Debunking myths. Sony-Canon lens debate on Sonyalpha.es
David Bejarano from Sonyalpha.es compared the present Sony and Canon lenses. He wrote me the following text:
“Tired of hearing the endlessly and tiresome song “The A-mount has a very limited number of lenses; I would wish to post this comparison, so everybody could speak knowingly.
Debunking myths… if only a little
It is a truth repeated and accepted by everybody that Sony lacks the breadth of catalogue of Canon or Nikon. And that is often used when evaluating the Sony products: “Yes, it could be a good camera, but when you need to make grow your gear
Not long ago, on a thread on the Sonyalpha.es forum, a user said: “And after the A580… what?”, questioning the growth capabilities of his Sony gear
Some months ago, taking pictures with some Canon and Nikon users, where only a girl with an A300 and myself with the A900, were Sony users, were holding the jokes and ironies of one of them. I didn’t want to argue; so I just asked him for a memory card, took some pictures, and while I handed it to him, I told him “Just look at these at home, and then we can talk about Why I’m shooting with Sony”… Now this Canikon user has a problem, because his gear doesn’t give him pictures with so much dynamic range, sharpness, detail and colours. Now he doubts a lot but… “There are so few Sony lenses”!
It would be naive not accept that today Canon’s lenses list is much larger than the Sony’s one but… How far? So I decided to compare their catalogues, and now I’m presenting the result.
The only aspect I try to answer is if Sony’s lenses list is as short as it’s said. It should be necessary to analyse some other aspects which would take the study a little bit further. There are a lot of reviews
There are already many reviews that assess lens performances. I’m not talking about qualities, although I must say that G lenses can talk face to face with Canon’s L and L-II, if not overcome them, and all CZ lenses outperform their respective Canon counterparts, according to the different reviews I’ve been reading.
Talking about the sealed Canon lenses, I remember an article of an A900 and a 24-70/2.8 Carl Zeiss lens, shooting on the Paris-Dakar rally, completely full of desert sand and dust, while continued working perfectly; or the Luminous Escape experience praising the A900 reliability that outperformed some failing Canon bodies
You can find here a Canon vs Sony’s catalogue comparative, you can use it to take your own conclussions …
Firstable, is important to realize you can find a lot of similar lenses on Canon’s family; some of this “duplicate” models have been developed to achieve quality improvements (for the L and L-II series) and some others because they are stabilized lenses (LS). But, in the Sony family ALL lenses can work as stabilized lenses because all Alpha bodies (except the NEX bodies) have in body stabilization, and you don’t need to duplicate versions.
Second, there are some Canon lenses with no AF motor, but its use is limited only to Canon bodies with integrated AF motor. In the Sony system the camera bodies include an AF , which has shown their advantages; newer in-body engines now are outperforming in terms of speed and precission some SSM engine“
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Jesse
2 years ago |Feels good someone is clarifying some common misconception on alpha lenses and canon lenses. Thumbs up for David Bejarano~!!!
Myst
2 years ago |if the current lenses meet your needs then why bother? Sony isn’t for everyone, for most people it’s the onyl viable solution cause of some exotic and unique lenses, others prefer canon’s range.
But Canon and nikon have more new lenses for sale than sony, that is just a fact, hopefully sony will continue to develop lenses, and at the current rate it will surpass canon in about 5 years.
00aeiou00
2 years ago |I’d say they are about even, canon has more options but sony has IS. I wish sony could put out at 50mm f1.0 or a 24mm f1.4 like canon. come on santa!!!
Tom L.
2 years ago |If you take into consideration all of the used hi grade Minolta lens out there with many in like new shape, why would you buy the Sony lenses? I have over 25 lenses in my collection and only 2 of them are Sony.
john
2 years ago |Agreed
I have 12 lenses, 1 Sigma 1 Sony 10 Minolta.
My future purchases will probably also be Minolta.
It is said that minolta produced 18 million lenses in the A mount.
Including 3rd party lenses there are about 300 that fit the A mount now.
panfruit
2 years ago |Minolta lenses really don’t count: you can’t purchase them new w/ warranty. Comparing old lenses that *cannot* be purchased except for used copies, does not count when comparing Sony’s lens catalog with anyone elses.
This. is. silly!
john
2 years ago |why would i want a warranty on a lens that is 25 years old and in mint shape?
Some of those lenses will out live many modern lenses with warranty.
OOOh and at 1/3 the price
tfd
2 years ago |Really great that you took the time to lay out this analysis. The chart is illuminating, and the point you made about “duplicate” lens sizes for Canikon (to allow for IS, AF, etc.) is usually lost in the standard lens-count analysis. Not to say Sony doesn’t still have some work to do to get to the same scope of lens offerings, but they have all the major bases well-covered now, and are clearly on a mission to fill any remaing gaps. Only a Canikon marketing person should see lens selection as a reason to go their way.
Francisco
2 years ago |Yeah, and also most photographers don’t need that much lenses to start with. Sony’s offering covers all the major needs you would have.
Chris
2 years ago |those are just the names of the lenses.. and says nothing about their quality.
if you need a good 35mm on fullframe (my favorite setup) you are pretty srewed with sony. their 35mm f1.4 has a pretty bad optical quality. but that is pretty much so only lens i would miss in the sony lineup..
but anyways lenses are not really the problem for sony, the problem is that they have nothing that can compete with an already almost obsolete nikon d300 (autofocus for sport for example).. but obviously that´s not where the most money is in the market so sony “pro´s” will have to live with compromises for a while.
Ezio
2 years ago |its called A55
also, pros use whatever camera suites their needs, not just flag ships. To pros, a camera is just a tool to get the job done. To amateurs a camera is a trophy.
Chris
2 years ago |yes i know.. i am no camera trophy hunter : )
owned sony nikon and canon cameras… i am still very pleased from the results i got from my alpha 100, with whom i made quite a lot of money when i started shooting stock.
thats the whole point.. everybody has his “special interest” areas.. many of those can be filled with pretty much every camera and than there are those special interests which some brands actually cant deliever..
many people here say how awesome it is to have IS on every lens.. i never ever use IS because i either shoot a moving subjects, which makes IS useless or i shoot a still life scene (stock for example) with flash so IS is useless again.
I somehow wonder if all those IS fans shoot in dark caves all the time.
Don
2 years ago |If you don’t mind legacy lenses, I’ve seen Minolta’s 35mm f2 and its results are nothing short of fantastic, even wide open. It’s also no longer made, but if you get your hands on that, then that should assuage your 35mm problems easy.
panfruit
2 years ago |The Minolta 35mm f/2 is no longerin production; the Canon 35mm f/1.4 is. No contest is even *possible*.
Jan
2 years ago |I want to switch to Sony, but lenses I use Sony simply not produce (14 mm, 28mm F1,8, 100mm F2,0, considering TS lens and new Canon circular-to-normal fisheye zoom). I miss the stabilised CMOS, but right now 5D mkII has better ISO and Sony cannot offer me lens I would use …but i have to admit Sony 135mm f1,8 is VERY tempting… but the price is too high for a portret lens.
XtraC
2 years ago |Sorry but the last sentence proofs that he has no real idea of canon and probably never really worked with those lenses…
EVERY Canon lens has an AF-motor, since there is no motor drive in no Canon camera. This is Nikon he’s talking about.
And considering the built in Stabilizer – this is probably the reason why he only went up to 85mm, because in-lens-stabilization is so great with longer telephoto-lenses.
I have nothing against Sony and i would never say that Canon is the best. But its definitely wrong to say Sony is…
mike
2 years ago |How’s the weather sealing in Sony’s top of the line lenses?
Oh ya, there is none.
Does that in body image stabilization give you real time assurance that it’s working?
no, no it doesn’t, but in lens stabilization sure does, as well as making it easier to focus on a subject since it’s not a complete blur through the view finder.
I was very happy the day I bought my a700 but was happier the day I sold it and went to Canon.
Q
2 years ago |Then don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out mike
Ezio
2 years ago |and say good bye to auto-focusing Carl Zeiss primes and zooms
Arthur
2 years ago |It’s the pictures that matter, not the viewfinder or assurance that something is working. Buying a Sony is a great investment since lenses are cheaper without IS, and the extra cash could be spent on a CZ AF glass, which is exclusive to Sony.
Don
2 years ago |I wonder if this means my Pentax DA* weather-sealed lenses are better than most of what Canon has to offer then. :p
DD
2 years ago |In my experience, the weather sealing is just fine. I’ve shot in all kinds of rain, ice, snow, salt and dust situations and never had any problems.
Ezio
2 years ago |Would love to see this comparison extended to include Nikon’s lineup
Doug
2 years ago |I always hear this argument of “In Lens” stabilization stops motion so I don’t get “Queasy” or “In Focus” etc. I have to shake my head when I hear these arguments. My god what did they do in the old days of film? Was it a bunch of queasy feeling out of focus photographers?
I like the fact I can see how stable I actually am while shooting even when stabilization is on. If the subjects moving I’m relying on AF. If its macro I’m steady anyways due to tripod and can focus just as well.
I have never felt queasy looking through my lens, glasses, binoculars in my life (That goes out to you Fred on TWIP)
mike
2 years ago |What good is CZ glass when it gets ruined from an unexpected down pour?
Buying a Sony is a horrible investment, they won’t be around in the DSLR market much longer and don’t offer any level of professional support and are not supported by a lot of third party companies.
If anyone is reading this and trying to decide between Sony and Canon or Nikon, don’t go Sony, you will regret it. Anyone who shoots Sony now and plans to “get serious” with their photography should switch before “investing” anymore into Sony.
And it is about what you see through the view finder, because what you see is what you get with image stabilization, if you see it’s stabilized it is stabilized, the alternative is looking at a small graph in the view finder vs. looking at your subject.
Focusing on a subject that has already been stabilized vs. focusing on a subject that is bouncing in the the view finder is going to be more accurate thus giving you a more accurately focused sharper image, period.
This is a pointless discussion, Canon has better lens selection period and Sony has ZERO, that’s 0, Professional lenses, so image quality being equal, Sony losses.
AVESTA
2 years ago |“What good is CZ glass when it gets ruined from an unexpected down pour?”
um… a canon weather seal won’t protect you from a downpour either. Weather seal doesn’t mean you can submerge the lens underwater.
“Buying a Sony is a horrible investment, they won’t be around in the DSLR market much longer”
yeah, and that’s why their camera sales are killing canon…
“not supported by a lot of third party companies.”
The nex probably has more third party adapters than any other camera made.
“Focusing on a subject that has already been stabilized vs. focusing on a subject that is bouncing in the the view finder is going to be more accurate thus giving you a more accurately focused sharper image, period.”
IS is IS… don’t know what you’re going on about.
“This is a pointless discussion”
You’re right, because Sony clearly has proven to be better in many ways. The fact that you’re insulting a company like Zeiss shows your ignorance. In big budget movies like LOTR, where they could have used any type of lens why do you think they picked Zeiss. At NASA they can pick pretty much any level of technology at their disposal, yet they use Zeiss.
You can say all the shit you want about the bodies, but at the end of the day Sony has better lenses simply because of Zeiss. The body simply has to take a picture, and they both do that. So, with both bodies being equal Sony wins the race, sorry buddy.
panfruit
2 years ago |“What good is CZ glass when it gets ruined from an unexpected down pour?”
um… a canon weather seal won’t protect you from a downpour either. Weather seal doesn’t mean you can submerge the lens underwater.
You’re either missing the point or just being contrary.
““Buying a Sony is a horrible investment, they won’t be around in the DSLR market much longer”
yeah, and that’s why their camera sales are killing canon…”
^– They still are leaving the DSLR market, and have shown no sign of producting a mid-to-high-end camera for advanced amateurs/enthusiasts or professionalks.
“not supported by a lot of third party companies.”
The nex probably has more third party adapters than any other camera made.”
^– This is *not* the same thing at all — supporting old manual focus lenses is different than having current support from many more camera stuff makers.
““Focusing on a subject that has already been stabilized vs. focusing on a subject that is bouncing in the the view finder is going to be more accurate thus giving you a more accurately focused sharper image, period.”
IS is IS… don’t know what you’re going on about.”
You’ve never used lens-based IS then? read up on it at least — it does have advantages that sensor-based does not have (and vice versa).
“This is a pointless discussion”
You’re right, because Sony clearly has proven to be better in many ways. The fact that you’re insulting a company like Zeiss shows your ignorance. In big budget movies like LOTR, where they could have used any type of lens why do you think they picked Zeiss. At NASA they can pick pretty much any level of technology at their disposal, yet they use Zeiss.
You can say all the shit you want about the bodies, but at the end of the day Sony has better lenses simply because of Zeiss. The body simply has to take a picture, and they both do that. So, with both bodies being equal Sony wins the race, sorry buddy.”
Sony does have a lot of good stuff going for it, but definitely does lag behind in many significant ways. I, for one, hope they catch up and mend their EVIL ways.
So far, whether this is going to happen is entirely unknown. 
AVESTA
2 years ago |“You’re either missing the point or just being contrary.”
Not sure how i’m doing either. A weather seal is for drizzles, not downpours
“have shown no sign of producting a mid-to-high-end camera for advanced amateurs/enthusiasts or professionalks.”
and what exactly is so unprofessional about the a850/a900. I know plenty of pros, who use the a900
“You’ve never used lens-based IS then? read up on it at least — it does have advantages that sensor-based does not have (and vice versa).”
Sure I have, I used to shoot Canon. but the key words you use were vice versa, and in the end I just find that the sensor based works out better for most situations that I shoot now.
“I, for one, hope they catch up”
I have a feeling their next full frame will be pretty awesome. I mean, i wouldn’t think theyve given up on full frame considering they just released a firmware update for the 2 that they have.
panfruit
2 years ago |Yah, the a900 firmware update strikes me as them back-adding cool stuff they’ve tweaked while producing its successor (yay).
EumRarne
2 years ago |Better selection in your opinion, Mike. The only fact that is beyond discussion is that they have a broader range available at the moment.
And professional lenses, Mike? Define your view on professional if you will. In my book that is a lens that offers class leading performance and has less to do with sealing.
Oh, and Mike, “Sony losses” won’t help if you want to be taken seriously…
erwinkfoto
2 years ago |Oh, for someone who hates Sony that much, you really care looking here what Sony has to offer.
Or is it just the fact, that you are afraid you made the wrong decision?
Are just kids posting here???
Oh, we want to keep the discussion based on facts and not personal opinions and fairy (marketing????) tales.
Do you work for Canon´s Marketing? I wonder if not, they are missing their greatest fan!
Sorry for my personal statement. I didn´t want to hurt your feelings.
Could we get back on topic guys?
I understand, it is easier for the Photographer & Camera AF-System to focus with IS on the Lens. You are right there.
But I don´t understand why you have to talk like that?
Just because “internet is anonymus”?
Think over you manners, then we talk.
See ya.
ps: (real question): Are you satisfacted with your NEX?
(you know, it isn´t a pro-camera ;-D )
mike
2 years ago |Nope, the NEX could use some improvements.
Good for Sony for trying, it’s a great camera but the native e-mount lens selection as you know sucks and the quality of the e-mount lenses is sub par at best.
i do not come here for anything other than to waste some time, this site is in my rss reader and that is the only reason i see the garbage stories from here.
erwinkfoto
2 years ago |1) NEX: Because it´s a “basic level” P&S camera with APS-C Sensor, that´s all.
It will change, when the NEX7 comes
(As I said, not a “Pro-Camera”
2) SAR, RSS: Well, then delete it if you don´t care and it is just an impulse to follow the links
Best regards.
panfruit
2 years ago |I’ve definitely got a brain-on going for the NEX-7. Come on dual-dials, big money no whammies!
Chris
2 years ago |many people like me are probably only here for nex news.
i dont care about sony dslr´s anymore, they dont suit my needs but i understand that my interests are not mainstream and sony doesnt care about our group.
that group is professinal photographers who earn a living
Arthur
2 years ago |I shoot film, and if I do it right I get good pictures regardless of what I see in the VF. As to Sony support and service, they are getting there, but they are new to camera market(serious camera market). Also I have not seen Sony quit on their product line before.
john
2 years ago |http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/antarctica-2009-worked.shtml
Looks like Sony survived..Canon? welllll not so much
How about dust?
http://www.swiatobrazu.pl/sony_dslr_a900_na_rajdzie_dakar.html,1
john
2 years ago |http://www.swiatobrazu.pl/zdjecie/artykuly/82755/sony-dslr-a900-na-rajdzie-dakar.jpg
http://www.swiatobrazu.pl/zdjecie/artykuly/82753/sony-dslr-a900-na-rajdzie-dakar.jpg
mike
2 years ago |Wow, you read what you want don’t you.
I never said anything about submerging anything, what are you smoking?
I never said CZ wasn’t any good, so chill the f$@k out, breath dude.
I have a NEX, and it’s a great camera, I don’t recall saying anything about NEX, I was commenting on DSLR’s, mainly the lenses, you know, the thing this topic is about, not the NEX, so again, shut the f$@k up about crap I am not talking about you moron.
I can completely understand how YOU do not understand how it is easier to focus, either manually or using AF using a IS lens vs. an IS body. I would try to explain it to you but it would obviously be a waste of time, you’ll just figure it out in 6 months when you’re shooting a Canon or a Nikon.
AVESTA
2 years ago |Well, you might first learn how to press the reply button before calling someone a moron…
“I never said anything about submerging anything”
A real downpour will be too overwhelming for any canon seal, so it’s practically irrelevant. Weather seals are just a gimmick. I shoot outside all the time with my Zeiss even in the rain, and never had a problem with it.
“mainly the lenses, you know, the thing this topic is about”
Yeah, Zeiss made some sony lenses, and if you make comments like, “Canon has better lens selection period and Sony has ZERO”, That means you’re talking shit about Zeiss.
“I can completely understand how YOU do not understand how it is easier to focus”
Well, maybe my hands are just steadier and I can afford to use a camera that has in-body stabilization. Optical Stabilization has a limit as well, but you’ll never know because there’s no gauge. Whereas on a Sony you can at least tell when you should be holding the camera steadier because the little meter tells you.
john
2 years ago |“I can completely understand how YOU do not understand how it is easier to focus, either manually or using AF using a IS lens vs. an IS body.”
How is it easier when using 16,20,24,28.35.50.85 and 100mm OS prime lenses?
It isn’t because the don’t make them
mike
2 years ago |100mm macro 2.8L has hybrid IS
Shows what you know.
john
2 years ago |I think the point is with Sony ALL lenses are stabilized.
mike
2 years ago |You know I get it guys, I see your point, I’ve been there.
I tried to justify why I was shooting Sony for years, I defended Sony for years, I told myself the same B.S. you tell yourselves so I would feel better about shooting Sony.
See you guys on the other side soon enough.
AVESTA
2 years ago |Camera Hell?
Sorry, only canon users and bad photographers go there. Won’t be seeing you at all.
mike
2 years ago |So what will you shoot when Sony stops producing DSLR’s?
Will you go back to point & shoots?
Speaking of, I do still own some of that great CZ glass you speak so highly of, one on my Sony TX5 and my wife has a $100 Sony P&S that says Zeiss as well, so are those pro cameras?
Oh and my complete mistake above when I said Sony doesn’t have any weather sealed lenses, they do in fact have one, it’s on my TX5, the only Sony weather sealed lens is on their only weather proof p&s camera.
You guys think I don’t know what I am talking about, I do, i’ve seen the light guys and it’s not coming from Sony.
avesta, you are a total tard, and that is not my opinion, that is a fact.
AVESTA
2 years ago |That’s great, but from what I can read here your facts are worthless.
Even Nikon supports Sony in many ways. Canon is like the child no one wants to play with. He gets picked last for every sport… probably just like you. You get along so well with Canon
john
2 years ago |“So what will you shoot when Sony stops producing DSLR’s?
Will you go back to point & shoots?”
LMAO
If Sony stop making DSLR’s I will probably shoot with their or DSLT’s which would probably be in their 3RD generation by then.
Once global shutter and PDAF off sensor are available eliminating the need for mechanical mirror and shutter I will shoot with Sony’s A mount mirrorless cameras.
In the end traditional DSLR’s are on the way out and SONY are leading the pack.
Only rumors From Cannon/Nikon on any mirrorless offering.
“You guys think I don’t know what I am talking about,
I do, i’ve seen the light guys and it’s not coming from Sony.”
Keep following the light….you might see your dead Grandma..:-)
mike
2 years ago |My grandma’s dead? WTF?!!!
When did this happen?
Did she die peacefully like Sony alpha line will?
John Sison
2 years ago |“Keep following the light….you might see your dead Grandma..:-)”
LMAO! I had no intention of entering this little discussion but that comment was hilarious. I’ll continue reading now =)
erwinkfoto
2 years ago |First of it´s class.
That´s all.
We don´t mind if you tell us some facts.
Facts != B.S. (computer scientist know what I mean).
Ren
2 years ago |All I can say is, I am a working professional who shoots with an A700. Granted, the majority of my work is in my studio, so the advantages offered by lens based IS is not relevant to me.
I did get hired to shoot a race event, and was definitely the only guy out there with a $1200 camera and a $150 lens (Minolta 70-210 F4 Beercan). The results? I shot a few thousand shots, enjoyed my 5fps, and had ZERO issues with focusing, even with a 20 year old lens. The pictures came out sharp, and I never missed a moment of action due to the lens, or the relatively slow burst rate offered by my camera vs a Nikon D3 or a Canon 1D MKIV costing thousands more.
I went with Sony because I was shooting Minolta, and Sony just made sense when it was time to go Digital.
By the way, as a side note, I also use White Lighting mono lights in my studio instead of the much more expensive brands like Profoto. And the results I get with my “sub-par” camera, lenses and lights? Good enough to stay busy with paying clients and get published in two calendars this year.
Granted, if I was primarily a sports photographer, I wouldn’t likely stick with Sony. However, considering the results I got with my trusty A700 shooting cars whizzing by at 150 mph, I am MORE than satisfied with it, and I am confident that I have the right tool for the job in almost any shooting environment..and I didn’t have to spend $4500 or more.
I have photographer friends who shoot Canon and Nikon, and I have shot both, and still wouldn’t trade my Sony. It’s not that Sony is so much better…it’s just that Sony is just as good, and I couldn’t justify the thousands of dollars it would take to change systems. Especially since I absolutely LOVE the way my A700 feels in my hands. It was such a natural transition from my Minolta Maxxum 7, as they feel nearly identical. I really don’t care for the ergonomics of the 5d MKII, and the Nikon feels even more awkward…but that’s a subjective opinion.
Shoot in RAW and your Sony will more than stand up to the Canons and Nikons in almost every way, even with old Minolta glass that can be had on the cheap. And, if you’re a professional you shouldn’t be shooting JPEG anyway.
If you are a photographer that needs some specialty lens that Sony doesn’t offer, then Sony may not be the brand for you. But, I contend that those photographers are not typical. Sony not offering a few specialty lenses doesn’t make their entire line worthless.
Most photographers can find lenses within the Sony/Minolta line to cover their needs, and if you want the very best in optical quality, the Zeiss lenses in the Sony line are hard to argue with.
hanugro
2 years ago |I see Canon has 14mm f2.8. That is the prime that I want Sony to make either in CZ or G with SSM with f/2 if possible. The beauty of in-body motor is that it will get updated every time you buy newer body. Maybe FF A900/850 in body motor is much better than A550 but current in-body motor is not without cons. One thing I hope is they can make it more silence in the future.
We know technology advance and I think within 5-10 years we might see in-body motor for 3-5 class can outperform current generation of SSM lens. Then the cycle may continue that Sony will release updated version of SSM II lenses. But for me current SSM gives me what I need in term of speed, silent, and DMF with lower end body.
ChenAlan
2 years ago |More than the lens line up of Sony, I believe the isuse is availability in the local market – at least in 3rd world countries.
The availability of lenses here in the Philippines sucks. You always have to have the store call the main Sony HQ here to check for the lens that you want and most likely, they’ll have to import it from Singapore which takes a couple of months.
If you’re lucky, you’ll get the only stock in the country which takes 3-5 days. I should know; my 70-400G and CZ 16-35 are the only ones in the country when I bought them through Sony PH.
Doesn’t stop me from being an Alphaboy one bit; it’s cheaper to get your Sony gear in HK anyway: 30% cheaper.
hanugro
2 years ago |In Indonesia they have enough of nice lens, STF, CZ16-35, CZ24-70, CZ85, CZ135, 70-300 G. I have yet to see the 70-200 G, 70-400 G in shop carrying Sony Indoneisa lens but we can go to grey market and buy those (item from HKG). Also Sony Indonesia price is bit ridiculous.
The situation is not the same with (Konica)Minolta where mostly only slower zoom lens available.
ChenAlan
2 years ago |Is it the import tax?
I did some research here and it seems that Sony PH lowered all the lens prices so it is a *bit* more competitive, but still nothing vs HK.
Strangely though, some lenses are even cheaper here in PH than they are in SG! XD
Just that most Sony lenses are kept in the Sony HQ here in Manila, not in the stores which is the main turnoff.
hanugro
2 years ago |The reason I choose Minolta then continue on Sony is STF.
ChenAlan
2 years ago |Mind me asking: How good / what is the main difference in image quality of STF.
I don’t know much about it beyond what STF stands for and that it’s pure MF. I was debating for a while between the CZ or the Sony STF.
Mat Foulidis
2 years ago |mike, with all do respect I have to say you are among one of the most ignorant people I have ever heard speak. Your arguments are ill-founded and stupid to say the least. If you hate Sony so much why do you spend your time on a Sony DSLR forum site. I laughed at your comment saying that Sony has zero professional lenses. Go look up “professional” in the dictionary… All Sony Carl Zeiss and G lenses are highly praised and used by professionals because of their extraordinary optics. And last I checked … Canon and Nikon don’t offer AF CZ lenses. So if you’re gonna spend your time bashing Sony’s Alpha system, just go shoot in the rain with your lovely “weather-sealed” Canon DSLR. Maybe when a landslide carries you away you can take joy in your great Canon camera and lenses. Tell me do they float as well?
erwinkfoto
2 years ago |Rei
2 years ago |Dear Sony, where’re my tilt shift lenses?
trevor
2 years ago |I am a sony shooter and would never switch, but where is a good 28-300? THe canon 70-200 will blow away the sony version. We have no long glass what so ever. I know the 500 g is supposed to be coming but who knows how much that would be. Would it kill sony to environmentally seal some of there lenses to go with the magnesium alloy bodies??
Brett
2 years ago |“THe canon 70-200 will blow away the sony version”
While the Canon is a very good lens and may be better than the sony, I don’t think it “blows away” the Sony.
We should all remember Sony has only been at this game for 5 years (admittedly they had alot of help coming from Minolta). I don’t think anybody who has commited to Sony has anything to worry about. Sony will continually introduce new glass, and in general will be equal to anything Canon or Nikon can/will produce. Look at DXO mark ranking’s the CZ85 1.4 on the 850/900 scores the best of them all. While that is only one lens, it demonstrates Sony has what it takes.
ChenAlan
2 years ago |I agree on the missing 28-300mm for Sony FF, but (just my 2 cents) it’s always at the back of my mind that I’d rather have 2 dedicated lenses which give better sharpness than a single lens that doesn’t.
As for the Canon 70-200 (i assume the latest F/2.8 IS Mk 2), I was told that the Sony version still puts up a good fight (I was told better, but with a grain of salt so let’s say it just puts up a good fight) though not marketed as weather sealed in terms of optics and only slightly loses out to the newer Nikon 70-200mm.
Dave J
2 years ago |While I was researching, I also found that Sony version is a little bit behind compared to Nikon and Canon on few things but wasn’t blowed away.
The problem on my case was that I would not want to spend that much money to get at least 8 years old Minolta design, while 70-200 from other brands were introduced not so long ago.
In the end, I decided not to buy and just wait because I know I am not going to use it a lot and I has my beercan to cover that range for the next little while.
I would buy the Tamron if I absolutly need it in short term for something that does not require fast AF.
panfruit
2 years ago |The Tamron 70-200 definitely blows away the Beercan in every category but weight (and Beercan has differently-pleasing bokeh — not that the tamron’s bokeh is bad, it’s not). The AF speed of both is comparable.
Mafiosito
2 years ago |Love the CZ lenses
Don’t care about all these comments
Used canon – Used Nikon
I love sony and Pros that make a living through portraits weddings contracts, like I do, have more than enough CZ lenses to get it done right. When is the advanced A77 want it now LOL
Brett
2 years ago |Those who come on this or any other forum to trash the product are only doing it to make themselves feel better and try and justify why they switched/bailed. It’s like selling a stock you’ve had for a while that hasn’t met your expectations. You want it to decline, so you feel better about your decision. If it rises in value , it only confirms you made the wrong decision. “Misery loves company”
panfruit
2 years ago |Sony Alpha is beyond criticism! All detractors are fiendish brand-terrorists and must are eroding our Alpha freedoms! If you don’t like Alpha, then move to another system! Sane and logical discussion is unpatriotic!
Ren
2 years ago |“THe canon 70-200 will blow away the sony version”
According to WHO?? I haven’t read a review by any credible source that backs up that statement.
imaanyAieR
2 years ago |best reply ever
+1
zstan
2 years ago |i do agree with mike that Sony won’t be in the DSLR system anymore.
DSLT will be our next generation, and mirrorless system will be the future.
DSLRs will be ancient. ;D
Arthur
2 years ago |As long as Nikon and Canon use a mirror, we will see dslr cameras made by Sony.
imaanyAieR
2 years ago |mirror no mirror evf ovf pf…. to me, those arent important, the sensor plays 10 times more roles the ovf. giving u good dynamic range of color more important then that flapping or no flapping sound.
FreeRadical09
2 years ago |What would really screw us up is if Sony drops the focusing motor on their entry level cameras and goes like Nikon, that they’ll take only motor based lenses.
I wouldn’t mind lenses with focusing motors but SAM just doesn’t cut it, it’s slow and noisy, whereas Nikon and Canon have silent motors even on their cheap lenses.
The key thing to preserve the access to lots of lenses is to keep the focusing motors on all bodies, otherwise it will be VERY limited range of usable lenses that will autofocus.
Finally, I’ve always wondered, what’s the use of a huge lens line up if you won’t use it all in the first place because you can’t afford it? And do we want 4 versions of the same lens where 1 has IS the other doesnt, the other is a bit slower in aperture and the other has crappy optics and is cheap?
I rather have one that will be stabilized on all the bodies with A-mount that the option above.
I must give credit to Sony for coming up with lenses that are affordable but great optically speaking. If only they used the NEX focusing system instead of the SAM option…
ChenAlan
2 years ago |I totally agree with you on the motor issue. SAM sucks, though the optics of the 30mm marco, and 85mm are very good given the price.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Even 50mm is good for the price. All new lenses are actually decent. What spoils them is focusing ring and SAM motor which doesn’t bring any advantages, just eats more power than a screwdriver do.
kingpen
2 years ago |base on link http://www.thensure.net/05_random_01_0202.html tamron 70-200 is blow away them all
k-tones
2 years ago |I don’t know what they can’t see. I can see big gaps in this list. Especially if you deduct the no longer available (new in shops) Minoltas. The gap can in particular be found in the f-stops (1.2 lenses, 1.4 lenses where Sony only got f2 or f2.8) or vice versa where Sony only offers a premium 1.4 (or plasticy 2.8) rather than a well built 1.8 medium budget (85mm).
Sky_walker
2 years ago |The problem with Sony is that it seem not be willing to race with CaNikon in amount of lenses.
I made some time ago a list of all Sony lenses with their introduction and a very nice illustration of the problem:
^ see, the gray is Sony, yellow is Nikon, red is Canon. In last four years both CaNikon had very notable advantage in amount of lens releases, reaching over double the amount at 2010.
As far as I’d wish Sony to try getting very wide range of lenses – statistics seem to show that it’s not going to happen anytime soon
And looking at rumors till now it seems that Sony won’t have more than 5 lenses this year either. 
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Link to image: http://alphacorner.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/lenses_per_year_SonyNikonCanon.jpg <- it didn't wanted to put it in comment sadly.
kmfan
2 years ago |Looking at your graph, one can also conclude that Canikon finally caught up to the amount of lenses that had existed on the KM line.
But more importantly, my cameras can only accept one lens at a time.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |That’s a very bold assumption, considering that both Canon and Nikon had wider range of lenses back in KM times – there was nothing to catch up. The distance between amount A-mount lenses and EF/F mount increased even further
My camera also can accept only one lens at a time but when it comes to selling the cameras – it ain’t good if you are in disadvantage and allow competition to increase the gap between you and them. Even if Sony would release 100 cameras a year it still wouldn’t make much of a difference for me as I’m interested in lenses, not buying new SLR each half the year.