Sony Japan marked the current 70-400mm lens as “discontinued”. And at the same time two well trusted sources confirmed to me that a successor will hit the market on Q2 (between April and June). So we will have the new Zeiss 50mm f/1.4, the new 18-270mm lens, the new 70-200mm lens and than a new 70-400mm lens. These are the four A-mount lenses Sony will release within the next 6 months!
Price of the current 70-400mm lens at Amazon (Click here).
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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!
57 Responses
Great to see that the new 70-400mm is coming along 😀
I hope I get a budget for that lens in 2013 =)
4 New lenses – except 3 are replacements for lenses we already have (OK, two of these are old, but still good) and one is a Sony version of a Tamron Lens.
Any Chance of some NEW lenses that we DON’T have?
It’s a good surprise that there are any movement in A-lenses after latest road-map plans for SLT cameras…
Yeah good that the discontinued one of the few AF-D lenses for the A99 ^^ lets hope they will update their list of compatible lenses soon… for me its like AF-D is not existing -.- .
I have a feeling we’ll be waiting a long time even for Sony to cover their current lenses. Who knows if they’ll ever get to their discontinued lenses (28/2.8, 500/8, 24-105, etc), and as for Minolta D lenses, I fear we’re SOL.
This is one of the best lenses for A-Mount. I hope the successor will be at least as good and not twice as expensive.
how about super wide angle lens sony? 12-24mm/2.8, 14mm/2.8, 18mm/2, and 28mm/2
They seem to think that the 24/2 is the only new wide angle prime we’ll ever need, but I would beg to differ. The rest of the designs date from the 80s, and there isn’t a 28mm currently in production, period.
24 2 is a weird glass. All 3 examples were totally unusable with AF. i want to try it with A99.
And how about Zeiss Distagon 35 1.4. Huh? I want it right after 50 1.4 ZA
Is there any news out there about how the new lens will differ from the old one? After all, the old one wasn’t really that old to start with, compared to, say, the 80-400 Nikkor… And it used to get good reviews, too.
Probably SSM/weather sealed/nano coated.
SAL70400G already has SSM. So just weathersealing and maybe some better coatings.
No doubt it will come in a different colour!
I wouldn’t mind it in white, like the 300 or the 500mm. 🙂
I would prefer 70-400G in silver since that way one immediately identify it has a sony user and not mistake the user to be using a canon white lens.
I guess they won’t confuse us that easily when with A99 and that amazing orange ring on the mount. 🙂
All alphas have that orange ring,its more visible on A99 but those rings can only be seen at close distance,besides one also has the alpha strap .
But i can spot a silver 70-400 in F1 grand prix while watching on tv,while all others have a black(nikon/tamron/sigma) or white (canon).
The old, discontinued SONY 50 mm f/1,4
is a superb lens, exept some autofocus
issues and the old fashion cotead.I think
SONY can fix this problems with 100 $ and
give us back this lens (new price 450 $).
The Sony 50mm f1.4 is rubbish at wide apertures. Only starts to sharpen at f2.
If Sony keeps spitting out rehashed lenses with junky variable f stops that are too slow to shoot anything other than in bright sunlight, well…
It all seems really consumer grade oriented.
I hope they (Sony) ditch that fugly silver finish and go for white or some other nice industrial/serious colour. Solid medium grey would look cool and very “business”, especially with some orange accent. Well, it’s all a matter of taste I guess, but pleeeeeaaaaase not silver! (Yeah, I know about the technical benefits with a light/heat reflecting finish on a lens so no need for lectures about that.)
This lens is one of the reasons to pick Sony over the two other players, you can use this lens at at 400mm and F5.6 and get great results, at least nearer the center of the lens. The others aren’t quite there. Canon has a nice 400mm prime without IS, and there is a Canon 400mm f4 with diffractive optics at more than twice the price. For Sony, 400mm 5.6 lens with diffractive optics would be smaller and lighter, may be not too awkward with an E-mount adapter.
I have found this lens to be a bit soft at 400/5.6. So much so I have thought about sending it back to Sony to see if there was a problem. I have to be a stop or 2 above wide open to get good images. Sent test images to Sony who sees the issue but do not think there is anything wrong with the lens. I have considered selling to help finance the 300mm.
You should get your lens checked. I have used two copies (sold one last year lane with A55, bought it back with A99) and both of them tack sharp at 400mm/f5.6. In fact this is one of the sharpest zoom lens in Sony lineup.
I am finally convinced to send it back and have it checked out.
I agree with Amateur Sony shooter. I think you probably should have yours looked at. I’ve had this lens for over a year and, IMO, this is one of the best lenses made on the entire planet in its focal range – from ANY manufacturer, not just Sony. Mine is absolutely tack sharp across its entire f-stop range. The lens is pure magic.
I love the current 70-400G and the silver doesn’t bother me as I have it covered with a neoprene lens cover 😉
With the A77 it produces great images all the way through the focal length even at the 400mm extreme?
Only thing I would hope for is weather sealing in the new one which imo was a big omission in the current one considering the price tag?
As usual I bought mine a few months ago so bought at wrong time as no doubt when new one is launched old one will be £££$$$$ cheaper? 🙁
Again,discontinue something without the replacement actually out…puzzling to me.
Another time Sony proofs how they think about users: Discontinue something without the replacement ready to buy. What if someone uses this professional, crashes it and needs replacement?
Btw. hopefully for those who would like to buy this lens they’ll work on the sharpness. The 70-200 is the best Alpha lens we have but the 70-400 is soft when you look close. But all in all it’s a nice lens and really rocks if you need the 400mm.
You go to your local camera shop or B&H and get one.
new lenses please, no remakes
some f/4 zooms cheap ones would be nice.
Apparently their idea is to change all of lenses in order to keep with their new high-tech movement, but its a shame they waste their resources improving on lenses they already have instead of making new ones.
+100
so the 300 and 70-400 from G line have a successor. I’m pretty sure the 70-300 will also has a successor anytime soon… And i just bought it several months ago… Bummer.
Well, why not be simply pleased with what you’ve got. It is not because the successor is out that your lens will suddenly stop working or be completely obsoleted….
WOW so much great news for A-mount! Those lenses will be so sweet together with A99 or A77!
Wish list: kill the lens creep (which is minor but does annoy), in-lens image stabilization. My 70-400 is one of my favorite lenses (at least when the sun’s out) so I’m looking forward to what Sony has to replace it. But then didn’t Sony just close one of their lens plants? Hope this isn’t the end of the line for one of the best telephoto lenses available.
Yes the current 70-400f/4.0-5.6 is a fine sunny-day tripod/monopod lens.
Sounds like we have to wait 6 months for the replacement.
Admin:
any idea as to when the Zeiss 50mm/f1.4 will ship?
As per other remarks, I expect the “v2” versions of Sony’s lenses will feature the new nano-coating & weather-seals at the high end, and (if any low-end lenses get re-issued) the newer/quieter SAM motors.
Weather-sealed lenses in particular are one of the great big empty check-boxes that Sony has — ’til now — had un-checked on their marketing / pro-spec list of features, so this is simply an ongoing sign that they do indeed intend to continue competing in the DSLR (now SLT, for them) field.
As others have also said, it’d be nice if more of their A-mount lens-news was all-new lenses, but we all have to realize that they can’t do EVERYTHING, all at once.
As for discontinuing without the replacement being out: I disagree that this is a problem: there’s still plenty of these lenses in-stock on retail shelves and in the supply-chain, Sony doesn’t want the old to be on shelves alongside the new! However, I *DO* think they should announce (not merely release to the rumor-mill) firm news of the replacement. This *IS* one of Sony’s “showcase” lenses, and to have even a hint that it might be missing/unavailable is… well, not good.
Hopefully, the official announcement will come soon, and actual availability will follow soon after that.
– Steve S.
Good news for the second-hand market. 😀
Great news about a new 70-400. I can’t stand the bokeh on the current model. Anybody want to buy mine?
Thanks but NO! I can’s stand the bokeh and I totally detest the silver color! ;-( PLEASE SONY paint the successor plain black… PLEASE!
Bokeh is a big problem. This is a horrible lens and therefore you should not charge much for it. Said so, I’m actually interested in buying.
price€ for new 70-200G2 ?
I hope these are newly designed high quality lenses, not rebranded Tamron or Sigma. Can’t compete with Canikons if you’re rebranding second tier lens, especially at Sony prices.
I have the current 70-400 lens and it is an amazing lens. The sharpness is amazing and it is one of the best lense!!!!
Sony continues it’s habit of large gaps in stocking equipment. A tradition they started with the a700, who’s replacement is still missing.
Glad I’m not waiting for the 70-400G.
a77
Ahem ….
http://www.dpreview.com/products/sony/slrs/sony_slta77
I’m willing to be with the replacements the zooms will rise in price to match the recent increases Canon has made to its revised lenses. I expect both to drop at about $2500. I bought my current lenses used and will continue to do so until Sony adds weather sealing to its pro lenses. It would be nice if the 70-400 has a zoom lock to keep the lens from extending while carrying, like the 16-50 does. Faster AF wouldn’t hurt either.
I’d like to see them change it up to a 120/200-400 and maybe Constant F4
Whatever, they going to release may have to stay within ordinary $ nor € in order to get sale (I like 70-200 f2.8 or f4 black version).If, too expensive people will going for third party lenses makers.
Lens might be getting discontinued but every camera store online has them for sale. Sony even has it on sale!
Hmm.. let’s hope..
Zeiss 50/1.4.. When you know Zeiss, expect no less than sharpness. I like a smooth bokeh, but I wouldn’t let a harsh bokeh stand in the way of owning any lens.
18-270.. Sony’s version of Tamron 18-270/3.5-6.3. Just make a better build quality on it.
70-200/2.8.. Better flare/ghosting and lateral color fringing control, we may hope. Not to forget the wide open sharpness.
70-400/4.5-5.6.. Get rid of those silvery plastics! Make it in white matte! F2.8? Constant F4 is just good enough.
What is needed is a 24-105mm/24-120mm F4 and a 70-200 F4!!!!!
Great news can’t wait!
Needs to be silver, or as a second choice, black. Definitely not white, don’t want to be mistaken for a canon user!
Hi I want to order the sony 400mm G2 lens. Whwn can Indo so and what will it cost?
How many days to deliver? Thank you,M.Milani