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Sony Germany is showing two more news lenses: The SAL-120F28 (Click here) and SEL-70400G2 (Click here). And I am sure many more A and E-mount lenses are ready to be announced soon. The SEL-70400G2 should have the same design as the A-mount version, the SAL-70400G2. That could be the reason why it keeps the “G2” mark!
I stress you again. Stay tuned on SAR and spread the word to Nikon and Canon friends. Sony has something “special” for them too! Subscribe the RSS feed (Click here) and Twitter (Click here) stream and the Facebook fan page (Click here) in order to not miss any news!
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Message to sources: You can send me more info anonymously by using the contact form you see on the very right of your browser. You can also contact me directly at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com.
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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!
123 Responses
70400G2? isnt that out for months? but the 120 sounds interesting
It’s the E-mount version 🙂
nice I hope it is white!
Exciting times indeed! Thanks Andrea… 😀
It’s supposed to be an SEL not the SAL70400, which is even more confusing. Especiallyas there never was a SEL7040G, so why G2 ?!?
wow. SEL70400G2. I wonder what aperture it will have. I wonder how sharp it will be. I wonder how large it will be. I wonder how much it will cost. Could be an interesting lens
“The SEL-70400G2 should have the same design as the A-mount version” – this means the same aperture too.
SEL! So E-mount 70-400 generation 2 . IS that a typo? I wish this was true, but I doubt.
If you try to change SEL in SAL you will get the A-mount version. I think it’s correct. it’s the same A-mount design that’s why the maybe keep the generation 2 definition!
That would mean that Sony took the SAL70400G2 and simply changed the mount to E-mount.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s be mega great, but there’s still something wrong to it.
After introducing the A3000, which marked the begin of the transition of A-Mount bodies to E-Mount, this is perhaps the first step of merging the A-Mount and E-Mount lens lineups, until in a few years there’s only E-Mount left. They will continue introducing E-Mount versions of all the A-Mount lenses they want to keep selling, and slowly fade out the A-Mount versions then, after even the high-end A-Mount cameras have been substituted by new E-Mount bodies. Which is what Olympus started with the E-M1 for Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds, too.
I’m curious, though, what kind of autofocus system that E-Mount 70-400 lens will use. I doubt that it will perform well with contrast AF, but there is no E-Mount camera yet with sensor-based phase detection AF.
They are also releasing a new A-mount lens, which would seem to contradict your theory.
The problem with this is that while the SAL version have the benefit of IBIS, just putting it on a SEL adaptor will make this very big advantage go away….
Contrary to Olympus, there’ll still be one or two A-Mount cameras and lenses, but maybe not more. Sony probably sees no need to stop rolling out products which already have been in the pipeline, even though they are going completely mirrorless, which, in the end, makes the concept of maintaining two separate mounts rather pointless. The more so since A-Mount lenses can be perfectly converted to E-Mount by a simple LA-EA1 type converter, as soon as the fully phase-detection-capable sensors are deployed in new E-Mount bodies.
Other than Sony, Olympus didn’t have any ambitions to extend their Four Thirds lineup either with more bodies or with new lenses since years ago, so they are simply ending their last DSLR, the E-5, replace it with the mirrorless E-M1, and continue to manufacture and sell Four Thirds lenses, as long as people want them, or they’ve been superceded by yet-to-introduce Micro Four Thirds equivalent. That’s easier than what Sony has to cope with, but in the end it will be the most sensible path for Sony, too.
@nagi: I expect future E-Mount bodies to have IBIS, too, after Sony traded their phase-detection sensor technology against Olympus’ 5-axis sensor stabilization, which, as rumors go, is already supposed to be built into Sony’s upcoming full-frame high-end NEX camera.
Andre:
Everyday someone comments on Sony moving from the A Mount. Can you put this to rest, please? Sony just released the a99, 500mm, 300mm II, 70-400mm II, 50mm Zeiss, and you have stated some Pro caliber cameras and lenses are in the works (70-200mm II). Isn’t the SLT vs. Mirroeless discussion separate from A mount vs. E mount discussion.
BTW, GREAT SITE AND GOOD JOB KEEPING IT FRESH EVERY DAY!
An adapter is never going to be a solution to those with pro grade A mount lenses.
This 70-400mm is going to be badly lopsided on a small E mount body. No compelling reason to use it on E mount when all A mount cameras have IBIS and better focus tracking.
There is absolutely no compelling reasoning you have given to show that the A mount is dying.
Sony wouldn’t bother wasting resources to launch a revised 70-400mm SSM II and 500mm f4 lens for A mount if they planned to kill it anytime soon.
I have no doubt that in future E mount will be the primary mount of Sony but that time is perhaps 2 – 3 decades away at least.
My guess is that it’s just SAL-70400G2 + white adaptor.
If it’s a new E-mount, why would it be a G2 and not simply G? G2 doesn’t fit Sony numbering scheme
There is either a mistake and it’s SEL70400G or support for the SAL70400G2?
maybe the only thing changed is the mount, not a new lens
exactly.
If it is this simple to take the same Alpha lens and just change the mount to the Nex cameras, then why didn’t Sony do this already with other lenses?
They will do it with some of them. They have to do this to push the new NEX cameras that will be out soon.
because up until a few days ago the E-mount was only on NEX cameras, which were supposed to be small.
now with the a3000 they will have a whole new line of fake-DSLR mirrorless cameras, which will be large enough to hold larger DSLR lenses.
If you only want to change the mount and not the optical design then the resulting lens will be longer by difference in the flange distance between the A and E mounts. This is about 30mm. For a large tele zoom this does not matter all that much in overall proportions od the lens. The Sony SAL70400G is about 400mm long when extended and with a hood, so extra 30mm will not be very noticeable. But it does matter a lot on a small lens like e.g. SAL30M28. It will make thelens nearly twice as long.
Then, I reckon they won’t put the OSS because it’s basically the same lens?
More than likely the AF drive electronics also changed to support fast CDAF. So optically it’s the same as the SAL70400G2, but it will focus a LOT faster than the A mount version on an LA-EA1/3.
… and new FF NEX or even successor of NEX-7 might get sensor based PDAF. If Olympus can do it with E-M1 , why not SONY?
I have sensor based phase detection on my nex-5r since september 2012.
And it’s already faster and more accurate to focus than my Nikon D5200.
(DPreview says the nikon kit zoom is very slow. But then, the Sony kit zoom from 2010 was never meant to use phase detection to begin with. And yet it’s faster …)
Is it really possible to use PDAF with the old version of the 18-55 kit lens? Does that work with the first generation Sigma 2,8/30mm as well?
Or perhaps they just added adaptor and sell it as a set.
This would make sense and lower production costs.
Can’t it be SAL70-400G2, but with E-mount for full-frame?
Or, it is a sign of the path towards e-mount only. No problem for all a-mount lens owners however, if the new sensor shift tech offers top of the notch AF for a-mount lenses on new e-mount cameras. The only angry guys will be the ones who want a lot of new lenses, but want to stay with their old camera bodies..
What is the SAL120F28? A macro lens?
Either these are typos should be SAL 100 2.8 and SAL70-400 G2, or we are in for a surprise. There is a large distance from the lens mount to the first element on the 70-400, so extending this would not be a problem.
120mm is a strange focal length, though it would be a good length for an internally focussing Macro lens.
No doubt all will be soon revealed.
Same question here. Is it a macro lens?
I do not think this is a macro lens, as Sony convention for macro lenses used M in the symbol e.g. SAL30M28.
I think this will be a relatively cheap portrait and short telephoto lens. This can be reasonably small and light. Note that Sony SAL85F28 weighs only 172g bare.
Well I guess 70-400 could make more sense now, that Sony has announced DSRL-shaped E-mount camera. This is interesting.
120mm f2.8 would be awesome, the 135mm f2.8 is a great lens and something that has been missing in Sony’s lineup – I hope it isn’t a Macro, otherwise it will be expensive and not really filling a gap in the lineup.
There’s the 135 STF
Which is awesome but almost as expensive as the Zeiss 135mm f/1.8
But with the best Bokeh ever on any lens 🙂
I have a feeling that these are typos that weren’t removed from the database.
The suggestion that the SEL would optically be identical to the SAL version, would mean that it’s actually larger as it would also require the extra length to compensate for the shorter flange distance. Now imagine that on a NEX. A wildlife and sports tele lens on cameras with little AF tracking capabilities.
120mm is an odd number for Sony too. Take away the “1”.
Also, assuming the same design plus extra flange distance, what’s the market if a SAL plus basic adapter achieve the exact same thing?
Seeing as you rated it SR5, did your sources comment on these?
the 70400 is a very popular cinema lens for people who use the FS series cameras, an adapted A-mount version puts a lot of stress on the mount, a Emount version would solve that issue
An E mount version of the 70-400 which is not redesigned optically is going to stick out just as long as the A mount version with an adapter. So just as much stress on the E mount.
but an adapter have 2 points of contact, I wouldn’t trust the durability of adapters
You’re absolutely right, Walter, but a transition seems to be in the works so that A-mount will become gradually phased into E-mount. And I think there is a psychological barrier for E-mount owners to buy A-mount lenses with adapters … E-mount lenses for E-mount cameras is what many users want.
Which is why they release new A-mount lenses? lol. That argumentation doesn’t hold a candle against facts.
An E mount version which is redesigned optically will stick out just as much. Telephoto’s longer than ~85mm gain zero benefit in design from the short register of E mount. The limiting factors in size for a 70-400 will remain physical aperture and how telephoto the design is (telephoto actually means that the lens nodal point at infinity focus is in front of the lens, so a 400mm lens doesn’t have to be 400mm long). At these focal lengths an E mount telephoto will always be slightly longer than the A mount version (by about 26.5mm) to account for the register differences.
The opposite occurs with lenses shorter than the register, since E mount can physically accomodate non-retrofocal designs in the 20-45mm range while A mount cannot (however for sensor compatibility reasons retrofocal designs are still preferred as they are inherently more telecentric and therefore have fewer issues with corner performance on digital sensors, film was a lot more forgiving in this regard as film had no incident angle restrictions unlike digital sensors)
What about the new version of SAL85F14Z ? Any rumors ?
Yes but Why buying a 2000€ lens that can be attached to E-mout only? better autofocus?
A-mount can be converted to other mirrorless mounts but once it is E-mount we are stuck to it.
Better AF without the 1/2 stop loss from an LA-EA2 is exactly the reason. Plus it’s a better choice for the NEX-VG line.
hmm if they have sensor shift they might now bring E Mount Versions of a few A mount legends to avoid using an adapter…
It does not matter if you call it an adapter or not, to mount an A mount lens on E mount will require the same extra space between the sensor and the lens.
And if you build the mechanics to shift the sensor instead that’s going to be more complex to do and more likely to go out of alignment than a pentaprism OVF of a DSLR, which folks keep claiming against the history of pentaprism OVFs to be very delicate. Pentaprism OVFs are actually quite durable and not near as expensive to make with modern automated machinery as folks claim.
http://www.sony.fr/support/fr/product/sel-70400g2
http://www.sony.fr/support/fr/product/sel-35f28z
For the french Sony site.
Does it mean an e-mount camera with ibis is coming out before the G lens? Assuming this lens doesn’t feature oss in A mount version
what does SAL and SEL mean? Are these both e-mount lenses?
SAL = Sony A-mount Lens, SEL = Sony E-mount Lens
70-400 on NEX-7 will be very bulky, nearly unusable!
Then use it on A3000
Do you really think that it will helps?
The a3000 is not the size or weight of a normal DSLR, it’s the size of the Sony HX300 Cybershot which it copies in design, and body build is probably no stronger than that camera who’s long zoom is much better balanced to that camera. The a3000 will not provide a good balance with the 70-400G either.
And then there is Sony’s A mount 500mm, Sigma and Tamron’s long zooms and all the rest of the large A mount lenses. The a3000 is a imitation DSLR, not the real thing.
For some time Sony’s heading toward small cameras has neglected that the photographers have to have a way to hold them that will prevent lots of motion blur when shooting. That is the real value of the DSLR shape, easy to hold steady. Cameras are actually used to take photographs, and in a lot more places than studios and city photography, which seems to be all that Sony thinks photography is about.
Once there was a time, when the tiny XD-7 was Minolta’s flagship SLR…
It might be for the common nex cameras, but for nex cinema cameras, it’s the native solution they have been looking for.
Actually it’s perfectly usable. You don’t want to handhold a lens like the 70-400 anyways and once it’s properly mounted on a monopod or a wimperly-type head on a tripod the NEX-7 handles beautifully with it.
+1. That constant whining about big lenses is getting ridiculous.
It would be like carrying the lens with a rear lens cap.
sorry to interrupt you guys. one question here: i really want to know is now a right time to buy a99? or should i be more patient to wait for……..well, is there a new model of ff a-mount coming in one year(9.2013-9.2014)?
I’d wait. I love my a99, but sounds like you’ll have some new choices within 6 months or so, that might be worth waiting for.
Unless you already have another FF to fill the job, I don’t think you should wait. If you don’t want to spend too much money, you can get the A900/A850 for close to $1000 and wait it out.
I was expecting another lens with constant F4 aperture, maybe less range (starting at 70 and ending somewhere in 210) to be paired with the SEL1670Z and hopefully ending with a smaller lens, but it seems it’s just a port from A-mount version. Do you know if it at least have OSS?
The lens you want is almost assuredly on the way. Just not before early next year. We may see some sort of mockup when the next set of announcements happen though.
I feel SEL70400G2 as a typo. as there is no SEL 70400G1.
..perhaps it will look exactly as A-mount version, hence the G2 version to differentiate the naming even more and avoid confusion…
Well, SEL70400 without OSS would be completely useless.
Sony can do more stupid things than we can imagine, so I think it could be true.
SAL120? Compact tele, something like Minolta 2,8/135? Could be interesting if price won’t be over 200 EURO.
And even with OSS it will be useful on NEX or on A3000?
I see they are showing up in the auto complete of all the sony Europe support sites where you put your model in. They all have the same message that they may not be available for your country.
I checked the website:http://www.sony.de/hub/objektive/produktreihe/teleobjektive
they only list SAL70400G1 in the list, so, i’m sure it’s a typo. 🙂
My guess is the 120mm f2.8 is a revival of the budget tele prime lens I.e. Minolta 135mm f2.8
It must work out cheaper to make 120mm rather than 135mm. Plus isn’t too long for aps-c 🙂
Yes, I think it’s another one in the “easy choice” lineup.
Yep, exactly. 120/2.8 is a 180mm-e on APS-C, so about a perfect mid tele for the Easy Choice lineup.
That said, we need some good Easy Choice wides even more. The 28/2.8 badly needs replacement (it was mediocre at best when introduced in 1985 and hasn’t got any better) and should be replaced by a Contax clone like the 85/2.8, and I’d like to see a DT 16-18 Easy choice lens as well. Also a 35/2.8 would be nice (can be a Contax clone as well)
More surprises? DOES it ever end !?
No. Actually I know surpises will be bigger than you can think now.
do you know if Sony will do something with de SAl 100 2.8 Macro that is very old, and not so good?
SAL-120f28 must be a cheap alternative to the CZ135mm f1.8 like the SAL-85f28 is plastic cheap and very good alternative to the CZ-85f14.
Already in the pre order basket 🙂 good one Sony
I think it is a typo…
@Andrea: Do you rate it SR5 because you got other info? Or just based on Sony.de text?
By the way… What is this story of sensor shift AF ???
Did Andrea annouced or posted somerhing I did not noticed ???
Based on Sony.de. And I also have been told that in general some A-mount lenses would become E-mount. P.S: Sony.de never made mistakes on these kind of leaks until now. Hope this isn’t the first time 🙂
Many thanks!
Then +1 Lens to Nex FF.
Just wondering how they Will manage the AF?
They have perhaps to add a stepper motor additionally as Canon did with the STM lenses…
@admin: Do you mean Sony will drop A-mount to the favour of E-mount?
no.
Sony should be a little more ambitious with respect to the speed of their lenses.
E.g. Sony lacks a 85/1.8 type lens. The 85/1.4 is too expensive, and the 85/2.8, while being an excellent lens, could be a little faster.
The 120/2.8 is another example of that.
F2.8 is the speed of a good zoom – primes should be faster, otherwise what’s the point?
I agree!
The point is great quality at a good price. You can’t get that with exotic designs. For example, with the 85/2.8 you basically get a Contax G 90/2.8 (it’s the exact same Ernostar design) but built with modern mass-production technologies and materials to keep the cost down. Few elements (all spherical ), no exotic glass types, classic optical design.
Of course, many people don’t appreciate this, but would rather have a more “braggable” lens (which the 85/2.8 certainly is not).
The 85/2.8 is actually cloned from the Contax/Yashica 85/2.8, not the G 90/2.8, although the latter is very similar as it was derived from the same source.
The 85/2.8 optically stomps all over Canon’s 85/1.8 and Nikon’s old 85/1.8 It’s merely a little better than the excellent 85/1.8G. And it’s half the price, size & weight and also has best-in-class close focus.
Frankly, it’s a heck of a lot more useful for a photographer than the 85/1.8’s from the big 2.
That extra 1.33 stops may get you some extra low-light capability and a little more DoF isolation, but I’ll take the better optics and close focusing capabilty every day of the week. I’ve shot with both alternatives and the 85/2.8 is simply a more flexible lens than the 85/1.8’s.
SEL-70400G2 ??? This will give me multiple orgasm !!!
This is actually absurd.
The SEL-70400 ?
Or the multiple orgasm ?
🙂 🙂 🙂
I can understand multiple orgasm from 70-400, but not as photographic equipment 😉
Makes sense, this is the rumored FF G zoom. Intended for the FF NEX that will have the 5-axis IBIS.
I am sure there will be an APS-C specific tele zoom as well, for example like the rumored 50-150mm constant aperture zoom.
VERY interesting times ahead!
I can’t leave out this rumor as well… it would be the Per-fect lens for discret portraits shots. But was rated SR3 only…
Andrea
Is the “surprising” camera a pure Nex style or bulkier ? Something more than the a3000 ?
And will we have a new roadmap presenting all the upcoming lenses for Nex 5 /6/7 ?
Thanks
400mm E-mount? omg O_O so that’s 600mm after the 1,5x crop, ok, that should be long enough for wildlife shoots 😉
Actually the 70-400 even on APS is a pretty limited reach for wildlife. I use mine a fair amount with a 1.4x TC to compensate for Sony not building it with longer focal length, say a 70-500? Sony wants to impress just refurbishing a existing design is not really all that impressive. Sony seems to be stagnating on their existing lens designs and changing them little if any. That is not exciting.
Walt – I don’t think you’re in any position to accuse others of stagnating. Your bitter whines have changed very little over the last couple of years – nothing you say is particulalry exciting.
If this is true and i`m very sceptical it`s fantastic news i was wondering what sony would offer as telezoom next to 16-70 and whos hoping for a 70-300 ish, but this is even better. I just cant afford one yet…
Size will be an issue though my nex 7 is gonna cry when it sees that lens coming.
If this si true its a sign sony is finally taking E-mount seriously
I hope the new 120 F2.8 will be a macro lens…. the current 100 2.8 is too “old”
I don’t know if these particular lenses are real or if it’s just a typo on their website, but the good news is that there’s more and more Sony lenses available. If Sony is actually going to phase out A-mount they should stop releasing new A-mount lenses though.
E70-400 seems very nice . But sony fs100 auto-focus is not going to manage to track the object .Adapter la-ea2 is the best for that . I love and I hate this adapter , anyway for tracking is very good and I do not think native e 70-400 will be so good in this aspect . I hope I am wrong . 18-105 f4 I am so exciting !!!
This is exciting but could the 70-400G2 SEL be just the 70-200G2 SAL? I know that would be a lot of typos at once but we haven’t been told of a release date yet and it seems to be a little overdue given the earlier release of the 70-400G2. By the way when is this 2nd version coming out. I need a second body but it maybe difficult to decide between the nex FF and the new alphas. Here I go again wishing away time so we can get to these new cameras. I just hope we are not disappointed in the focusing system.
Reading Andrea’s comments I’m almost convinced this one is real but my first reaction was that the mounts were switched. G2?! 70-400mm?! Whereas a 120mm f/2.8 sounds very useful on an NEX and fairly compact. It would make a nice long telephoto on APS-C at 180mm (35mm field of view) and if it were full-frame also, would make a great mid-telephoto portrait lens.
However, if the 70-400mm has a new NEX-optimized (CDAF & PDAF optimized) focus system then it just might be an interesting future option. Can’t say I would tempted to drop $2k+ on such a lens right now though…
They will have to tweak the optical formula some so I’m guessing/hoping it will be a little shorter than the SAL + adapter.
After all, I got second hand excellent old lenses for Minolta – Tamron SP AF 2,5/90 “New” and Sigma 2,8-3,5/75-200 so I never bothered myself with plastic 2,8/85 or any 2,8/135 lens from Sony.
The Sony 85/2.8 is better than the Tamron 90/2.5 in all respects except close-focus. I’ve owned both, sold the Tamron on fairly quickly after getting the Sony despite the Tamron’s better close-focusing.
I wonder if they are using the extra flange to sensor distance to incorporate a translucent mirror PDAF system directly into the SEL70400G2…
And 70200 G2 ????? When ???? Any news ????
Is the SAL-120 going to have SSM? Is that too much to hope for?
I hope they add in lens stabilization to the SEL70-400
70-400 G2 is a great lens but what I would really want for my NEX is a compact reflex lens, somewhere between 300 and 500mm. As the flange distance is so short a reflex lens dedicated for E-mount would be even more efficient / short. Hope Sony reads this and makes a neat reflex with AF and OSS. Since the 500mm reflex A-mount quietly left the Sony ship it´s time for something neat and amazingly compact.
So SEL 70-200 will be a FF lens for new FF NEX that will have IBiS an perhaps even that cool sensor AF with Z axis.
Makes me wonder if the lens will be simpler than its A mount version and be produced without AF motor too make it smaller…
People seems to be forgetting that there are NEX pro-grade video cameras that could benefit high quality E-mount telephoto zoom.
It would be nice if every one who might be considering to make any purchases for their new full frame, mirrorless, lenses, camera equipment to do so through Andrea’s direct links. It does not cost you any thing more in price and he gets some credit. He has worked hard to bring all this information in a dynamic era of change at Sony.
Andrea, as soon as all the dust settles on the new mirrorless NEX, Alpha, lenses, etc., and I decide on my purchases, I will go through your links. BTW, you might want to set yourself up with some link for Amazon Japan as well. I sometimes purchase through that outlet if Japan releases a product first before U.S. gets it, or we have better pricing, or simply something available here and not available in the U.S. outlets.
Any update on the rumored 120mm f2.8?