The Sony Europe Press center just leaked the image of the new 18-135mm SAM lens! They now removed the image from the page but our japanese friends from DigicamInfo copied the image. A trusted source confirmed that the image is real.
As I told you weeks ago Sony is splitting up their new product announcements. New SLT and NEX stuff is coming in a series of small announcements! I think that’s a nice move from Sony and keeps me busy at SAR 😉 The A37, new NEX-F3 and new lenses are coming!
For US readers: Keep on eye on the NEX-7 at Amazon (Click here). It keeps comign and going in Stock for the normal price.
128 Responses
Constant F4?
Edit… arg… just saw the pic clearly. i must be blind.. Lol..
😉
I hope it is cheaper and better than the 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6!
16-105
I hope it better
wait is it DT or full frame?
18-135 FF??? that would be triple the size 😉
Impossible to create a fullframe-lens that small with the big range and wide-angle
obviously DT
That range would be awesome on a full frame lens. It’d completely destroy the 24-1xx lenses that Canon and Nikon have.
More NEX-lenses please. Alpha shooters (myself included) already have enough lenses, both Sony and KM. 😛
NEX is the way of the future, everyone knows that!
Mirrorless is the future!
NEX and SLT cameras are just speed-bumps in the road to a mirrorless future
What can be more mirrorless than a NEX?
How can a camera without PDAF be the future?
PDAF is an ugly approach, the future are algorithms like these:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fiel5%2F4674159%2F4674160%2F04674332.pdf%3Farnumber%3D4674332&authDecision=-203
http://jburge.cps.utexas.edu/research/Home_files/BurgeGeisler_PNAS_2011.pdf
PDAF currently provides method to determine if it is back or front focus at certain area and gives approximate defocus value. These two methods works about the same.
I repeat, PDAF is unreliable, extremely limited, hard to build technology that has no future, just like SLR (and SLT as well) cameras.
NEX will of course get pdaf (on sensor) when that works well in aps-c size.
@Denis
Contrast detection can be more accurate than phase detection, depending on the implementation. Currently Phase Detection works very well. Phase detection AF still uses contrast to assess where to focus, but contrast just isn’t used as iteratively or throughout the image…only at the autofocus sensors.
Phase Detection “instantly gives the exact direction of focusing and amount of focus ring’s movement” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofocus
Contrast Based Detection “the autofocus system does not calculate whether the subject is in front focus or back focus, focus tracking is not feasible” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofocus
It all comes down to how the focusing is implemented. I enjoy using the SLT systems, because there is no more focus pumping. It focuses very well, though I have only tested this on a 24-70 CZ and the 70-400G.
NEX is mirrorless
Mirrorless is in the future, the E-mount however is not. And if you really think NEX will replace SLR style bodies, you’re hilariously foolish imo.
mirrorless will be in all mounts from all companies
foolishly laughing here
😉
Yea, lol, some people are just plain stupid.
“NEX is the way of the future, everyone knows that!”
Sony’s inability, or lack of interest, in releasing pro quality lenses for the NEX, makes the Olympus OM-D E-M5 the REAL way of the future.
Olympus has a pro quality 12mm f/2.0 and 45mm f/1.8, with a 75mm f/1.8 coming before the end of the year 🙂 Sony has the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 and no more Zeiss primes on the road map 🙁
Sorry Sony, in today’s fast moving world you snooze you loose.
Nex only has adapters that can utilize a massive ranges of professional lenses…. That’s all… Nothing much else…
How many of these adapted lenses autofocus??? Well the A-mount lenses will autofocus with a LA-EA2 adapter, but why would I want to mount a 1 lb 7 oz (650g) Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 lens on a 10.3 oz (291g) (excl battery & media) NEX 7??? For me, an 85mm f/1.8 E-mount Zeiss makes much more sense. The question is will Sony ever make this??? I ain’t holding my breath.
“why would I want to mount a 1 lb 7 oz (650g) Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 lens on a 10.3 oz (291g) (excl battery & media) NEX 7”
That is your own personal preference. I have seen people mount a 70-400G on their Nex system… That weighs 1600g.
I am sure Sony will gradually release more lenses. They have had many set backs due to natural disasters and many lives were lost. Earthquakes that killed 10,000+ people and floods in Thailand that wiped out one of their main production facility.
Give em a bit of a break mmmkay?
I’ve used a Canon 400mm f/2.8 (5370 grams) with my Canon DSLRs, but I didn’t try to hand hold it, I used a Wimberly II Gimbal Head. I do hand hold my Canon DSLRs with a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens. The reason that I’m looking at the NEX is that they are smaller and lighter 🙂 than my big/bulky/heavy Canon DSLRs 🙁 If I can’t get a Zeiss 85mm to go along with the presently available Zeiss 24mm f/1.8, then there is no reason to replace my two Canon DSLRs with two NEX 7.
Give me a break, neither the floods in Thailand nor the earthquake in Japan, have anything to do with the lack of additional Zeiss E-mount lenses on the “road map.”
I prefer E-M5’s m4/3 sensor over NEX’s APS-C. I really do. Who doesn’t like a small sensor? It’s the future.
I like the largest sensor I can afford. If there was a vaguely affordable medium format mirrorless, I would strongly consider it.
Where is DT in the name of lens? It isn’t FF, is it?
There will never be enough lenses 🙂
Of course it isn’t FF, Denis. This should be obvious to any photographer, but somehow I am not surprised that you are stumped by this.
Really now, an 18-135 for fullframe at that size? Seriously?
Bahahahaha
@Derek, I understand your question since it was rumored some time ago that Sony would not make any more lenses that weren’t FF. But that was obviously wrong since there has been non FF lenses since then.
That isn’t what was rumored. What WAS rumored was that Zeiss were not going to make any more DT lenses for A-Mount.
So this replaces the 16-105 lens eh? Why couldn’t they make it 16-135 instead? :/’
The focusing ring is huge! Videographers using the a77 for video will be very pleased with this lens i believe. Seems well built with the metal mount. Hopefully this lens only approaches f5.6 at the 135mm end.
but SAM motor will bring loud noise…
SONY really needs to bring low-cost SSM for easy-choice lense.
yeah well serious videographers would use manual focus anyway…and you should be using an external mike anyway if you are really doing serious recording..
I recently replaced my 18-55mm SAM with 16-105mm which is body-driven AF. The Body AF is noticeably faster than SAM, and quieter too. What a shame that a Lens-based AF performs badly when compared to a Body-based AF.
I agree, very sad that it is a SAM lens. Skip the whole SAM thing and switch to SSM-like motors. It’s not that videographers would mind, since they use mikes and manual focus, but the average consumer won’t do that and use the continious AF when taking videos, since that is a major point of SLT. But build seems to be very good, similar focus and zoom rings as 16-50, and the metal front ring + lock. Hope there’s more to come….
You have to be aware that average consumers aren’t ready to pay for SSM grade lens as well..
+1
For many, it’s all about price.
lenses like this are not known to be of the highest optical quality. It’s more about having one lens do it all and selling it for under $500.
Bare in mind every nex lens uses a SSM motor, it really a case of Sony being cheapskates/differentiating, fine if it’s a budget easy choice lens but if it’s a £200+ lens then SAM is a bit of a disappointment
Well, for under or around 500, I expect quite something from an APS-C only lens. This one has to have way better IQ compared to the superzooms for that price.
I don’t regard SSM as a “grade”. It is merely Sony’s strategy to implement that motor only in high-end lenses, but it has nothing to do with certain other qualities, since it’s a motor. Nikon’s 18-135 is here since 2006 and had an AF-S motor already. I have to admit that most consumers will never bother.
why do we always think there arent improvement in SAM…. i do expect they releasing with SAM v1.1 (if the older SAM is v1.0)
Hopefully. I also prefer they place the focus ring at the back instead of having it nearer to the end of the lens. But what I miss is the 16mm.
@Godsakes
where did you read that NEX lenses have SSM motors??
I haven’t but you don’t need to be Sherlock to figure out the silent motor system in the NEX lenses which can manually overridden anytime is effectively a SSM lens
consumers NEVER BUY the SSM lenses. Do you see canon rebels paired with a USM lens? VR or IS maybe, but the focus motor in these kit lenses are always trash. Whats the use of spending that much money on a focal length like 18-135- a focal length who’s primary goal is convenience, not quality. Would you really spend $800+ on a 18-135 just for SSM? Keep it at $300ish and it will be sold plenty more, and to those who don’t give a rat’s ass about focusing motors and likely never will.
Actually, the Rebels are occasionally paired with a USM lens; the 28-135. Of course it’s the WORST USM lens…but it’s still USM!
Sony’s website says E lenses use a linear motor for focusing.
1650 f2.8 ssm is already so cheap if compare to canikon 17-55 usm f2.8
Not only cost, but it performs better in my experience.
Also, the new EF 24-70 L is so expensive, that it isn’t a consumer grade lens anymore, so Sony can fill a void for us non-pro enthusiasts if they do things right.
I hope the 16-50 serves as a model for the new lenses, it’s well made and performs great.
I’m no videographer but I use the AF/MF button on my a77 in still photography quite a lot. SAM lenses only allow this button to operate as focus hold. SSM and Screw drive lenses also allow you to adjust the focus ring while the AF/MF button is pushed. This is very useful to me.
Therefore SAM lenses represent a downgrade vs screw drive for me. The SAM lenses i have tried aren’t that quiet either, compared to SSM.
SAM just seems like a cost compromise.
Here’s hoping any 18-250 replacement is proper SSM – my sigma 18-250 has the SAM-like sigma HSM and sometimes I long for my old Sony screw driven 18-250….
Videographers would only be happy with this lens if it wasn’t SAM. Every SAM lens is noisy and jerks back and forth as it focuses.
It looks to me like the zoom ring is in the front. If so, then the focusing ring isn’t especially large.
I think the focusing ring is the small ring. This lens have the configuration of 18-200 for NEX.
now that’s a little relief, finally, sony is back, though i hope this is not the only lens that’s in their roadmap for this year, wait? when will it be available? dont say another 12 months…
it’s not even announced…
i guess you’re right
but its good enough 🙂 the rumors i mean…
Canon and Pentax makes them for its APS-C bodies so I would guess it to be a DT.
Cost should be $400 to $500 USD as a guess
Sony copy from Canon LOLS
everyone copies everyone’s range. but whats inside that matters. judging having focusing ring on the inside, its interesting. the red dot in the filter thread means its mostly with petal hood. IF design?
I seriously doubt they are using IF design on a budget lens and quite stupid focal length- its not worth the $$$
The full frame equivalent would be 28-200mm. Doesn’t seem especially stupid to me. Sounds more useful than my 35-200xi is, at least.
Anyway, Sony have a bunch of other zooms if it isn’t to one’s taste. The only problem would be if you were a poor sap who bought an A37 and couldn’t use the other options.
I am almost 100% sure the lens is “IF”, the only reason to put the focus ring at the rear end. Same was first done by MINOLTA on the 28-135/4-4.5.
Sorry, I confused IF with internal zoom. If is likely IF
great! now sony lens look way better. keep it going!!
no more cheap plastic please.
Awesome looking lens, Sony directed this lens to the design of the 16-50 ssm instead of cheap looking like the 18-55 sam. Good idea of them!
Looks like decently built lens. Let’s hope SAM is quiet and that they have some ace up their sleeve to go in kit with A99.. Can we hope Admin? 😀
I have the NEX-7 preordered in Adorama long time ago – the other night I woke up and decided to check my Amazon.
Ta daaa…. one copy of NEX-7 in stock. I ordered it and it should be delivered on Tuesday.
How nice!!!
So yeah – admin is right – keep an eye on Amazon – they change the information in minutes.
Hmmm.. I wonder why SAM and not SSM?
Because it must be cheap model
I wish Sony will introduce more Nex lenses: fast prime lenses, like a 35 mm f/1.8, a 24 mm cheaper than the Zeiss, and maybe a 85 mm f/1.8 for portraits. All with a good quality, and a reasonable price.
no distance scale window????????? :((((((((((((….well, I hope is good and affordable!!!…:)
It may be future kit lens replacing 18-55.
I would say that it’s a great kit lens for the a37 without a motor.
Although the lens may cost more than the body 😉
Probably the kit lens for A65, just like the Canon 18-135 for the 60D and 7D? This may also replace the two lens kit?
I want 12-135 f1.4 G SSM 😀
urs sux, i wan 14-300 F2.8 Z SSM! 😀
Pah! Amateurs… I want the Hubble. 😉
Sorry, the Hubble space telescope doesn’t come with an alpha mount….
maybe with an adaptor!
you really made my day!
thanks
it’s been a while sinse i laufed so loud
PS there is a newer model than the hubble 😉
You can adapt it, but it won’t focus to infinity 😉
We need an E mount constant f.2.8 16-50mm. (Or close)….in black and with OSS.
I’d pay a premium price for it if were good.
then you should just pay a premium price for the LA EA2 and existing 16-50 2.8, or buy an alpha slr to use a-mount lenses.
yes, sony will not do it 😀
Nah….its mostly for video on my NEX VG 20 and future FS100. Plus the alpha glass doesn’t have OSS.
Then it seems for the time being that you are screwed
That wouldn’t give OSS. Alpha mount camera would be considerably bigger. Not saying I don’t agree, but neither of those things are what Cliff was asking for.
No cheap looking silver ring on the lens, at least that’s good news.
Uuggggghhhhhhhh Superzoom.
+1
Can’t understand why everybody is that excited about a crappy, amateurish superzoom lens. “Uh, I can’t carry several lenses with me. They are to heavy. I rather prefer bad optics on my 32 MP A9x0.” 😉
I’ll like to see a perfect 12-24mm/f1.8 or 16/f1.4 prime without any distortion and super sharp.
How I wish it cimes with SSM
because not an F4 FF 28 135 because!!
What REALTY want is a very small E mount constant F1.0 10-300mm,…..in black.
If Sony could pull that off, it would be the lens to end all lenses! Hell, I’d probably still buy it even if it was only in silver! 😉
lol old joke is old
Lol….cheesy huh? 😉
I’d probably still buy it even if it wasn’t a pancake 😉 and i dont have a nex
it should be cheap though
I can’t wait!
Well…where is the 1680ssm
is there, really?
hope this lens as good as the 16-50 does 😀
still waiting MORE E-Mount for my NEX-7. C’mon sony, Panasonic & Olympus has a lot of lens available
To be expected, that there would be a revamp of the SAM line. The E mount lenses do effectively have SSM as they are geared for video. There’s no labeling of SSM or SAM in the E mount because all of them perform quickly and quietly as ALL LENSES SHOULD.
If Sony is going to redesign, then just make all A mount lenses perform quietly and quickly.
There’s nothing wrong with having cheaper Sam models and more premium ssm focusing models, I.e. just like canon And Nikon
Again I point to the E mount lenses. All of them perform quietly and quickly. Since Sony continues to increase the price of the lenses, I would hope that I would get more in return. Manufacturing lenses that no one buys is not smart either.
I’m just saying if you’re going to redesign lenses, build in the qualities people want. I think the 16-50mm lens is the best approach. It has SSM and feels like it’s well built. Being made in China, it’s reasonably priced. Or improve the SAM to be smooth, quiet and quick. I really don’t care what it’s called, but make it like the E mount lenses and make it better.
I don’t own a Nikon or a Canon so what they do doesn’t matter to me.
So, is that a kit lens that will be available for the A37? And maybe the A57?
Does the “F” in NEX F3 indicate that this new NEX will have a fully functioning Nikon F-mount, instead of the E-mount. Being able to use high-quality Nikon lenses, on a NEX, would stop a lot the bitchin’ and moanin’ about the NEX lens selection. 😉 😉
Mirrorless is the future, but it’s up to Sony if the NEX will the future or just part of the road to the future.
I’m hopeful that the NEX platform is successful in spite of Sony and Sony’s lack if interest producing the depth of quality optics that can make the most from the great electronics Sony has put into the product.
The lens roadmap for the NEX product line that Sony released a few months back was disappointing to almost everyone that I know that looked at it.
Its nice that third party vendors are making adapters that allow NEX shooters choices but it would be better if Sony/Zeiss stepped-up and released a few more E-Mount lenses.
Yawn again and again. Wake me up when Sony decides to offer something new from their ZA Zeiss line.
Since Sony is moving towards the low end of the market with their cameras, they should clearly label this lens as DT for prospective customers.
I suspect they will. This is a leak, not a product announcement,
I would not say that the A77 and the NEX-7 are the low end of the amateur market. Many people don’t have the funds to buy Zeiss lenses, so good, inexpensive lenses are always welcome.
I was not talking about amateur market. Lower end camera market, which includes nex and a77 are the primary concern of Sony.
It’s interesting as a kit lens. I like this lens, hope it be lightweight.
It looks like an Aluminum lens with a steel mount. It will be heavy.
What’s with Sony’s obsession with SAM? Every new lens Sony releases should be SSM.
Cheaper technology sells better.
it will still be a cheap AF lens even if they forget to put a motor in a37
Looks interesting – brings the 28-75 to mind. If it was constant 2.8 I’d have been sold. It’s an obvious 16-105 replacement, but it’s making me wonder about hanging on to my 16-80… Nice to see a new interchangeable camera lens from Sony, regardless!
This is a ‘premium’ kit lens. It is something Sony have been missing for a while. Everyone else has something similar and may be one thing that put off prospective buyers. It isn’t for enthusiasts so much, but the more Sony sell over other brands (by having more options like this) the more money they can put into developing the more niche products enthusiasts on here want. That’s the way it goes. I know everyone bitches about new consumer models all the time, but these things are the bread and butter of the Sony imaging dept, without them they close shop.
Looks like a handsome lens. Should be a decent replacement to the 18-200mm (Tamron design) which they had. Although I wish they improved the 16-105mm instead, as a premium kit lens.
current DT zoom lenses lineup
16-50 f2.8 SSM (NEW)
16-105
16-80 ZA
18-55 SAM
18-135 SAM (NEW)
18-200
18-250
the older non-SAM lenses has potential to get cut out from the line up soon I guess.
SONY seriously should make a FF 24-120mm F4 and crop 16-80mm F4 with SSM.
No need for the 18-135mm, already have 18-200/250. If they want, they could add SAM on those lenses.
I think the point that is missing here is Sony is engineering and manufacturing new lenses. Baby steps… We’ll get the droids we’re looking for eventually.
SAM again? lol
this is likely the new kit lens.. really what is the point of it otherwise!
having a 18-135 kit makes entry level single lens package much more attractive than rivals even it is a bit more pricy!
This is most likely the new entry-level kit-lens instead of the horrible 15-55SAM. That one should be buried and all drawings destroyed and eventually it will be erased from everyone´s memory.
As a kit-lens it seems acceptable and the design of it looks in line ith the 16-50/2,8SAM.
Otherwise Sony should really get rid of all this SAM-development and give us upgraded SSM instead. The 28-75/2,8 should go and instead they should cut the price of 24-70/2,8ZA to about half. That could be a success story.
/Mats
sony kits are not good,
18-55 & 55-200 produce bad colours !