Image samples with the dream combination: NEX-7 + Zeiss 24mm lens.
It’s probably the hottest combination of the moment. The Sony NEX-7 with the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens. But how is the real image quality? Thanks to Rob Skeoch we can analyze the very first full size image samples on Flickr (Click here). And on his blog ThePictureDesk he writes: “I think this lens will be very worthy of the name. It’s sharp, has great contrast and great flare control. Both the lens and camera are pre-production. I’m not sure how useful this posting is, since they are early versions and the photos are kinda lousy…. and I mean user error or what is often called poor photography. LOL.”
Preorder the NEX-7 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay (Some stores may are not accepting preorders now).
Preorder the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 at Amazon, B&H, Adorama, J&R, eBay (Some stores may are not accepting preorders now).
Tofa
2 years ago |SEXYYYY
panmoria
2 years ago |Sorry, this lens is just plain too big, what’s the point of a small body?
Have a look at Samsung how they can do.
Don’t know what the Sony guys have been smoking by creating this dream combo.
Did I ask what’s the point of it?!
TophBoogie
2 years ago |http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm162/Richo92/hatersgonnahate.gif
Geert
2 years ago |Call me what you want, but I must second panmoria: it looks ridiculous.
rishio
2 years ago |I think this looks more ridiculous – but it seems like a lot of people find it useful.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dancingweaponofmassdestruction/3131441262/lightbox/
Rachnaroch
2 years ago |You are right! Why keep companies transporting goods by truck? They should be all using Honda Civics!
So yes, a lot of people find it useful. You can’t do everything with a NEX.
Renato M.
2 years ago |that’s not about hating, it’s a pretty reasonable point, it’s stupid to ignore.
could be just a wake up call for Sony. how do they bring an high-end camera like NEX-7 without much lens selection and how do they come with a CSC without pancakes?
with an A-mount adapter?
with the new lenses Samsung already has a better lens line up, they have 3 pancakes, 1 compact zoom, 60mm f/2.8 macro and a 85mm f/1.4! c’mon Sony!
Vlad
2 years ago |What reasonable point? What’s the point of small body? Well, smaller and lighter body. Obvious!
Agreed about Samsung’s lenses though.
passer-by
2 years ago |Does Samsung use software optics corrections as in 4/3rd cameras? If they do, than that explains why they can make smaller lens.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Yep, they do. And their lenses have higher distortion than almost any DSLR lenses. But thanks to the fact that they don’t care about distortion – they can make lenses sharper than any current e-mount lens.
ItsaChris
2 years ago |@Sky_walker I think you are wrong, as far as I can tell Samsung does not use in camera corrections for its lens for distortion or CA
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/5653763779/a-distorted-view-in-camera-distortion-correction – Samsung tells us its NX series doesn’t yet do any correction but has the capability to do so if needed in future lenses. also the review of the 18-55 they talk about how panny lens sees better test results bc of the built in camera correction.
and the 30mm only shows a 1.2% distortion. Some of there other lens do not control distortion as well (20-50mm) but this does not seem to be the trend as reports of the 20mm seem to show very little distortion.
Geir
2 years ago |I’ll put my money on Sonys lens will outperform the pancake from samsung. a Zeiss lens is about sharpness, not compactness.
And look how well it sits in the hand. Now that gives balance to the camera.
TophBoogie
2 years ago |Agreed. This “pancake” hysteria is getting out of control
shigzeo
2 years ago |Also agreed: the 24 1,8 is many times smaller than any DSLR fast 24mm lens, AND it is a Zeiss spec lens, not a Sony spec lens or worse, a Samsung spec lens.
Well done. Might be worth the trade in from my 24-70 2,8G from Nikon. Too bad the flickr images are so small: it’s impossible to see if they are quality or not.
Carl
2 years ago |Looks about the same size as the Nikon Ai-s 24/2 to me.
shigzeo
2 years ago |It’s a little larger (my mate has one). But, it’s not by much; with a Nikon adapter, the Nikon 24/2 AiS is MUCH larger. Overall, the NEX with that big 24 is much much much smaller than any DSLR camera.
I am sold on the NEX. Bye bye to my Nikon gear (once I can afford it).
matgay
2 years ago |ive already preorder the nex7 too. couldnt resist it even versus the nex5n iso.
i have the zeiss 24-70 a-mount, and is it horrible at 24mm, the distortions are very noticeable. but not many zoom lenses in that price range do much better, only maybe primes. the zeiss16-35 at 24mm i would think could be a little better. i really hope this new 24mm comes out well, it should since it is a crop lens.
wonder how this lens will compare to the “Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Biogon” for M-mount, since that one is a real fullframe lens? price for the zeiss25mm is $1117+adapter, versus $999 for the new ziess24mm. and it has 10 blades versus only 7 blades for the new zeiss24, which does matter alot to defocus areas. manual focus i heard is even easier on the new nex. im really leaning towards the zeiss25mm biogon. i thought that biogons were enhanced sonnars?
matgay
2 years ago |1.) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/361544-REG/Zeiss_1365_653_25mm_f_2_8_ZM_Lens.html
2.) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/520233-REG/Zeiss_1419_575_Super_Wide_Angle_21mm.html
3.) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/361545-REG/Zeiss_1365_657_28mm_f_2_8_ZM_Lens.html
versus:
1.) $999.00USD http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/818647-REG/Sony_SEL24F18Z_SEL24F18Z_24_mm_f_1_8.html
Eric
2 years ago |It’s not just about out performing. The Samsung 30mm f/2 has a really high IQ in it’s own right. It certainly passes the “good enough” threshold for most people. I have no issues with Sony creating large lenses like this Zeiss for absolute performance. However, lenses like the Zeiss 24mm should me a much lower priority for them. In-fact I’d go so far as to say it’s borderline ridiculous that they’d release a large $1000 Zeiss 24mm before creating a $400 G-grade 30mm f/2 pancake.
Those looking at $1000+ ultimate performance lenses can simply adapt Zeiss and Leica M mount glass until the E-Mount lens line up matures enough to make specialty lenses like that.
Anonymous
2 years ago |100% agree with you. You hit the nail right on the head.
There’s obviously a place for this expensive big CZ lens, but there’s also a place for a cheaper, plastic, compact but still high quality fast normal pancake lens. It’s very strange for Sony to start making a lens such as this that’s catered to such a limited audience first when they haven’t got the essentials down. Even more concerning is that they won’t ever bring out a fast normal pancake lens.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Anonymous – it’s not really strange. Sony simply needs a lens to match NEX7 sensor resolution. Otherwise everyone would scream “aaaaa!!!! what’s the point of nex7 when there’s no lens to match it’s sensor!” and when pointed to M-mount they would say that this doesn’t count as it’s not a native mount lens. End of story.
Bit sad, but that’s the reality – system needs a lens to match performance of sensor, not a pancake. Pancakes are extremely needed, sure, but if Sony plans to sell NEX7 well than it needs to have lenses matching sensor resolution.
Sahaja
2 years ago |Agreed. I’m sick of hearing about pancakes too ~ I suspect mostly from people who have never used one.
shigzeo
2 years ago |There are plenty of low cost 30/2, 40/2, etc. lenses in that focal length that fit the tiny/small bill. There are few fast, high quality lenses with autofocus, however. I’m glad sony did it like they did.
Mike
2 years ago |But I won’t bet its sharper than the small Lumix 20mm/1.7 …
Kalpurush :)
2 years ago |Finally I see some Samsung “fan” !!! nice !!
reinz
2 years ago |because it’s APSC camera n the lens have a large aperture
i don’t mind if the lens look little big but have a good optic and image quality
Bugger
2 years ago |‘Small Body + Big Lens’ sure looks better than ‘Big body + Big lens’ to me.
Anyway, pancake lenses have to sacrifice some quality for the sake of convenience.
This is a Zeiss lens. It’s for quality, with a little convenience.
That said however, it would be nice if Sony could create a pancake zeiss lens.
Don Cox
2 years ago |“Sorry, this lens is just plain too big, what’s the point of a small body?”
It looks average size to me. And an average-size lens on a small body weighs less than an average-size lens on a big body.
The point of the NEX format is not to match your preconception that a camera body must be bigger than the lens, but to be thin enough to accept almost any lens in existence with adapters.
If you really want very small lenses then they will have to have small maximum apertures such as f/3.5.
Tom L.
2 years ago |“If you really want very small lenses then they will have to have small maximum apertures such as f/3.5.” That is obviously not true since the 16mm f2.8 pancake lens Sony has contradicts that point.
Sahaja
2 years ago |@Tom L
Sony’s 16mm lens was slated by most reviews ~ not surprised they didn’t want to make more pancakes.
These days f/2.8 is also not particularly fast for a (24mm equivalent) prime lens.
Sky_walker
2 years ago |Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7
Pancake? Check.
Very high quality? Check.
Brighter than f/2.8? Check.
Mirrorless-camera native lens? Check.
Price far lower than 1000$? Check.
So… it’s possible after all.
matgay
2 years ago |Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm f/3.5 SL-II Aspherical Manual Focus Lens f/ Nikon plus adapter will still be much better than any samsung pancake anyday. the voigt 20mm is still almost as tiny, but perform better than samsungs.
Anonymous
2 years ago |Yes but it doesn’t have AF so it’s not an option.
Weird
2 years ago |Yes you are right. And still much better than any NEX lens.
acolyte
2 years ago |Wow that Zeiss looks SO tiny. Is his hands big?
mirrorless
2 years ago |You just said it.. there is no point.
Tom
2 years ago |I personally like the size. If anything, I’d say the body is extremely small. If the lens was too small, there wouldn’t be much of a surface to grasp while focusing.
Bo Reidler
2 years ago |I’d have to agree. The E mount lenses are all quite slow and even though the ISO can be bumped up using the algorithm why can’t Sony come up with truly small and fast lenses? What we’re being sold here is a miniature quasi-DSLR that only works with huge or slow lenses. Certainly wont fit in the pocket anymore!
Albert
2 years ago |i’m not impressed at all from those pics
shigzeo
2 years ago |To be fair, the photo OP did say they were not great photos at all. They are the type of photo that can be taken with any lens at any speed (all except maybe the stage one). I wish the OP took photos of subjects that were closer to himself/herself so that we could see the bokeh and isolation effects as well as how out of focus objects are coloured. It would be great if the OP considered the lens as a tool to show us the lens rather than a box to show us snapshots.
shigzeo
2 years ago |double, sorry
shigzeo
2 years ago |Shame, really that I’m on the internet.
DP
2 years ago |LOL!
I do agree with your earlier posts–even though the photog said they weren’t great shots, it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
It is after all the dream combination, but there’s nothing in the photos to set them apart.
max
2 years ago |honestly im not impressed.. the combo dont have the “wow” factor to my eyes
Clyde
2 years ago |I bet there are no optics past that second rim ring closest to the camera body. That almost looks like an extender/adapter, like for putting full frame lenses on NEX. Zeiss even admitted that the lens needed to be made larger in order to get corner sharpness.
Fine fine I understand they must do what they must do to make it shoot well. The advantage here is USM focus with no adapters necessary. This allows it to be smaller than an adapter combo.
Sony could settle all pancake crying by releasing just one or two more lenses to compliment the 16mm. The advantage would be compactness, at the expense of IQ. I understand there are tradeoffs.
nopt
2 years ago |“I bet there are no optics past that second rim ring closest to the camera body.”
That’s not the case, here’s the lens diagram. I don’t see any funny-business with built-in adapters or such.
http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL24F18Z/images/prod/m/y_SEL24F18Z_comosition.jpg
People suggested the same thing about the e-mount 50mm. Here’s the diagram for that lens.
http://www.sony.jp/ichigan/products/SEL50F18/images/prod/m/y_SEL50F18_comosition.jpg
Jacco
2 years ago |Interesting, thanks.
Steve Jones
2 years ago |Judging by the length, this is almost certainly a retrofocal design. Possibly it’s adapted from a design for a mount with a much bigger register. Good and bad things about that. Of course it does make it substantially longer and heavier. However, it’s also less likely to suffer from colour shift, vignetting and so on in the corners of the picture as the angle of incidence will be so much less. That’s particularly important with fairly fast, relatively wide-angle lenses.
As far as looks go, it looks OK on the camera to me. Maybe more like what you’d expect a 50mm to be like. Indeed if a 50mm lens of the same quality was produced, I’d expect it to be much the same length as it would probably not have to be retrofocal.
nexxar
2 years ago |nex7 is what i want.. a rangefinder type body with a superb evf. the zeiss although a very2 good performer does look a bit too big for the camera imho..
why cant just sony make an excellent pancake like samsung or the m4/3!!!??? argghhh..!!
the thing i cannot understand is we know that it is not unachievable or is it??
Nawaf
2 years ago |Get over it guys, this isn’t a rangefinder. I used a Nex-5N with my FD 50mm 1.2L with a Novoflex adapter and the size is perfect and very easy to hold. I actually hold on to the lens when carrying it around, the body is too small. I love peaking on this thing, some subjects won’t wait for you to zoom in and get the focus perfect :S
tipper
2 years ago |I don’t understand the pancake histeria anywhere. Pancakes are lenses with optical failures corrected by the software in a postprocess.
This means you loose resolution and dynamic in some parts of the image.
This might be no problem.
But I’m looking for high end lenses with less as possible optical failures, therefor I prefer the Zeiss solution on the NEX-7.
grzegorz maj
2 years ago |Well, if lens after corrections is very good I can live with these failures: Panasonic 20/1.7, or 14/2.4
Matt
2 years ago |The problem with these ‘corrected’ designs is that they need FIRMWARE to make them work! Look at the x series panasonic lenses, got a GF1? Too bad so sad. GH1? Better cry in the corner. Problem is companies drop support for older bodies really fast. If lenses need correction in the body, expect to have to upgrade every maybe 2 years or the latest lenses will be completely useless to you.
I think Sony have made the right call here and again goes with my theory that they are after ‘system’ users and have proven they are prepared to support their systems even during times of transition.
Eric
2 years ago |I simply don’t understand why some people are terrified of software correction. Does anyone honestly think that Panasonic is going to drop support for the 20mm/1.7 as long as they’re still selling m4/3′s cameras? For the sake of argument lets say they do drop support in 15 years…so what? You still got 15 years of use out of a $350 lens. How do you know Adobe/Sony isn’t going to drop support for the proprietary RAW format you’re currently using? You don’t.
For those that make claims about lost resolution, I’m sorry, I simply don’t see it when I look at photos (I don’t care about resolution charts). If software correction can make a lens smaller and cheaper without hindering image quality to the point it’s noticeable then I’m all for it.
Jacco
2 years ago |No, they will keep supporting the lenses, it’s the bodies you need to worry about.
What happens if you are still using a first generation model in a few years and a new lens comes out that NEEDS software correction?
Without new software that lens will look horrible on your camera.
The body is still technically perfect, but software FORCES you to buy a new one.
A good example from recent history are Contax cameras. The G1 couldn’t use some of the new wider lenses because of the inability to update the in-camera software.
Bam! A few hundred dollars, now useless in the long run.
Carl
2 years ago |That’s hardly a new problem. Tried using a Minolta/Sony SSM lens or a Sony 58 or 43 flash on a Minolta 9xi or 800si? It just won’t work. At least it’s possible for users to upgrade firmware themselves without taking the camera in for service these days.
Matt
2 years ago |Yes the lenses will be fine, new bodies will support the older lenses. But we are already seeing bodies that are unsupported for the new lenses, bodies that depending when you bought them might be less than a year old! I very nearly bought a GF1 with 20mm f1.7 but opted for a NEX-3 about 8 months ago – I was looking at both of them very closely and although I loved the GF1 20mm combo I went with the NEX because I use Sony/Minolta already.
I am glad I did because it looks like there will be ZERO new lenses for the GF1, how absurd is that?! People might complain about there being only a few native E-Mount lenses, but at least I feel comfortable knowing that when there are new lenses they will work with my camera!
Eric
2 years ago |Tell me again which new m4/3′s lenses don’t work with older bodies, specifically the GF1. Even their newest and most extreme lens, the 14-42mm X pancake zoom works. Panasonic even says it works on every Olympus body.
Vlad
2 years ago |Yes, Pentax has plenty of those pancake failures. Whatever.
passer-by
2 years ago |Pentax doesn’t use software correction.. DSLR has longer flange distance, that’s why it is possible to use optical correction.
robdel
2 years ago |In terms of portability, this camera with this lens the camera is as large as a DSLR. We can quibble about mms, but this is not a small-size/pocketable combo. The cost is also the same for a comparable DSLR & high-speed lens so again, there is no price advantage to this combo vs a DSLR for me. Yes, it looks nicer than a DSLR, but looks do not make pictures.
The best trade-off between size and image quality – to me – is still M43, and that is based on their pancake lenses (and there are only two of those – with Panasonic’s pancake zooms looking like an interesting addition once we get to test it). I can slip a EPL3 even a EP3 with a 20/1.7 into a coat pocket (or my gf can put it in her purse), I cannot do that with a NEX5/7 and this lens. Of course I know the NEX cameras are technically superior, and that is part of the tradeoff. Depends on what is most important to your shooting style (quality, or having a camera with you at all times).
However, my main interest in the NEX 7 is the ability to put Leica lenses I already own onto the body and in that respect it DOES off something almost unique (at the price range). I am looking forward to comparisons with the GXR A12 Leica mount module. We can speculate all we want about which is better, but until the two cameras are tested side-by-side, I for one will not be able to make a final decision.
Mike
2 years ago |I think you should just get a m4/3 camera. Personally I think the images that come out of m4/3 systems aren’t up to my standards. That being said I wouldn’t even dream of heading over to a m4/3 website and start whinning about image quality. If the NEX with its lenses are too big for you just move on. Most people here are knowledgable about the m4/3 systems and its strengths/limitations.
robdel
2 years ago |You misinterpreted my post. Anyway, is this site strictly for Sony fanboys?
Mike
2 years ago |I don’t even own a sony camera. I’m just looking for something to replace my d700 when I travel and something to buy a housing for when diving.
How can you misinterprate “This camera with this lens in as large as a DSLR” That statement is pure stupidity and wrong.
Brandon
2 years ago |It is not quibbling about millimeters. Even the smallest DSLRs, entry level toys worth no real comparison, are minimally 150% this size when brandishing a comparable non-pancake lens. Just a few posts back on SAR there’s a Bloomberg post with a picture of all Sony offerings… NEX system is noticeably smaller.
robdel
2 years ago |Case in point:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX7/ynex7_DSC01104.HTM
Does the NEX 7 look smaller than the A77 hanging next to it?
robdel
2 years ago |Brandon, my point is very simple. Cameras come in three basic sizes. Those that fit in your pocket, those that fit in a small bag (such as a satchel, or a purse for a woman) and those that require their own bag or take up so much space that they might as well have their own bag. The NEX 7 with the Zeiss falls into the last category as far as I can tell. If it requires it’s own bag then whether or not it’s a Nikon D3 or a NEX 7 doesn’t matter to me. they are the same in terms of portability (as I have already stated).
Categories one and two (pocket and satchel) are cameras I take with me every day, everywhere. Category three requires extra effort on my part and usually stays at home unless I need it for work.
This may not apply to you or your needs when it comes to a camera. That is why I wrote “for me,” “my main interest,” etc.
SonyA77
2 years ago |EXACTLY. The reason that I will not buy a NEX is that I am about as likely to take it out with me as I am my A700.
Now if the NEX had a 30-35mm f2.8 E-mount pancake, THAT would make me buy a NEX.
Eric
2 years ago |I pretty much agree with most everything you’re saying, but there is also one other factor aside from volume; weight. A NEX-7 is considerably lighter then any equivalent DSLR, and as any backpacker will tell you, that is important when hiking 15+ miles per day.
A completely agree that Somy needs small lenses ASAP, but I would still much rather tote a NEX7 around hiking or in a city using my messenger pack then I would any equivalent DSLR. A NEX7 + Voitlander Nokton 35mm is a very compact combo.
AVESTA
2 years ago |“there is no price advantage to this combo vs a DSLR for me”
Yeah, because every APS-C DSLR that costs around $1000 can shoot at a resolution of 24MP and has Full AVCHD video capabilities at 24P, 30P and 60P… and did we forget the OLED display and the fact that it’s mirrorless too!
Yeah, you’re right… no advantage at ALLLLL
robdel
2 years ago |I wrote “In terms of portability, this camera with this lens is as large as a DSLR. We can quibble about mms, but this is not a small-size/pocketable combo.” Unless you think the NEX 7 with the Zeiss is a small-size/pocketable combo, then yeah, you did misread my post.
robdel
2 years ago |I said “for me.” Anyway, 24MP is not always an advantage, particularly at high ISO. In fact, the initial reports from the A77, with which this camera shares a sensor, have been somewhat disappointing.
Mirrorless is also not necessarily an advantage. Under certain conditions, a SLR works better. Under others, a rangefinder. I own examples of all three and use them according to the shooting scenario.
“Full AVCHD video capabilities at 24P, 30P and 60P…” the GH2 which costs the same amount has outstanding video capabilities. I have used it on commercial shoots, along with the Canon 5DmkII and the 7D. EosHD still prefers the GH2 to the NEX 5N, which will possibly have better HD video capabilities than the NEX 7. See the above mentioned site for more detail.
For approximately the same price, the D7000 offers a much, much better selection of lenses, flashes, etc.. The GH2 offers comparable or better video (we really don’t know yet). The EP-3 wins on size and lens selection. I know the NEX 7 is the new toy and everybody is excited, but I don’t really think my comments are that controversial.
At any rate if you read my post you will see that I am personally interested in the camera as a body for M mount lenses. I may end up purchasing one for that use. I’ll see once some real reviews come in.
David
2 years ago |1) a77 reports are fine. Everyone has stopped worrying about ISO now since new samples have come out. Clean 3200, grainy 6400, useable 12800, emergency mode 16000
2) Tell me, what exactly is lacking from the Sony lens lineup? This is such a stupid reason to be against Sony now. All important bases are covered. And if you *REALLY* need a 600 f4 or something ridiculous, you’re in a tiny minority. I agree that their professional support needs to be built up, but the overwhelming majority of photographers have their needs met, and exceeded, by the current Sony lineup. There are budget lenses like the 35 1,8, which is fantastic. And top quality Zeiss lenses.. the 135, 24-70, 16-35 and the STF in particular being class-leaders – all of those test better than the sacred canon “L” equivalents.
As for flashes – the 58am is the best flash around.
I’m not being a fanboy, but your arguments are quite poorly based.
robdel
2 years ago |This is response to David:
Everyone has not apparently stopped worrying. Check out this discussion at dpreview:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1042&message=39347614
I was talking about the Sony NEX E mount lenses. You really think the lineup of E mount lenses is comparable to what’s available from Nikon and Canon? We apparently have different requirements when it comes to glass.
When people claim I am being “against Sony” for pointing out the obvious then yes, the fanboy moniker fits.
Eric
2 years ago |@David
Actually I’d say his arguments are quite valid for the most part. For me personally adapted glass has me covered well enough, so I ordered a NEX7 to use it with manual focus lenses. However if you want AF and you don’t want to use that awkward looking A-Mount adapter then you are SOL with the e-mount. Sony needs a small fast 30mm f/2, and ultra wide zoom or prime (I’d prefer an 11mm f/2.8 over a zoom), a higher quality standard zoom (something like a 16-70mm f/4), a much better 16mm pancake (the current one is awful), and also 60mm f/1.4 (why do companies keep making APS-C portrait lenses 50mm’s?).
robdel
2 years ago |The forum posting is acting up. The reply immediately above was intended for Avesta, the one above that for Mike.
shigzeo
2 years ago |Pentax have really embraced small, high quality lenses for APS-C. Love that dedication.
passer-by
2 years ago |The thing is.. they don’t have NEX-like system. Pentax has great pancakes – big body, Sony has the NEX – huge lens. I am really hoping Sony would buy Pentax for their lenses.. hahaha
rUY
2 years ago |Pictures bad. Size big. So, I don’t care with this.
Mike
2 years ago |There are no full-size pictures on the Flickr page. 1024×768 is hardly enough to tell apart the quality of a point-and-shoot camera and any DSLR, regardless with what lens.
TheHacker
2 years ago |Seems nobody except the two of us noticed, or bothered to point out.
alphafan2011
2 years ago |Well you are right, that its size is ok, but the problem is, why to buy a very small camera (NEX3/5 are sometimes even smaller than the M4/3 generation) and add a big lens? that makes no sense to me. If you want to have something compact like the NEX line, there also have to be small lenses, maybe not so small like the m4/3 lenses, but similar to Samsungs offer. Cause only then you have a really compact system with good image quality.
Where is the benefit from a NEX7, if I put large lenses on it. Then I cant put it in small bags, I have a bigger weight hanging in front of the lightweight camera (handling issues) and compared to the smaller size related to the DSLR’s (its not that big difference, which could be there with a pancake) there are even more handling issues (better grip of DSLR, more balanced weight cam/lens, more buttons and wheels and so on) …
so in my opinion the big advantage of the NEX line is its compactness and the NEX7 offers nice controls in a very small body … but then adding large lenses destroys this big advantage or at least makes it much smaller.
Don Cox
2 years ago |“Well you are right, that its size is ok, but the problem is, why to buy a very small camera (NEX3/5 are sometimes even smaller than the M4/3 generation) and add a big lens? that makes no sense to me. ”
Whatever size the lens is (and some long zooms are really big), it makes sense to save some weight by using a small lightweight body.
But the real point of the NEX series is not small size but adaptability. I wouldn’t care if the camera was bigger, so long as the register distance (from lens mount to sensor) still allowed use of all Leica and SLR lenses.
Clyde
2 years ago |The lens isn’t the only thing keeping the NEX-7 from being pocketable. The EVF sticks out the back as well. That won’t be comfortable in the pocket even without a lens attached.
So I’m not considering the NEX-7 as a pocketable camera. No problem, I didn’t necessarily want or expect it to be. It’s a compact… that’s enough.
acolyte
2 years ago |When there’s no VF, people complain. When there is, people complain.
Yeah, all I care is that it’s compact.
Matt
2 years ago |People complain about everything – it’s too big, it’s too small, then they want amazing image quality, then it’s the EVF, then they just don’t ‘get it’, they want the 5N sensor in the 7 body, they want it to cost 49c, they want the advantages of the LA-EA2 but they want it to be thinner (not even possible) smaller and not have the disadvantage of the mirror taking some of the light. They want to use it with m43 lenses (although not explicitly saying that as they know it isn’t possible) and they want it to get them laid (big camera syndrome).
Everything is awesome and nobody is happy.
Willi
2 years ago |LOL
+42
Clyde
2 years ago |Oh I’m happy. Very happy with the whole mirrorless movement and NEX direction. I certainly won’t complain that the NEX-7 isn’t something that it wasn’t designed to be.
If I want a pocket cam, then a NEX-5 with 16mm will slide right in. That combo will never come apart and will be designated for “Always with Camera” solutions. The NEX-7 is used for other things.
But I get your point. People complain about everything… I’m shocked no one has complained that it doesn’t spit out instant pictures like a Polaroid SX-70. They really botched it by leaving out that feature.
Agnius
2 years ago |Ya, the “image quality” is hard to judge from tiny jpegs, but colors at least look nice. I downloaded the 700mb torrent of NEX-7 images and they are quite crappy too – I was looking at full res jpegs.
I hope manual focusing will be useable – I hope to put couple Leica R lenses to use on the NEX-7 till NEX-T camera comes along
dan
2 years ago |I can’t believe how dumb you folks can be! Sony is not even trying to make small pancakes. They are simply taking optic schematics already in play and simply modifying to Nex needs.
Pentax has made some of the best pancakes in history for years that are a fraction on the size of this and the 50mm coming out.
I feel sorry for the poor sods that may be steered into spending $1000 for a stupid lens like this. They will not make better pictures with it, that’s for sure. But more importantly, it will slow progress on lens development. So sad..
GH
2 years ago |You can’t use SLR pancakes as a point of reference, because they have an extra 25mm-ish of registration distance, because of the mirror box, so add that to the length of the lens and see how it compares to NEX lenses.
Ultimately, measuring the size of lenses from different systems is fruitless, and one should consider measuring from the front of the lens to the rear of the camera to get a good idea of system size.
Vlad
2 years ago |Add these 25mm to the Limited 21mm and there you go – 50mm! Still 15mm less than the Zeiss.
Matthieu
2 years ago |And nearly two stops slower: let’s not forget the Zeiss is a fast lens.
Matt
2 years ago |Yes, Pentax, Pancakes.
Have you actually stuck a Pentax pancake on an adapter on a NEX? Not that pancake anymore.
GH
2 years ago |I’ve got plenty of lenses for NEX that are in the 50-65mm range with adapters, and the handling and packability between them is pretty similar. Both are a far cry from the Sony 16mm.
www.MilosJanata.com
2 years ago |Ehm .. fullsize?
Björn Utpott
2 years ago |While the Zeiss 24/1.8 certainly isn’t a pancake lens, it isn’t that big either. It’s comparable in size to my Pana-Leica 45/2.8, which I certainly don’t consider a large lens. Mounted to my GH2, the combination is heavier and larger than the NEX-7 with the Zeiss. Yes that’s still larger than a small body with a pancake, but the NEX-7 + 24/1.8 will hopefully have some performance benefits over those. Note also that Panasonic’s higher performance lenses (Leica 25/1.4, Leica 45/2.8 and Lumix 7-14/4.0) are also larger and heavier than the pancakes. The only difference is that Panasonic has 3 pancakes in their line-up.
acolyte
2 years ago |Yeah, I was so surprised seeing it. For A-mounts, the optics in Zeiss lenses (well lens diameter) tends to be larger than the mount.
This one is the same size as the mount! Looks so tiny!
Matt
2 years ago |I think this has been a principal design choice by Sony for E-Mount, aim for the same width of lens across the board. Some just can’t do it, but where possible I think they have chosen to do it – even if it makes the lens a little longer.
Kalpurush :)
2 years ago |Andrea, any news on A-Mount CZ lens? We need few of the to match with the a77/65, don’t we?
Erational
2 years ago |You know what kind of pictures you get without stabilization ? Blurry pictures. Look at the carousel picture. It’s blurry. No matter how good you technical abilities, you can not do better (on average) than OSS or SSS. If the family on the carousel is the photographer’s family, he will never have a decent capture of that moment in his families life. That’s my view, I know some will say that’s over-dramatic. For $1000. you get a lens that you may have to to throw 30% of your pictures away due to hand shake. Perhaps that blurry picture is the one you really wanted to capture ? The NEX is all about portability- what’s the point of the Zeiss when you need a tripod ?
y3k
2 years ago |Oss for a 24mm?
Buy a kit lens….
Bill
2 years ago |Just use a higher shutter speed. With a faster lens you can get a higher speed at a lower iso. Stabilization certainly helps but the old method of using higher shutter speeds works as well. In the case of the carousel, lens or body stabilization will not help anyway, the movement is from the carousel not the camera. So the photographer either has to go to a high enough shutter speeds to freeze the action or pan with the movement.
emarsh
2 years ago |This is where the new focus tracking feature would come in handy. Does the Nex 7 have it? The nex 5n has a feature where you touch the screen and it will ‘focus track’ the object/person you touched. The nex 7 has no touch screen, but maybe it has this focus tracking feature?
Erational
2 years ago |Focus tracking here is contrast detection, not phase detection, so it’s going to be slower. The point is moot since the ride looks stationary to me.
Yes, we all know about pushing the speed up, but can only push the speed up so far. Of course, ppl will retort that then you push ISO up to compensate. With the 5N this might be fine d/t it’s superlative low-light/ high ISO performance, but many will not be happy with high ISO on the NEX7. People that are used to MA mount SSS are going to be in for a rude awakening when they use this Zeiss indoors without a flash. They are going to have some un-sharp pictures from their expensive dream lens.
If SSS and OSS are useless, the technologies would have never been developed. These are not gimmicks, but useful features that create more “Keeper” pictures.
Nawaf
2 years ago |BTW a 24mm takes in a lot of light indoors compared to a 50mm. Just use a tripod or crank up the ISO if light isn’t enough. A flash is very useful too.
If I thought that there was only one way which is the way you want us to think then I would just throw away the Canon 24mm 1.4L II I own.
If Sony/Zeiss made a 24mm with OSS I would buy it even if it was bigger but I will not compromise on quality. I’d rather buy the one without the OSS if this were the case.
Personally I think VR, IS or whatever is better off on telephotos because are hard to stabilize on a tripod let alone handheld!
To me f1.8 isn’t enough, make it bigger Sony and give me a 1.4
Joe
2 years ago |I wonder how those Canikon people can make do this whole time with their non-IS WA without tripod and sharp images. Furthermore, I would like to know the percentage of “crappy lighting” pictures that you’re actually taking. You’re talking as if SSS is the end-all function, and NEX+CZ, without it, is doom to be used on tripod only. It is extreme, don’t you think? Admittedly, it would be better if they have in body IS, but I can live with it as long as the camera fits my need. With all due respects, please don’t go around and stating that without IS, the CZ 24 is useless.
Tan Zhi Shan, Sujata
2 years ago |People. This is NOT the final firmware of NEX 7. Nuff said.
acolyte
2 years ago |Do take a look at the blog Andrea linked. It has quite a few shots from NEX 7, NEX 5N, and A77.
It already looks nice to me, and I’m glad they’re still pre-production shots, because that means we can expect better.
emarsh
2 years ago |I like the fact that the Nex cameras are small. I do not ever want to put it in my pants pocket,lol. I couldn’t even bring myself to put a compact point and shoot in my pants pocket, even though it could fit. It is not good to carry fragile things like cameras in a pocket where you’re going to kneel down, climb up a steep bank, etc. Once I had a compact pentax optio in the right hand pocket of my winter coat. I got into the passenger side of a car,the right side of my coat slipped down in between the seat and where the door shuts, as I closed the door, crunch! The lcd was smashed to bits and the camera was totally useless then. $150 bucks down the toilet. I don’t want to try flushing $700 down the toilet.
Erational
2 years ago |In December, the 50mm F/1.8 OSS E-mount lens will ship worldwide. Even though the 50mm F/1.8 OSS is a ‘fast’ lens, Sony still thought that optical steady-shot was needed on this lens. Sony did not have to put OSS in the 50mm F/1.8, but they did.
For the E-mount camera buffs out there, I would suggest you save $650. over the the Zeiss 24mm F/1.8 and get a lens with stabilization that is far more flattering for portraiture than a 24mm lens. With OSS stabilization you are likely to have a higher amount of pictures that are sharp, even though the Zeiss is the sharper lens of the two (when stabilized).
For landscape photographers with a tripod, the Zeiss 24mm looks to be a fantastic option.
Bill
2 years ago |How many people are really going to buy a 24mm for portraits? People are already complaining about the size of this lens and you want to make it bigger and more expensive with OSS.
Erational
2 years ago |You guys are not reading my post thoroughly. One of my points was that 24mm is NOT an ideal length for portrature.
Narwal: I already explained in my previous post that higher ISO wasn’t a good low-light option. My whole premis was that people need to use the Zeiss with a tripod.
Designing a lens with SSS creates only a fatter lens, not a longer lens BTW. I do believe many here are complaining about the length of the Zeiss 24, not the width.
Joe
2 years ago |35mm is a versatile focal length. It depends on what type of portraiture you’re after, but one can make a very compelling portrait with a 35mm. Just look into environmental portrait.
Erational
2 years ago |I sorry but for PEOPLE portraiture 24mm creates unacceptable field distortions. The distortion this lens will result in ppl’s noses looking more bulbous and their eyes bulging than a 35 or 50mm lens. Is the Zeiss design better corrected than a Sony-designed 24mm ? I am sure it is. But, the distortions are still obvious with the Zeiss.
Again, for anyone thinking about buying this 24mm lens; this is a specialized wide angle lens, it needs a sturdy tripod since it has no stabilization. Do not make this your only/main E-mount lens, you will not be happy with the results ! I have seen on Amazon that the NEX7 + Sony-Zeiss 24mm F/1.8 is the most popular combination. This is not a standard lens (50mm), I recommend that folks not make this their sole NEX camera lens.
The CaniKon people don’t have in-body stabilization by the way- they have VR, nomenclature for OSS. Look at their kits and you will see VR is prominent in their lens line.
Carl
2 years ago |I’ve taken lots of photos of people with a 28mm lens on full frame, without finding the results “unacceptable”. It just requires learning to work around rectilinear distortion. Besides, there’s hardly any rectilinear distortion with a 24mm lens on APS format as it isn’t very wide.
Why would it need a sturdy tripod? Just keep your shutter speeds up.
Joe
2 years ago |It seems obviously to me that you have never tried a 24mm before, or learned how to use it. I have shot an entire event with my ZA 24/2, and my client did not notice the “apparent” bulging eyes and bulbous nose. It’s also obvious that when you mention about VR, you didn’t realize that none of the Canikon WA primes actually has IS. Please enlighten me on how other photog can use their 24/1.4 without tripod, and manage to get excellent result. I understand people have their own opinion, but spreading false fact is just plain wrong.
ty
2 years ago |About size and quality. Zeiss is claiming that bigger size will contribute to better quality. Coming from Canon, this philosophy is apparent on all their design – the better the lens, the large they are. I got a NEX 5 last year to get around the problem of bulky camera without sacrificing too much on the PQ front.
Lately, my friend has acquired a few Leicas and lenses and it makes me to rethink whether huge size equals quality. Now if they can make NEX lenses like the Leica lenses, that will be the perfect match.
tsoe
2 years ago |It is possible, but without af, without stabilisation, without retrofocus lens design (the new 24/21 Lux are quite bulky) and verrrrrry expensive.
Don Cox
2 years ago |Lenses “like Leica lenses” tend to cost Leica prices, or at least Zeiss prices.
matgay
2 years ago |bigger lenses ARE better image quality, no doubt. — But you must use the same lens technology and advanced glasses. a leica lens with asph (or double asph) and floating elements that is the same size of a canon 70-200zoom will for sure have better image quality than a small leica summilux, but it will weigh 4x as much as a noctilux, and will also cost 10x as much. bigger lenses IS better because it lets more area of light in to manipulate. but you cannot compare just size only and ignore cheap elements versus expensive elements for IQ.
Visualiza
2 years ago |Are some of you kidding me? Look at the picture. The lens excluding the mount is barely the size of the photographers thumb. I don’t care what anyone says…that is a compact package.
Seems that the conventional pov is that if it isn’t a DSLR it need to fit into the back pocket of tight wrangler jeans, and this to me is just silly. While I do agree that SOME E-mount lenses are bigger than though could be, the hysteria around the net just blows it way out of proportion.
Seeky
2 years ago |@Visualiza: I think you are right, it is a small lens. I wont put a bet on it, but this may be the smallest zeiss 24mm with AF ever. See it from that perspective.
doug
2 years ago |The Zeiss isn’t too big for a pro lens. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a mirrorless setup. If you want ultimate compactness, you go with a pancake. But if you want the very best IQ for your NEX-7 you’ll get the Zeiss. There’s no pancake made that will come close to the IQ of the Zeiss, period. But you’ll pay a price for that quality, both financially and in size. It’s just the way it goes, guys.
Arnold
2 years ago |Well, as the NEX is excellent with high ISO, they could have made it F2 or F2.5 to get the same IQ but with a smaller size (yes I know people are never happy :p).
dac38
2 years ago |NEX 7 USP is not in being small and pocketable. Its a Pro Body designed to beat D7000 is IQ DR etc. Already the Non-Pro NEX 5N achieves that purpose.
When did sony ever claim that NEX series is limited to being pocketable ? Get a S95/HX9V my friends
Weird
2 years ago |The sony NEX5n do not achieve anything. We have one at work. This is just another NEX. The fact it has a good High Iso potentiel never makes this NEX5n a great camera whatever all NEX fans…or paid blogers do say. This camera, as all current NEX (except, it seems this NEX7) have abad UI/Ergonomics which do not make these cameras appealing to Pros. Moreover some key functions as AEL button or a Precise Spot metering feature are missing. Do you know any Pro shooting without these key features? I do not.
I don’t know if you meet a lot of pro shooters or not…but most I do know rarely shoot higher than Iso800…even with a 5dMKII…so that would make what…Iso1600 on NEX?
matgay
2 years ago |Zeiss Compact Primes CP.2 ($3,900.00 each focal length) are the dream combination.
matgay
2 years ago |http://www.zeiss.com/__c125756900453232.nsf/0/b984d96f381f07fbc12575820044c5d7?OpenDocument&Click=#q26
Q: Is it possible to use the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses featuring an E mount on Sony NEX cameras and video cameras?
Yes, without a problem. However, to take pictures the camera must be set to “shutter release without lens.” This is needed because no data is exchanged between the camera and lens. There are no electronic interfaces on the interchangeable E mount of the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses. Metering/ exposure control on the camera is set either in the A mode (automatic exposure control – aperture is manually set on the lens, exposure time is automatically controlled by the camera) or manually in the M mode (aperture and exposure time are set entirely by hand).
Q: When will the interchangeable E mount be available for the Compact Prime CP.2 lenses?
It is expected to be available from June 2011.
Aiden
2 years ago |I would ditch the hood.. The camera then easily becomes “pocketable”. Whoever said this camera would require its own bag is being unreasonable… Even still i wouldnt buy a lens without oss.
Aiden
2 years ago |I would forget the hood.. The camera then easily becomes “pocketable”. Whoever said this camera would require its own bag is being unreasonable… Even still i wouldnt buy a lens without oss.
shigzeo
2 years ago |You got some big arse pockets, mate. Surely, not trouser pockets, right?
Aiden
2 years ago |Jacket?
rishio
2 years ago |I think what we really need to see is the NEX 7 with the 24mm f/1.7 next to a Canon 5dII with a 35 f/2.
Weird
2 years ago |Ah ok…so I’ll stick to my FD 24mm 1.4 L…
Clyde
2 years ago |Pancake Shmancake! Where’s my turret lens?
insufficient
2 years ago |so basically Sony created a great portable/small camera to put huge lenses on? WTF ?
CYCLOPS-OPTIC
2 years ago |I have no problem with the size of the lens but I have to wonder at the overkill of the lens hood.
Is it over-design?
Did Zeiss design that hood or did Sony?
Did Sony simply adapt a hood from one of their video cameras?
Why so massive?
Strange that a Leica hood for a 35mm lens can be so miniscule.
I myself appreciate a hood because I refuse to use a lens cap.
I have to wonder if there’s an after market hood that can replace the behemoth they are selling us.
Another thing real quick.
It would be very nice if Sony could put that option that the Leica M9 has where you can fire the shutter and then turn away and have the shutter cock and whir sound come later.