Sony announces five full-frame E-mount ‘FE’ lenses, updates 70-200mm

Sony has announced no fewer than five ‘FE’ full frame E-mount lenses to accompany the A7 and A7R. First up is the FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS, an image-stabilised ‘kit’ zoom for the A7. There are three premium lenses with Zeiss badges: the FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*, the FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*, and the FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T*. The fifth lens is a ‘G’ class telezoom, the FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS.

Sony has also updated its Alpha-mount fast telezoom to make the 70-200mm F2.8G SSM II. This lens gains faster autofocus and updated ‘Nano AR’ coatings, and is now specified as dust and moisture resistant.

The 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS is the basic ‘kit’ zoom for the A7, and won’t be sold separately. The 35mm F2.8 will cost $799, and be available in December 2013, while the 55mm F1.8 will cost $999 and be in stores January 2014. The premium 24-70mm F4 OSS Carl Zeiss standard zoom will cost $1199 and go in sale in February 2014; pricing and availability of the 70-200mm F4 OSS telezoom are still to be confirmed.

All told, Sony plans to offer a total of 15 FE lenses by 2015, including a macro and a wide-angle zoom.

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Press Release:

Sony® Introduces First Full-Frame E-Mount Lenses

Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T*

Five Premium Full-Frame E-mount Lenses from Sony, Carl Zeiss® and G Lens; Mount Adapters for new A7 and A7R Cameras and new A-mount Zoom Lens

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 15, 2013 – Sony is announcing five new full-frame E-mount lenses and a set of innovative new mount adapters designed to complement Sony’s new A7R and A7 full-frame mirrorless cameras. The ever-growing family of E-mount interchangeable lenses now totals 22 different models from Sony, Carl Zeiss and G lenses, giving shooters an impressive selection of creative tools to enhance their photographic world.

The new lens line-up features three advanced models from Carl Zeiss including two prime lenses – – a Sonnar T* 55mm F1.8 ZA and Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 ZA model – as well as a Vario Tessar T* 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS mid-range zoom. Additionally, there is a Sony 28-70mm F3.5-F5.6 OSS zoom lens and two premium zoom lenses from G Lens – a 70-200mm F4 telephoto zoom for E-mount and a 70-200 F4 telephoto zoom for A-mount.

In addition to the A7 and A7R full-frame cameras, the new lenses fit any of the existing E-mount cameras including Sony’s acclaimed NEX-6 and NEX-7 models. 
The new LA-EA4 mount adapter adds compatibility for Sony’s existing line of A-mount lenses as well as the focusing speed and power of Sony’s innovative Translucent Mirror Technology to the new A7 and A7R cameras.

Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Zoom Lens (model SEL2470Z)
The new Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* 24-70mm F4 lens combines a versatile 24-70mm focal length with a useful F4 maximum aperture at all focal lengths, making it an ideal lens for portraits, landscapes and every day shooting.  The new lens also features Optical SteadyShot® for keeping shots crisp and clear at all focal lengths, even at slower shutter speeds.

The SEL2470Z is designed with five aspherical elements with one ED glass element, assuring images are highly detailed and accurate.  Unique to Carl Zeiss, it also features T* coating on optical surface which cuts glare and internal reflections to boost contrast. 

Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 Lens (model SEL35F28Z)
The new Zeiss Sonnar T* F2.8 lens is a wide-angle prime lens that features a popular 35mm focal length and bright maximum F2.8 aperture.  Weighing in at only 120g, its unique combination of outstanding optics and small size makes it perfect for street photography, landscapes, interiors, low-light shooting and more. 

The lens is also dust- and moisture-resistant and has Carl Zeiss T* coating for reducing glare and higher contrast and detail in images.

Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 55mm F1.8 Lens (model SEL55F18Z)
The new Zeiss Sonnar T* F1.8 lens is another high-quality Carl Zeiss prime lens that has an extra-bright F1.8 maximum aperture for pro-style background defocus effects, making it an outstanding choice for portraiture, low-light shooting and everyday photographic assignments lens. It also has a nine-bladed circular aperture, is dust and moisture resistant and Carl Zeiss T* coating.

Sony 28-70mm F3.5 – 5.6 OSS Zoom Lens (model SEL2870)
The Sony SEL2870 mid-range zoom lens provides an outstanding introduction to full-frame imaging in a light, compact package.  It will be paired as the kit lens for the new full-frame A7 camera.

The versatile lens features Optical SteadyShot and an advanced optical design with three aspherical elements and one ED glass element, which minimizes aberration and also minimizes size and weight for easier portability.  It is also dust- and moisture-resistant, making it an idea travel companion for Sony’s new full-frame E-mount cameras.      

G Lens 70-200mm F4 OSS Telephoto Zoom Lens (model SEL70200G)
The new premium 70-200mm G Lens covers a generous zoom range of 70-200mm and is an ideal choice for travel photography and long-range shooting. 

The innovative optical design of the new zoom reflects its G Lens pedigree.  Two ED glass elements are combined with three aspherical elements for high resolution and contrast throughout the entire zoom range, minimizing distortion and color aberration.   

Like the new Carl Zeiss prime lenses, the 70-200mm Gmodel has a circular aperture that enables smooth, professional quality background defocus, and maintains a constant F4 maximum aperture for plenty of brightness at all zoom settings.  It also features Optical SteadyShot to cut the effects of camera shake while shooting.

G Lens 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II Telephoto Zoom Lens (model SAL70200GM2)
The newest addition to Sony’s A-mount family, this evolved ‘Mark 2’ version of the coveted 70-200mm F2.8 G Lens is an ideal choice for portraiture, sports and wildlife and more.

This premier-quality telephoto zoom offers an extremely bright F2.8 maximum aperture for excellent light-gathering at all focal lengths. Now approx. 4x faster than the preceding model, super-quiet autofocus now offers improved AF tracking of moving subjects compared with its predecessor. Optical performance is further enhanced with addition of Sony’s proprietary Nano AR Coating that suppresses internal reflections for outstanding clarity contrast, from bright highlights to deepest blacks.

LA-EA4 and LA-EA3 Full-Frame Compatible A-Mount Lens Adapters
The new LA-EA4 is an adapter for E-mount cameras that is compatible with Sony’s entire range of A-mount lenses – spanning APS-C as well as full-frame models. 
The unique adapter is equipped with Translucent Mirror Technology, adding extremely fast, accurate phase detection autofocus to any compatible A-mount lens (SAM or SSM) attached to an E-mount camera.  This allows for fast moving subjects in focus at all times. 

Also available, the LA-EA3 mount adapter lets photographers and videographers enjoy all benefits of full-frame shooting with their A-mount lens collection, however does not support autofocus. 
Pricing and Availability

• The new Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* 24-70mm F4 zoom lens will be available in January for about $1200. 
• The new Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 35mm F2.8 prime lens will be available in December for about $800.
• The new Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 55mm F1.8 prime lens will be available in January for about $1000.
• The new Sony 28-70mm F3.5 – 5.6 OSS zoom lens will will be offered as the kit lens paired with the new Sony A7 Full-Frame E-mount camera for about $2000.
• Pricing and availability for the new G Lens 70-200mm F4 OSS Telephoto zoom is still TBD. 
• The new G Lens 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II Telephoto Zoom Lens for A-mount cameras will be available in January for about $3000.
• The versatile LA-EA4 and LA-EA3 mount adapters will be available in December for about $350 and $200 respectively.

The new lenses will all be available at Sony retail stores (www.store.sony.com) and other authorized dealers nationwide.
Please visit www.blog.sony.com for a full video preview of the new E-mount lenses and follow #SonyAlpha on twitter for the latest α camera news.

Specifications

Additional images

Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS	Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*	Sony  FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*
Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM II	Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM II

Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II

Sony FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar T*

Sony FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS

Sony FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*

Sony FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Carl Zeiss Sonnar T*

Sony FE 70-200 F4 G OSS

Comments

LA-EA3 does not support autofocus AT ALL, even with the A7 which supposedly has OSPDAF! $200 for what?
Only expensive and light-robbing LA-EA4…
Sony really, REALLY wants to sell you those overpriced FE lenses.

I was really looking forward to this system.
The A7/A7r bodies seem great but these lenses are a tad disappointing…
Is it another company trying to protect their big bad DSLR systems?

“All told, Sony plans to offer a total of 15 FE lenses by 2015”

Good plans, but it means that APS-C NEX and A-mount are going to be abandoned. Good thing about APS-C A-mount because it does not make much sense, but NEX customers who trusted Sony their money over the last 3 years but waited for higher-quality lenses will be disappointed.

That’s right, 2+2 definitely equals 5.

denial… it’s ok, grieve a little.

Why offer a ‘kit’ lens for the A7? Why not a HQ power zoom or prime?
Surely somebody buying a FF camera won’t be compromising on the glass just to save a few $$…

No thanks to power zoom if the 16-50mm PZ is anything to go by. For still photography, the power zoom is a pain in the a**e.

Of those lenses, the only one that interests me and that I would buy is the 55mm f/1.8. Everything else is too slow.

The $800 35/2.8 could have been at least stabilized… Not to mention that the 55/1.8 could have been stabilized, too, as the rumored Canon.

This has the potential too be a very good system if Sony stabilizes the sensor.

Why don’t they make the FE 70-200 f4G OSS in an A Mount, they would sell more of that lens in A than with an E mount I expect

Because the future is FE mount, not A mount. Sony planned this all along and now it is execution time.

i think there is a mistake here
the Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM II is an A mount not an E mount
but the f4 is an E mount

The Zeiss 4 / 24-70 mm and Sony 4 / 70-200 mm are nice and fit the A7 quite well. But 2.8 / 35 mm is not enougt, it should have been 2 / 35 mm. And I miss a 2.8/20mm, 2/90mm and WW-zoom.

They probably do this to protect RX1(r) sales. with an FE 35 f2 lens there aren’t many reasons to buy an RX1 anymore except for the maybe little smaller size. Keep in mind this is a new system so don’t expect all lenses being released at day 0.

As Seeky has written, it is to protect the RX1. In time, they will introduce the proper lenses for this FLs. In 1-1.5 year’s time, we should see these lenses.

$800 seems steep for a 2.8/35 lens. The Contax Zeiss lens of similar spec from the Kyocera days was much cheaper but optically superb. If this new lens is as good I will buy into the system.

Oh for some compact rangefinder-style MF lenses

Sigh…Sony makes you fall for the competitively priced bodies and takes it back with lenses.
With the price of the 35mm, I don’t see prices of the RX1/r dropping soon.

As to the image posted in your hands-on review of the cameras, the FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS has a filter thread of 55mm, not 67mm as indicated above.
Ciao!

Sooo… E-mount end up with a 70-200 f/4 first than A-mount… No successor for the old Minolta beercan in more than 30 years huh?

Well, you can see this as the successor, but it has a different mount ;). I’m afraid they still see the AXX range as “professional” with pro f2.8 zooms, but for this AX line a 70-200 f2.8 is simply too much.

Wow, 1k for 55/1.8! And now I hear that Nikon is coming up with 58/1.4 for over 2k…..

Gee, those lenses are EXPENSIVE!

That new Pentax K-3 looks like a much better deal.

^^ Its a better deal if you are fine using a body thats twice the size, twice the weight and lesser IQ.

Gee, that Ford looks like a much better deal than that Mercedes.