”. I always see it listed as “In Stock”. Just shows how few people own the Sigma cameras to deplete B&H’s stock of the lens. I’d bet the Sony and Pentax mounts would sell quicker than the Sigma mount.
Inevitably, but I guess they can’t put their own cameras at the back of the queue
“Good day Mr. XXX,
Thank you for your interest in our products. Unfortunately, we do not know why so long waiting on delivery of the Sony connections, or hesitates.
Lt. Current delivery schedule is planned for mid-May about the Sony connections.
Sincerely yours”
I DO love Google translate… Hahahahaha
Admin, thanks for the work you do for us; looking forward for some A news (FF) so I can maybe replace my A900 since I gave my A99 to my brother: he has been drooling over that awesome piece of tech since I got it in 12/2012.
Take care.
Won’t be cheaper than the minolta 24-105mm. It better be a work of ART and optical science.
If you get a good copy of the Mino 24-105, its a really good lens. My copy is tack sharp, wide open at all focal lengths (except the extreme corners at 24mm). It matches my friends’ Canon L equivalent lens.
“You cannot preorder the 24-105mm zoom yet”
Yes, you can pre-order the Sigma 24-105 f4 for Sony on both B&H and Amazon:
B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1009624-REG/sigma_635_205_24_105mm_f4_dg_os.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-635205-24-105mm-AlphaCameras/dp/B00G6K51FW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394030939&sr=8-1&keywords=sigma+24-105+hsm+for+sony
I had it pre-ordered since January but recently cancelled, I thought of getting some new
primes in that range and keep my Sigma 24-70/2.8 EX HSM .
Sigma fairy, please make me a 17-50/2, thanks.
24-105 should be f2.8
IMHO at that F.L. range it’d be too big, heavy and expensive!
Unless it had diffractive optics, that sucker would be about the size and weight of a full size coffee can.
What’s the reason behind all the delays? Is it because there might be a possibility they won’t sell as many in Alpha mount? Just like the 8mm circular announcement a few years back and eventually the stores took the A-Mount option away…
This is nothing new. Sigma repeatedly announce lenses and then never meet the stated release date, especially for Sony mounts.
Despite their appalling record, it never seems to occur to them to stop doing it until the lenses are in manufacture. The truth is waiting until such a time is very unlikely to harm sales, but pretending they will have new lenses soon when it is patently not true can cause great damage.
Uh, it’s because Sony A mount is less than 8% of Sigma’s sales.
Sigma dont care bout that, when they’ve got Canon and Nikon to make money on.
I’m afraid you’re quite right! It’s definitely a business issue!
Let’s hope that when Sony get their act together Sigma, Tokina, will be more interested
in launching A and E mount versions quicker.
^ This.
Yeah. You’re right. Why would they focus on a product line that brings in very small profit? Makes sense.
I’m so tempted to just get the Sony 16-50 F2.8 at this point. This whole run around has got me so tired and pissed off!. How much of a better lens will this Sigma be? I already have a prime(Sony 50mm F1.8) to shoot extremely low light if need be( the focal length can be limiting sometimes though) but anyone got any piece of advise for me? Should I buy the Sony or wait for Sigma?
Any updated timeline on the 18-35/1.8? It’s mid JUNE!!