[shoplink 11687]
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Image on top: The current Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM lens (not the upcoming new version!).
According to one of our top sources Sony is about to announce a new updated version of the current [shoplink 11687]Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM lens[/shoplink]. He didn’t unveil me what kind of changes the update will bring. But he is pretty sure it’s going to be announced within the next weeks.
Current lens price and specs can be found here: [shopcountry 11687].
March 13th announcement: A part of the A57, the 70-400mm updated lens and probably a new NEX-F3 camera I think there will be more new stuff coming. I got more info about other lenses but I still don’t know yet if all those new lenses will be announced on the same day or the months later. So if you have some “secret info” to share help me and send me your rumor using the anonymous contact form on the right sidebar. Thanks!
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!
124 Responses
Why?? The only reason i could imaging is weathersealing but i would name at least ten lenses that are more important to release or update
Well maybe on march 15 they will announce alpha lenses roadmap?
Shit I just bought one…
Its a perfect lens already… FFS…
Me too, I could have used this info last week. I guess scare us with the price increase to get rid of the stock.
and it may be that the new version isn’t as good!
I doubt that will be the case. It should be at least as good as the current.
Not necessarily, there are examples of new lenses performing poorer than old.
Canon has done that before when adding IS to a lens, but there is nothing to suggest they’re even slightly changing the optical formula in this case. Most likely just new coatings, a redesigned focus motor, weather sealing, and possibly some off-white paint.
I wouldn’t really bother, i guess it will be white and have weather sealing, and maybe be a little faster, but besides from that the current 70-400 is a really decent lens, that is even noticeably better at 400mm then the 70-200 with a 2x teleconverter.
I own a 70-400mm. It is my favorite lens and works fine.
They should change the macro instead!
Hi Admin!
Thanks for the great work and the (mostly) good news to post.
Is there any chance we’ll see the large aperture normal prime Sony has on its road map on March 15th already? That’s actually the ONE lens I’m really looking forward to…
Thanks!
I know there is a Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 on the roadmap. Don’t know when exactly it will arrive…
looking forward to it. or maybe f1.2? 😀
I’d rather take a F1.4 against a F1.2 if its Sharper at F1.4 compared to the F1.2 Lens. Also a F1.2 might me slower at focusing and have a poorer overall resolution, compared to that the slightly larger aperture wouldn’t really be worth bothering.
I was actually hoping for a normal prime as in 50mm FF equivalent… A NEX version of Sony’s a-mount 35/1.8 so to say.
But another 50mm?! I need to rethink the CV lenses it seems 🙁
The Zeiss 50/1.4 is A-mount, not NEX
But Sony’s 50/1.4 is cost about $400-550 meanwhile Zeiss Planar without af is already $ 800. Isn’t it will be too much difference between them if Planar for Sony will cost about $1200? And it won’t be even 50/1.2 which is really useful because of slt.
“really useful because of SLT”
seriously… you really need to get a grip.
Any chance of a SAL1680z update to include SSM?
I should have clarified that I meant the large aperture prime for Sony E-mount, not the SLTs.
Sorry,
Mike
I hope the next NEX will also have a built in EVF and a hotshoe. I would not even be bothered if it is only available in pink or orange.
cosmetic changes?
Silver 70-400G will replaced with new White 70-400G?(same with 70200G,300G,500G) ? hehehehe
That would be nice, I don’t see any reason to change the optics.
70400g f4 and weather sealing?? Seems like all the lens reader conincide with Olympics…
weathersealing is a must! Perfect match for current A77 and future weathersealed cameras..but I think they should start updating all of their current lineup.
+1 !!
A interesting move, given there are holes in the current line up to be fill and there are so many Minolta inherited lens that Sony could update first.
Anyway, weather sealing on lens is always welcomed. Let’s hope Sony also update the other ZA and G lens with weather sealing (but please don’t increase the price even further!)
What a joke! It’s ugly and could use white powder coating instead of silver (but who cares!?) and maybe weather sealing, but ALL other G and most Zeiss lenses are in more need of updating (how about SSM on the 85mm and 135mm and a lock to stop zoom creep on the 1635 and 2470?). Starting at the wrong end I feel.
Even though Minolta have had white lenses almost as long as Canon (and canon was not first to introduce white lenses), people think Canon when they see a camera with a white lens. By using a gray color they differentiate themself from that.
I’ve seen so many complain about the lens color, but I can’t for the sake of it think anyone have seen one in anything other than photos when they are complaining about the color.
I think my “issue” with grey is that Sony’s other G lenses are either black or white. The 70400G stands out as an oddity. But again, I don’t care much.
Yes, I was surprised the later big lenses didn’t get the same color scheme. like the 500mm. thats in white.
the 70400G deserves to be in silver, if I was Sony I would have made it Gold or Chrome, it’s sharper then some of my Zeiss!
It’s in a Class of its own.
It is a fine lens indeed but I do not know about it being sharper than the Zeiss lenses. Maybe the 16-80 but not any other Zeiss lenses I have tried or own.
So what? What is the big issue about someone thinking one is a Canon shooter? I don’t hear folks using Sigma lenses complaining about being mistaken for Nikon shooters. So long as the lenes does its job for me, and adequately reflects heat, I could care less about its colour
*shudders* at the thought of being mistaken for a Canon user…
Someone asked me once if my 70-200mm was Canon. I was in shock.
@BKD i think the only one that cares if sony togs look like canon togs is sony. when i watch a football match i can see a lot of white lenses and some black, i never thought the white are canon AND sony, just canon.
i think its more marketing than practical
They’ll know you’re a Sony user as soon as they see you taking crappy pics of a tree or cat, bahahaha.
It’s a dead giveaway for a Sony user.
No it’s CaNikon users that insist on taking pictures of their cat, usually in the dark to how how great the high ISO is….
If it’s black (or off-white), not silver, I’ll be tempted to sell my Sigma 50-500 OS HSM at a loss, just to get it.
Yes, there are other lenses that would be more important to specialists, and a 200 mm macro with SSM would be very welcome – but the time for long macros hasn’t come back yet.
black lens with orange logo would be great
Kind of short-sighted? I have the 70-400G. I was not thrilled with the color before I ordered it, but when I got it I was pleasantly surprised. When I got it out in the field, than I was extremely happy with the color. My 70-200G got hot and my Tamron 200-500 got REAL hot (95-100 degrees) while the 70-400G was no warmer than normal. Even without this, not to get this phenomenal lens with outstanding IQ just because it is a gray color????
I know it’s irrational, but three things pointed me toward the Sigma: In-lens stabilisation (i.e. stabilised viewfinder); both shorter and longer focal lengths than Sony’s; colour.
I’ve since regretted my choice, at least in part, because the samples I’ve seen from owners of the 70-400 are better than what I generally get, and, at focal lengths above 400 mm, there’s a lot of hunting with the Sigma.
If reports are correct and the new lens comes in white, you can rectify this error and get one :)You will not be disappointed. I never missed the extra 100mm that I lost when I upgraded from the Tamron 200-500 once I saw the IQ on the G.
I’ve already been tempted to swallow the bitter pill and buy the silver version, but now I’m more than willing to wait a little longer.
I already have the 70-200 mm, and with a 2x teleconverter it should give similar results as the 70-400 mm, but image quality really suffers badly. In fact, the only lens I have used succesfully with the 2x TC is the 135 mm STF, but that’s an odd couple, regardless of image quality.
So, it would be nice to have a lens with the phenomenal IQ of the 70-400 mm – in a colour that I don’t dislike 😀
Will there be a replacement of some prime lens without SSM:
35G 85Za and 135 Za?
That will impact my purchasing. Thanks
Great, another overpriced zoom, just what we needed…
I’m not happy if this is the only alpha-lens they will announce this month. As Alb already pointed out, there are big gaps in Sony’s (affordable) prime lineup.
I think this is the best priced quality zoom they have.
Expensive, yes – overpriced, not really.
Wow. That’s surprising. What could they do to an already exceptional lens? Uhm.. If they provide weather sealing and improve bokeh this is gonna be one killer lens with few rivals. C’mon Sony, this + new FF body and I am headed to Africa again 😀
c’mon sony bring us new lens CZ 35mm and 50mm 😀
I like the idea of updating the lens! I know there are other lenses that need the upgrade too but they have to start somewhere! Probably there are numbers behind it why they are starting with this and not because it’s shiny silver colored! I hope!
They have of course to update lenses, to prove they’re professional and thrustful. If it’s true, then it’s a big sign. Next update should be the 70-200 2.8 and 35 + 50mm fixed lenses.
New 70-400, why? Only weather sealing seems a viable option. Shame though just bought the current one! I do not think it will be F4, because it will be bigger and even heavier than the current one. Silver, white, black, I do not mind!
So… the new price will be even higher?
Very strange…weather sealing? This update much more relevant for 70-200G & 300G in addition to some other improvements. Macro need the update, croped wide angle also…and they think that first update is needed for 70-400G? I starting to think about some kind of stupidity.
Sorry to say that.
maybe they’re aiming towards olympic games? More sports? Who knows what were they thinking…The only thing I know is that seeing Sony updating lenses is quite an impressing thing. Maybe I’m new to Sony marketing, but this is the first time I see them updating a lens.
Update of 70-200mm is more important. Weather sealing is almost a must in the market place these days.
I bet if it is true then it is all about new nano coating, weather sealing and faster AF SSM. Maybe with dSLT nano coating has become important in longer tele lens.
urrrh, it would be typical of sony to update a lens that’s already arguably the best in it’s class when there’s far more obvious gaps/updates required.
70-400?? why not an updated 24-105? preferably constant f/4 and weather sealed. as well as the other lenses that would be more of a priority for updating. and zeiss 50f1.4 replacing the current.. a bit of a disappointment Sony lenses used to be a decent price, but with the upcoming price hikes and zeiss lenses, and updates, its a shame if sony lenses cost = or more than their CaNikon equivalents, when there is no optical stabilization.
One of the “reasons” for SLT was that the EVF is cheaper than producing an OVF (at least cheaper than pentaprisms, if not pentamirror) If the A99? costs more than the A900 and is missing any features that the D800 and 5Diii have, I definitely wont be a happy camper with the way Sony is going. Sony is giant electronic consumer, but the big box stores are beginning to die out (thank you internet) and IMO Sony is going to have to change the way it operates
Make that a 24-120 mm f:4.
Andrea
Can you please share with us the possible roadmap on your hand? Whether they are ready to announce on 15 March is not our key concern (as Sony has a bad reputation about delay of lens, and the supply of lens to end user)
Of course it has to be silver – G stands for Gold. You pair proprietaryish Sony with mad inventor Minolta, this is what we end up with, and I love it!
70-400 doesn’t have any canon or Nikon rivals
The Nikon 80-400 is ancient
I suspect its more of a marketing decision than anything else. This lens plus the a77 as a sports camera for the Olympics
if only the a77 had a larger buffer and the 500f4 was within its competitors price range.
You don’t *need* to use 12fps and you don’t *need* to keep your finger on the shutter button until the buffer is full. 😉
agreed. pick the shot you want. do no machine gun everything!!! I have shot football games and people next to me with Canon and Nikon rigs were firing away. I had put the camera down because I could not get anything but a group of players stuck together. Not the shot I want.
+1!
70-400G one of the optically best Sony’s lenses. Better then current 100-400L and much better then old nikkor 80-400. Even if the new 100-400L II will be better, it will be much more expensive and also havier. Why it must be the first? Why?
noone would use F5.6 lens for olympics 😀
So why not 300G in addition to new 500G?
Not everything is shot at 2.8 buddy, depth of field is a bit necessary beyond 2.8 at 400mm.
I suspect they’re uprating the focussing motor torque. Optically the 70-400 is very good, but the SSM focus speed is sssslllooooowwww! The 500 F4 shows they now have the capability to speed up focus alot, so perhaps they’re going to use the same motor.
You might be onto something here. Faster AF speed, new coatings, weather sealed, and a new color. I think these are all possibilities for the updated lens. Pretty wild that they are updating it though. The current 70-400G is one nice lens!!!
Maybe nano coating and weather sealing，and the price will update too…
where is the sony version of the D800?
If you want the features of the D800 then why not buy it?
If you are owning a lot Zeiss and G a-mount lens, you always have a large barrier to quit
But you have to sometime and maybe they don’t!
I need Sony 400/4.5 now.
That was a very nice lens from Minolta. 200/2.8 it’s a nice lens too.
The Contax N Aposonnar 400/4 was also great, so both their lens design teams would be up to the job.
I hope the current lens is not discontinued and then a procrastinated delay on the new lens, just like the cameras.
Nothing wrong with updating lenses, but it would help if they updated the ones more in need of updating first.
why sony is updating a 2009 lens but not the old minoltas?!!
BTW i got this lens and i love it so much!
probably because they’re trying to move away from the old minolta IP, which they still license at a rather large cost.
Link please.
http://www.google.com
So your comment was speculation.
no it wasn’t, look it up yourself. I thought the same as you until GunnarK corrected me on this website. I did a little research, especially reading the EXACT wording of the press release and checking out some patents and financials etc and he was correct. So as I said, your link is http://www.google.com
If you want to see where I was corrected, look back through the articles on here to find the FF lens poll and look for my posts there.
I have read the press releases on the KM site, they make no mention of retaining IP.
The fact is that you ARE speculating, the details of the agreement have NEVER been made public, as you would expect, it is commercially sensitive information.
You are still unable to provide a link, because it does not exist!
so, which is it, lazy or stupid?
From http://www.sony.net (http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200601/06-0119E/)
Title: Partial Transfer of CERTAIN Assets Related to “DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS”
“that they have decided to transfer a CERTAIN PORTION OF KONICA MINOLTA PI’s ASSETS related to DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS to Sony”
Sony will receive CERTAIN assets from Konica Minolta PI that are necessary for the development, design, production and so forth of DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS compatible with Konica Minolta PI’s “Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system”
where does it say lenses????? NOWHERE!!!
These press releases are drawn up by corporate lawyers, their wording is absolutely exact and agreed between the lawyers of both parties. It clearly states that the lens mount patents stay with KMPI, hence the wording “Konica Minolta PI’s “Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system””. The mount is still a registered patent of Minolta as are the lens barrel designs, antishake mechanisms, zoom lens element configurations etc etc etc, all on uspto.gov registered under minolta or konica-minolta! Sony have their own later patents which in some cases refer back to the pre-existing KM patents as the basis for the design, meaning that they license them!
The information related to transfer of IP is public and must be by law, its required for patent enforcement, legal shareholder information, financial statements, merger and acquisition regulation and so on and so on. For the patent info see below:
From USPTO.gov
During examination of a pending patent application or after registration, the owner of the mark may change: 1) the original owner may transfer ownership to another entity or party, through an “assignment;” or 2) the original owner may retain ownership but change its name. The original owner should record the assignment or name change with the USPTO’s Assignment Services Division by filing a Recordation Cover Sheet along with a copy of the actual assignment or proof of name change.
i.e. if the patent still says Minolta, its still Minoltas.
RANDOM EXAMPLE:
Current Minolta patent 67544646 – Imaging device and digital camera using the imaging device
Current Sony Patent referencing above minolta patent filed in 2008 for a refractive, constant aperture OS zoom lens for digital stills cameras – 7433131 – Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
If Minolta had transferred all lens related IP to Sony then the original patent (67544646) would now be Sonys not Minoltas!
You reference, you license…simple! You’re stating that this is one of the bases of your design. Incidentally, Nikon and Olympus also license this from Minolta as well.
Now, there are thousands of lens design patents held by both Sony and minolta go search through them and stop accusing people of speculation when you dont have the faintest idea what you’re talking about because you’re too lazy to do any research.
Additionally you do realise that most of the lens related patents didn’t belong to KMPI dont you, they’re mostly owned by Konica Minolta Opto as far as I can tell, which wasn’t part of the transfer. Here’s just one of their current web pages:
http://www.konicaminolta.com/opt/products/reflex/index.html
Mincchia!
Mine is on the way….
There are of course things that could be better on the 70-400, but it is already the best. One thing not mentioned already is that maybe the new version gains AF with teleconverters (which is normal with these kind of lenses, I think).
I was just thinking about the G designation, which I thought stood for Gold. However, I was not able to find any word of Minolta or Sony confirming that thought. Note that the G is written in silver! According to Sony, the G stands for Grace, Gather and Gratify. BTW, Sigma, Tamron and Nikon already use that color, so I’m fine with Sony not using that color, but as a sign of optimum performance, just like Canon does with their L lenses.
However, it is a real issue is that there are so few of them, and that is partially due to their co-existence with Zeiss lenses. Sony indeed needs to redesign the 35 f1.4 G, introduce a 50 f1.4 Zeiss/G (which probably is going to happen) and last but not least, a macro (100 + 200mm) and a FF Zoom (24-105).
Minolta used to put gold plaques on some of their G lenses to signify them as such.
Just more food for thought on the lens..
Maybe they make the new version and internal zoom lens like the current 70-200G. That would be great if it could be done and still have the same great optical performance of the current version! My old 70-400 suffered from some zoom creep. This would take care of that!
That would be amazing, but I think that would be a new lens entirely.
I thought they were bringing out a new lens but with the same focal length.
Stil waiting on a modern wide-angle zoomlens…
Zeiss 16-35?
I use it on my a850 and it’s incredible
It’s actually the main reason I haven’t pre-ordered a d800 yet. Their 16-35/f4 isn’t as good, and the 14-24 is clunky, not flexible enough and can’t use filters
As Seeky already mentioned, the lack of AF with the 1.4x TC is the biggest problem of the lens. Also, the tripod mount does not run as smoothly as with other lenses. And finally, Sony should paint it black or white and get rid of the ugly matte silver.
update 70-400G doesn’t make sense to me.
I will keep watching SAR for coming dates. I bet if will be 70-200G,if it’s really a tele-zoom G glass.
I don’t expect any changes in the optical design of the new 70-400G, because the lens is nearly perfect in this way and Sony has other things to do than re-designing this lens. What is very likely are other changes like
– improvement of AF speed by changes of the USM and modified ROM
– more variable settings for the focus limiter
– sealing
– different colour (by the way, I prefer silver to the ugly white of Canon or Minolta G primes)
Especially the first two modifications would be very welcome to me. If we are lucky, there might be even an update kit for the current lens (pure speculation).
Canon lenses are not white..they’re…ceramic white color?? But it’s really interesting that people do prefer the Silver powder color instead of the traditional white that Minolta began using.
http://a.img-dpreview.com/lensreviews/sigma_70-200_2p8_os_c16/Images/comparedto2.jpg
Come on Sony, make my day (month), and announce the A99 together with a range of lens-updates (weather sealing, AF updates, and SSM for Zeiss lenses).
+1
The new lens will be better at taking pics of bookshelves at ISO 3200.
That’s what Sony users do
As I said up there ^^, you are mistaking us for CaNikon users. They are the ones pixel peeping ISO 6400 images of their cats.
By-the-way, should I be putting “end of line” at the end of my comments? You sound familiar…
They also not use aliases like canon and go to troll canicon users you prick. And this is a part of the reason why i bought sony. Because sony users don’t need to prove something whereas canon and nikon users are so stupid so they are compete not with image’s but by discussing ergonomics…
You don’t need to prove something???? Bahahaha
All Sony users post about is proving Sony will put Canon out if business.
I guess you need a coloring book huh?
and then you woke up!
In that category of lenses, the one that needs an update is the 70-200G
and a 100mm Macro with SSM (preferably G or Zeiss update)
The 200mm end of the 70-200 is the softer side and can be a bit soft depending on what you are shooting, it beat the Nikon VR and the Canon L, but it is falling behind the VR II and the L II.
PS Sony, Please start using an Orange ring/band like your prototype graphics of 500G… that ring was sexy.
SSM on a macro? Mine is always on manual.
So how do you shoot of water drops then? It’s really difficult to shot moment when object isn’t static.
well typically you know where the water drop will fall and you prefocus manually so you can just hit the shutter..
You try to use AF on water drops????? Good luck with that!
Heck, I’d be happier to see a new Zeiss FF alpha prime 35/2.
agree sir 😀 i’d happier too if sony give us two option in alpha prime zeiss 35mm/2 and 35mm/1.4 😀
New Zeiss lenses would be great, but if Sony makes the HUGE MISTAKE of not bringing out a new full frame DSLR all the pros who came over to Sony for the Zeiss glass and quality files will be going back to Canon or Nikon just as quickly as you can sell an a900 on ebay. (No pro wants to look though Zeiss or any other glass though an LED screen, the Sony brass are smoking something if they believe their SLT is just as good as “real life”)
Sony’s SLTs don’t have LED screens.
This is totally a sales and marketing strategy
The highest price increment lens will gonna be replaced.
Sony drives up the price, and give enough hints to their customer. So people rush in to clean up the shelf for them
7 months ago this was a rumor… and nothing since.
Coming this winter.