(SR4) Still time needed for the FF E-mount mirrorless system announcement (lens production and design problems).
The VG-900. The first E-mount FF
Two trusted sources confirmed that Sony is working on a Full Frame NEX-7 alike system. And they said the camera prototype is almost “ready”. But the real issue is the lens system. They told me that Sony has not enough resources yet to design and produce lenses for a new Full Frame mirrorless system. Currently the priorities are those:
1) Develop and produce new E-mount lenses for the current cameras
2) Develop and produce (and redesign some of the existing) A-mount lenses
The sources said that for that reason we don’t have to expect a new FF mirrorless lens system to be ready before the very end of 2013! But nothing has been decided yet. The priority for the first half of 2013 are the new A and E-mount lenses plus the new NEX-7 update and new SLT cameras.
A litte more info: Expect these lenses to be larger than current known FF lenses like the Leica M (here on eBay) or Zeiss ZM lenses (here on eBay). Lens design for digital sensors requires a bit a different approach than the design for film cameras (for example AF parts have to be included).
—
Just a note. Zeiss made many FF ZM lenses and quite some of them would be interesting for a new Sony FF mirrorless system:
Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Distagon T* 4/18 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2,8/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2,8/25 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2,8/28 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Biogon T* 2/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
C Sonnar T* 1,5/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Planar T* 2/50 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Sonnar T* 2/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
Tele-Tessar T* 4/85 ZM (Click here to see price on eBay).
—
Reminder to all sources: You can send me anonymous messages through the use of the contact form you can find on top of the right sidebar. Or send me an email by using a fake gmail account at sonyalpharumors@gmail.com. Thanks!
FF mirrorless: Currently only Sony and Leica are offering FF mirrorless systems. Sony has the VG900. While Leica has three new offerings, the Leica ME. Leica M and Leica Monochrome.
—
Reminder (SR = Sonyrumor):
SR1=probably fake rumor
SR2=rumor from unknown sources
SR3=50% chance it is correct
SR4=rumor from known sources
SR5=almost certainly correct!
Almazar80
7 months ago |A mirrorless A mount camera with SSS would be welcome. A full frame E mount camera would not be significantly smaller (if at all) than the mirrorless A mount camera.
spaceman
7 months ago |Not a good idea Almazar80.
An A-mount on a FF mirrorless would make it impossible to adapt legacy lenses.
The E-mount is ideal for the mirroless platform, as virtually any lens can be adapted to this. A-lenses adaption even provides full electronic control AND PDAF AF.
Personally I hope Sony will concentrate making great native APS-C lenses for the NEX (to keep size down), and just provide the FF option in a NEX-7-ish body for the legacy and A-mount FF comunity
Jiri
7 months ago |I would support this approach. A FF-NEX body could live for some time without native FF e-mount lenses.
Neo NiGHTS ®
7 months ago |Hasn’t the whole Nex system survived up to now without e-mount lenses?
*tongue in cheek*
tofanheu
7 months ago |Yeah agreed. They need to focus on APS-C lenses for E-mount and let the FF stay niche-ish for now.
Once they’ve built enough respect for the APS-C lens on the E-mount then they can go forth.
Mike
7 months ago |An A mount (like any full frame SLR/DSLR mount) on a “compact” mirrorless camera doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. What you’ll get is something that is chunky like the Pentax K-01 and that same camera Pentax is now blowing out at fire sale prices because apparently a not stellar implementation can’t be made up for by some fancy hotshot designer’s name signed on the bottom.
Note also the K-01 is almost the same size as Pentax’s similar spec’d DSLR, only it doesn’t have a finder of any sort optional or not.
Truly no point in going there and I’m sure Sony knows that.
My prediction: there will be no full frame *compact* interchangeable lens mirrorless camera from Sony in 2013 or from anyone in 2013 for that matter (Leica aside).
Sky_walker
7 months ago |I don’t think he was thinking about A-mount version of K-01. More like: Current A99 only without SLT mirror. Kinda like portrait-only (or landscape) camera (due to crippled AF).
Carl
7 months ago |The K-01 has a few problems;
-No viewfinder
-Slow AF
-Controversial design
-Barely smaller than a SLR
Would a A mount camera that was ultracompact but sidestepped all of these issues also be a failure? I’m not so convinced it would be. The A900 and A99 are much larger than an OM-1 or XD-7, both of which contain a full frame moving mirror and lots of wires and pulleys. If it was designed specifically for the purpose, I’d expect that a second curtain shutter mechanism, sensor stabaliser, gyro sensor, SD card writer, battery, electronic viewfinder and tiltable rear LCD could be squeezed into a package barely larger than a Pen FT. Possibly even a pellicle porromirror and a basic AF sensor package. We’d be paying extra to have everything shrunk like that, however, so whether or not the financial case for such a camera exists is another matter.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |I suppose you are right. Good indication on how small A-mount Full Frame cameras can be is just glancing at the Minoltas. Still though: the smaller you make it the worse will be it’s balance against professional lenses (say: 85 f/1.4), so I wouldn’t mind if Sony would simply try to make NEXes as small as it gets, while keeping A-mount as ergonomic and reliable as it gets. Two distinct directions, and two different applications. (And as far as I see: that’s exactly what Sony is doing right now)
Carl
7 months ago |Well, I don’t find the idea that large lens = professional to be very convincing. My 85/2.8 is pretty close in performance to my 85/1.4GDLE, but significantly smaller, simply by trading off a bit of speed.
The problem is trying to make a lens without spherical aberrations wide open using mainly spherical lens elements, it requires large lens elements and we end up with something illogically large like the 24/2 is. More relaxed designs like the 35/1.4 and 50/1.4 are quite a bit smaller at a given speed. Alternatively, use a bunch of aspherical elements and raise the price.
John Maverick
7 months ago |No, because with A-mount it is impossible to use all those incredible Zeiss ZM lenses that the SAR admin linked to in the submission.
Many are already using them with their NEX. They are tiny, beautifully made, and most importantly, have stellar image quality.
E-mount allows one to adapt everything (E,A,ZM, legacy) because of the short flange distance.
shamb
7 months ago |Which would explain the fixed lens full frame they just released.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |Uff…. reasonable priorities, good.
Most of the people will use FF mirrorless with adopted lenses anyway (say: M-mount from Zeiss or Voigtländer or Leica) so I don’t think it’ll be any huge problem, while I don’t think that Sony should try to create YET ANOTHER full system of lenses while they don’t even handle A-mount well, not to mention NEXes (although this year was definitely an improvement over previous).
Don Cox
7 months ago |I think they really need only three prime lenses for a FF NEX. Something like 25mm, 50mm and 100mm.
For the rest, we can use A-mount lenses (with adapter) and legacy lenses.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |Yes, I think this would do. Perhaps also with f/4 standard zoom for those who can’t bare primes. And just leave it at that. Add better support for 3rd party lenses (eg. like in Pentax: let people fill-in the focal length and aperture of a lens on their own so that it’d pop in EXIF data) and we’re set for next 25 years
.
John Maverick
7 months ago |They released the fullframe VG900 with no full-frame native lenses. I wouldn’t even bother with the SONY lenses. Real Zeiss ZM and Leica are much better IQ.
Ian
7 months ago |Maybe this is a silly question, but what exactly is the reason for having a mirror at all anymore, what am I missing?
woof woof
7 months ago |SLR and DSLR cameras have a mirror for two reasons, to provide an image to the optical viewfinder and to provide an image to the separate focus sensor.
Mirrorless cameras don’t need a mirror as they generate an electronic image for the EVF from the imaging sensor and use the imaging sensor for focusing too.
Rangefinder cameras don’t need a mirror either as they are (normally) manual focus and the optical viewfinder uses a different optical path to the one which leads to the film or imaging sensor.
roman
7 months ago |the most important reason is to get light to the focusing system based on phase detection which is still much superior to the contrast detection. when/if someone can come up with blazing fast contrast detection or phase detection directly on the sensor, we can get rid of the mirror for good. until then, people who require fast autofocus (sports photography is the most prominent area) will require phase detection autofocus outside of image sensor.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |It’s not only by far superior to a contrast detection, but also on-sensor PDAF.
In theory future belongs to hybrid systems (A99 dual AF comes in mind) which allow low-light focusing as well as focus-depth, automatic micro-adjustments, and other fancy stuff, but… we aren’t there yet and most likely won’t be in next year either.
Boooe
7 months ago |In theory, future belongs to PSF recognition and all waste of image-forming light for focusing will be forgotten.
BeachriderTflemingNewTfleming
7 months ago |Of course, ALL camera technology that wastes light (such as lens systems and sensor tech) needs exactly the same attention and spotlight in aximizing camera improvement.
woof woof
7 months ago |“the most important reason is to get light to the focusing system based on phase detection which is still much superior to the contrast detection. when/if someone can come up with blazing fast contrast detection or phase detection directly on the sensor, we can get rid of the mirror for good.”
I think I’m right in saying that the fastest focusing camera body and lens combination for static subjects is mirrorless. I think it’s only in focus tacking that phase detect is still faster but I expect that to change in time.
Spoon
7 months ago |“I think I’m right in saying that the fastest focusing camera body and lens combination for static subjects is mirrorless.”
Not if we are to believe Imaging Resource test results.
Joel Richards
7 months ago |How’s that?
Troj
7 months ago |Even if there’s enough light for the V1/J1 to work with PDAF, a D3S, 5DMKIII etc. can outpace it in certain AF modes. If the former 2 have to revert to CDAF, they trail most cameras. In which case the EM-5 would be the best contender. But even my old A500 performed better in a static test than the E-M5.
NEXfive
7 months ago |Nobody really expects Sony to become an enthusuastic lens manufacturer, they simply should sell their NEX-9 plus LA-EA3 Adapter to let their A-Mount customers take extra advantage from their already bought lenses, while I’d love to use my old Canon FDs until Sony excites me with their own NEX-FF lenses…
Sky_walker
7 months ago |In general for Sony probably a best idea would be to release something in as shape and size of Minolta Dynax 7 (small dSLR with great ergonomics, kinda like direct OM-D competitor, only: actually crushing it) but without any bayonet what so ever – instead sell 3 modules: A-mount, E-mount and M-mount. This should cover the needs of most, and give a chances for 3rd party to release adapters for EOS-M or X-mount. It’s probably the best choice of all, but… I think we all know what are a chances for that.
Joel Richards
7 months ago |I can see the appeal for some users but personally I hope not. I prefer the ergonomics of the 6/7 with the viewfinder to one side. With an EVF the top-mount non-articulated viewfinder seems like the kind of retro design that I dislike. Personally. I’ve got better vision out of my right eye so smashing a camera to my face to take a picture seemed like a necessary evil with SLRs but almost silly now.
Boooe
7 months ago |+1
Sky_walker
7 months ago |It’s by far more stable then smashing your camera into an eye.
In either way – I wouldn’t care much about form-factor as long as it has interchangeable bayonets. For you it might not work (though I suppose you should try the design like on A33 / medium format cameras – with viewfinder sticking out of the body so you wouldn’t touch it, if you are so allergic to keeping cameras steady), but for me it work. Still – it’s the least important thing from my post. Thanks for picking it up though
Maciej
7 months ago |And that’s why Leica (compact, mirrorless) cameras are so famous: they were able to do it. I don’t even mention superior Leica glass.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |Well, Leica will still have something that certain people can consider an edge over Sony’s “invention”: the optical viewfinder with rangefinder focusing. I don’t think Sony will ever decide to go this way with their pride over EVFs (which is a shame, cause I’d instantly buy a camera like that if priced reasonably).
Don Cox
7 months ago |Rangefinders are much too expensive to manufacture for Sony’s markets. They need accurate calibration in the factory.
Contrast detection in the actual image (as in a NEX)is the most accurate and reliable method, and needs no calibration. But it is not the fastest.
I think faster chips and improved software can speed it up considerably in future cameras.
Carl
7 months ago |Well, yes and no. Cosina OEMed a range of compact fixed lens rangefinders in the 70s that were at least reasonably affordable. I have the Minolta badged version (the 7sII). Rangefinders are of similar cost and complexity to a moving mirror+pentaprism setup, and we still see mid-range cameras that have those.
The problem, I guess, is that conventional rangefinder systems don’t afford themselves to autofocus, it’s merely a manual focus aid, and most camera companies aren’t able to pull themselves away from the idea that 99% of users are uninterested in focusing manually.
derrick s
7 months ago |that´s very sad to read :/ i was hoping for a new FF DSLR in may/june
Sky_walker
7 months ago |It doesn’t affect DSLRs / SLTs in any way. The news is only about NEX-FF.
derrick s
7 months ago |i hope you are right
can sonyalpharumors.com confirm that?
admin
7 months ago |I confirm. One more SLT FF in mid-late 2013.
yong
7 months ago |this would be the one with integrated VG. Not my cup of tea
Steve
7 months ago |So the current rumor is the 2013 full-frame release will continue with the SLT design?
I wonder what Sony will call it?
maybe a99.5???
That sounds like a FM radio station
Or maybe its not a “more pro” body like a Nikon D4 or Canon 1D it more like a Sony a850.
I would lovee to see a totally mirrorless A-mount.
2013 is my year to replace my current Sony full-frames as I got them in 2009 and I’m ready for something new
Judd
7 months ago |Is this the A1?
admin
7 months ago |yes. The name is not definitive! I just call it A1 for now
brin avery
7 months ago |Any insight if FF E-mount will be fixed mount or interchange-able mount (ala F5/F55) ?
Yong
7 months ago |i was hoping next month… lol
Dulaney Ward
7 months ago |Sony has tried hard to make the picture clear for us: no more flipping mirrors, no more optical viewfinders!
Ulu Bhai
7 months ago |A nex with a a-mount would be welcome…
a A88 would be welcome and a decent firmware upgrade for the A77 would be even more welcome!!!!!!
av
7 months ago |any improvment in the LA-EA3 ?
Paul
7 months ago |It seems more reasonneable to improve the A end E mount lenses rather than starting again a new mount ! No brand can support so many mounts.
Dulaney Ward
7 months ago |They are not talking about a new mount: same e-mount, just FF with FF lenses, making e-mount and a-mount parallel to one another.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |Well, making whole line of FF lenses for E-mount is as much work as starting up competently new mount. Same crap. Still 4 lines of lenses to maintain (E-DT, E-FF, A-DT, A-FF).
Nico
7 months ago |Sad… But who cares about Sony lenses for this FF Nex ? (they can make it later).
Everybody waiting for this body wants to use it with other lenses and adapter (Leica M, Zeiss zm, voigtlander, canon fd…) !
A lot of people will buy the new Leica “M” next spring because of increase iso and Liveview, and for a crazy price !!
I’m sure that the reason for end of 2013 is only the RX-1 sales !!!
Mike
7 months ago |I truly don’t care that we shouldn’t expect the FF Nex soon. I have the nex-7 and I preordered the nex-6. I plan on skipping the update to the 7 when that comes out. When Sony release the FF nex, then I will upgrade.
For now, I’m happy with my setup.
Joel Richards
7 months ago |The real key bit of missing information (IMHO) is how does the VG900 (ie existing FF E-mount camera) handle various rangefinder optical designs. I’m hopeful but I worry about the VG900–especially if it has an AA filter. Honestly, if it handles them well then why both waiting to release the camera, Sony has made it clear that it really isn’t in the game to make lenses. Sigma, CV, Zeiss, and other will step up to make lenses and in the meantime I can use all my legacy lenses and cropped e-mount lenses when I can autofocus. For that matter, give me electronic SSS when I use cropped frame glass and I’ll be even more thrilled!
Also, if Sony bought up the camera patents from Konica-Minolta then they’ve got excellent RF lens designs already sitting in their patent portfolio. Release an AF version of the Hexar RF 60mm 1.2 for E-mount. The full-framers will love it and the cropped-framers will love it too! Really Sony follow Fuji’s lead if you feel you must have lenses. Release a wide (~28mm), normal (~40-60mm), and mid-tele (~75-90mm) prime lens and call it a day. Especially with A-mount compatibility that will cover the basic needs/complaints of most users.
EDIT: I just found out that Konica had a whole basic line of RF lenses. Put the G-coating and AF on those babies and release the camera Sony!
Don Cox
7 months ago |I think you will find that adding autofocus to a lens requires a major redesign.
Autofocus doesn’t move the whole lens, as in most manual focus lenses, as that would eat batteries. Instead, just one (or two) element moves. So you have to design a lens that gives good resolution with the moving element in various positions.
Daniel
7 months ago |http://www.dchome.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1157475&extra=page%3D1
Some sample shots with VG900 and VM35/1.2 as well as Schneider 50/0.95, don’t bother with the translation as they are not of any importance, just chit chat
Joel Richards
7 months ago |The CV 35mm looks great! The Schneider has real issues but it doesn’t appear to be even truly full-frame with that much vingetting. I wonder how the CV classic series and 21mm fair?
Anton
7 months ago |Why is everyone getting so hot and bothered about a NEX FF? What on earth is wrong with the current crop? Does it not blow everyone’s minds that we can now walk around with pocketable cameras that can easily shoot RAW at 3200 ISO? (and for 6×4 prints, my Nex F3 can do 6400 ISO very comfortably) What sort of new frontier would a NEX FF explore? What sort of new kind of photography would it allow? Honestly, I’d rather see a cropped NEX without AA filter as the next big innovation/experiment from Sony.
And the following statement made my Monday,week and month:
“Currently the priorities are those:
1) Develop and produce new E-mount lenses for the current cameras”
At long last, thank you Sony
spaceman
7 months ago |I agree Anton.
APS-C lenses and new APS-C sensor innovation should take higher priority for the NEX system. A FF NEX option for the legacy shooters would be a nice option though, and marketing-wise it would call for even more respect from all the “real” camera companies.
Dennis
7 months ago |Which market will provide bigger profit and sales number for sony? FF NEX body only for those people using M lens and MF, or APSC NEX and E mount lens for the public public to use native lens with AF?
obican
7 months ago |I have the Nex-7 and I use it for everything else except one thing: DOF.
Yes, it has some, but it can never beat a 35mm FF camera in that subject, thus I’ve bought a cheap Canon 5d mark 1
John Maverick
7 months ago |Imagine your NEX 6/7 with a fullframe sensor. Nothing changes in terms of the use of the camera and existing SEL, Sigma 19,30 and Zeiss 24 and newly announced lenses.
But, if you want you can also use your A-mount lenses with full-image circle via LA, and the tiny, but amazing IQ Zeiss, Leica and Voigt lenses.
That’s nice option for the premium model of the range.
Anton
7 months ago |Guys, I do take your points completely.
Yes: it would be good for Sony to have the tiniest interchangeable lens system (for bragging rights).
Yes: it would be nice to use legacy lenses at their “proper” length.
At the same time: I have been using my FD and OM lenses on my F3 (and my old GF1). These lenses are nice enough on a cropped sensor and you avoid their outer circle weaknesses. Also, goodness only knows what lens blemishes will be uncovered by a monster 24-26Mp, modern FF sensor. Some times, it’s better to stick to the fantasy
In terms of shallow DOF, I get some from my Sigma 30mm. And if Sony actually produce the goods (eg a nice f2 35mm that does not cost nearly $1,000 like Canon’s latest) the future is theirs.
FF on a NEX would be really nice to have at some point, but I would put lenses, lenses, lenses and AF improvements, before anything else.
Joel Richards
7 months ago |Why not do both? Personally, at even 11-12Mpix cropped the 24mpx FF Sony sensor would be great to use with my existing e-mount lenses for shooting when I need autofocus but would let me get full use from my growing collection of manual focus glass. If I want a full-frame zoom I’ll use the LA-E3 and the whole thing will be big and heavy but quality zooms almost always are IHMO.
In the mean time, keep developing the e-mount lens line-up. If you make a FF AF lens then make a fast 60mm which would be useful in both FF and APS-C. Then make a 20 or 28mm and a 90mm prime to fill in the gaps in both FF and APS-C. Then push Sigma, CV, and Zeiss to make the rest. Sigma sells the low end, CV the mid, and Zeiss adapts the ZM line for $$$.
EDIT: I can see the need to launch a FF NEX with at least 2-3 compatible AF primes but I personally would buy just the body and I don’t think I’m alone.
Anton
7 months ago |You see, apart from anything else, this is the kind of comment that puts the fear into Sony
They pour R&D resources into a really clever NEX FF body (advanced focus peeking to deal with FF, awesome miniaturisation, etc).
Then we buy it for, say, $900 about 6 months after it’s released (the RX1 is $2,500 so take away its superb lens and you’d be left with a body at $1,200 SRP; yes I know it’s not at all a scientific calculation but it’s not a horrid guestimate).
And we never touch any Sony lenses because we are too busy playing with our legacy lenses.
Oops! That’s not good news for Sony.
They will eventually come up with a NEX FF body, but they will need to have put in place a library of good enough lenses to divert people from their legacy gear.
Honestly, I cannot see this happening any time before 2015.
samdman
7 months ago |What ever happened to the Hybrid mount we heard last year? Altogether with the rumored squared A1 sensor, might as well release them, methink. (WHICH by the way might hurt even Sony’s line of established system of FF and APS-C type???)
To me, even Sony’s own game of technology advancement might even hurt their own.
So, a lot of matters need to decided unlightly.
Joel Richards
7 months ago |Maybe this hybrid camera will use the FZ mount from the pro division. I imagine the FZ mount could be adapted to the A or E mount but would necessitate a camera bigger than the NEX-7.
“The flange focal depth is 18 mm, like Sony’s E-Mount. Physically, Sony’s FZ mount has a much large diameter than the E-mount.”
http://www.fdtimes.com/2012/10/30/sony-f55-and-f5/
rishio
4 months ago |i’m surprised more people don’t talk about this mount. I’d like to see more info on it. It also brings up another interesting point – if sony is using the fz-mount combined with adapters to pl-mount/etc for their pro video cameras, why wont they do the same by using the nex mount with an a-mount adapter for pro photo cameras.
exm3racer
7 months ago |Given the limited resources they should do this:
release FF NEX with E-mount and develop LA-EA4 (bigger LA-EA2).
That way there is FF A-mount lenses to use right away and we can start making images.
Then start developing E-mount FF lenses next. This puts a lot of risk on the consumers and possibly would limit the adoption rate of the camera.
I don’t see a real urgent need to be refreshing current A-mount lenses.
There are very high quality FF and crop zooms.
High quality 70-200 2.8
High quality G zooms 300mm and 400mm
High quality 85mm and 135mm 1.4′s
Zeiss 50mm 1.4 is coming
Sigma has a new 35 1.4 coming out and has a real nice 50mm 1.4 already.
From a user standpoint it seems we are covered. I’m not familiar with what else needs to be refreshed, maybe wide angle and a TS lens?
Sky_walker
7 months ago |–double post
Sky_walker
7 months ago |“I don’t see a real urgent need to be refreshing current A-mount lenses.”
LOL…. let me guess… you are not an A-mount shooter?
Cause most of people actively shooting A-mount (and actually buying lenses) clearly see the need for urgent refreshes at least of several lenses, not even saying about releasing new, stuff, missing in line-up.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |As for refreshing: Almost all of the Zeiss lenses need SSM, 70-200 needs replacement that’s sharp wide-open, fisheye, long macro lens, 11-18mm, 35mm f/1.4 come in mind first.
As for missing: 600mm tele is still missing (not even saying about specialized lenses like 700-800mm), at least 3 UWA lenses are missing (two full frame zoon, APS-C prime and zoom), f/4 weather-sealed lenses (or at least beercan equivalent), 50 or 85mm STF, Tilt Shift, circular fisheye (or fisheye zoom), super-bright lenses (f/1.2, please), mid-range telephoto prime (f/4… even Pentax has 300mm f/4), tele-macro (over 150mm macro lens)….
I guess I could list few more but IMHO that’s good enough to prove the point that A-mount does really need lots of lenses as well.
Dirk
7 months ago |Partly agree.
In my opinion A-Mount DT soon will become a dead-end.
Taking the success of NEX series into account and that Sony will for sure release a low end FF it would make no sense.
Regarding the A-Mount FF setup (although all being very pretty lenses) I’d appreciate the 24, 85 and 135 Zeiss to get SSM and sealing. Zeiss 1635 and 2470 shall be sealed as well as the G’s 70200 and 70400.
The 50/1,4 SSM Zeiss is coming for sure.
What’s missing from my point of view?
A Fisheye, a fast UWW prime 14mm, a short macro 50/2, a tele macro 150/2.8, a set of TS lenses like 16, 50 and 85mm.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |I don’t think that DT A-mount is a dead end. There are loads of people who don’t want to go FF for various reasons, while DT A-mount keeps a lot of advantages that NEXes don’t even bother to offer. Also while for the same amount of money you can either have crippled Full Frame or fully professional APS-C body then I see perfect reason for going with a smaller sensor (especially when you can cover wider range of focal lengths with DT then you can with FF).
Besides, despite of local craziness about mirrorless in Japan, parts of Europe and US a whole rest of the world isn’t very excited about it so I doubt Sony or any other manufacturer can afford seeing APS-C reflex cameras as a dead end.
Dirk
7 months ago |Maybe.
I just consider from a economical point of view.
In the end DT and FF are two separated R&D departments, two separated product lines, which is by taking the ML series and its approach into account financially unreasonable.
By calling it a dead end I don’t expect it to come quickly – but the next decade I’m sure will start without DT lines.
Carl
7 months ago |The selection of high quality prime lenses in the wide angle and longer telephoto ranges is very slim indeed. If one shoots only in the 85-200mm range I guess there is no problem, but for most focal lengths we’re forced to use a hulking great zoom if we want optical quality that matches the quality of our sensors.
DemonDuck
7 months ago |Advances in sensor design and manufacture will make moot the need for full frame cameras. APS-C will be the standard sensor size and full frame cameras will be seen the same as we now see medium format cameras today.
In 5 years, the desire and need for full frame cameras will be the concerns of only a few photographers.
In the mean time, E-mount lenses will continue to improve and even Sigma will start producing them. They will be more or less a third “standard” along with Nikon and Canon APS-C lenses.
daenur
7 months ago |On the contrary, I think ASP-C will gradually become obsolete and go away, as FF cameras (like D600) will become increasingly affordable.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |If it’d be that simple noone would invest in m4/3 and this one should become obsolete 2 years ago while APS-C mirrorless matched it with pricing (or actually – run for less in some cases).
simon
7 months ago |just give us the damn camera, we want the camera not lenses there are plenty of good ff lenses out there to use with such a camera.
Adam
7 months ago |Hmm, I wonder how will this pans out, the point of mirrorless is to make a lightweight and portable camera then a DSLR. Unless they can magically make a compact (probably Leica noctilux size seems reasonable), lightweight, and of good quality FF lens, wouldn’t this be the opposite idea of mirrorless cameras?
I don’t have a problem if they increase the size of the NEX camera body to accommodate the larger sensor and hopefully to solve the video overheat issue. I live in a tropical weather climate country, and the NEX 7 easily overheats (if the NEX replacement solves this, I’ll consider upgrading or I’m still thinking should I wait at to see Sony move in adopting a FF E-Mount NEX).
Vladimir
7 months ago |…then FUJI X-FF.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |To be honest – I wouldn’t mind if Fuji X-PRO2 would be full frame. I’d seriously consider buying it over E-mount camera.
Daniel
7 months ago |I think I read an interview stating that the Fuji X mount is not capable of house a FF sensor. Of all the interviews with their developers, seem only the E mount is capable of doing FF.
Sky_walker
7 months ago |Yes, I’m aware of that. But elsewhere I also read that Fuji is looking into using a new mount and an adaptors.
For me – the X PRO-2 might have no mount at all. I don’t care about Fuji lenses nor will ever use them. But I’d love to use ZM lenses on digital rangefinder (sadly: can’t afford digital Leica :/).
GreenLens
7 months ago |Fuji’s idea is to beat FF, not implement it!
Angry Anonymous
7 months ago |It’s easy. Mark ISO 1200 as 3200, ISO 2400 as 6400, etc. Then say in advertisements x-trans sensor provides higher than bayer resolution. Although it’s obviously the BS (take a look at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12196364/samples/Screenshot%20from%202012-10-30%2022%3A39%3A34.png, from up to down, from left to right: D800e, NEX-5n, Pentax K-01, Fuji XPro), but no one will actually care about this.
In fact, the only real thing they actually did (besides creating quite good lenses, still not leica level though) is excellent jpeg engine which is indeed exceeds everything on the market and rivals best raw converters (for example, you need expensive software like dxo filmpack, vsco film, etc to get nicely looking colors).
Rob P
7 months ago |They don’t even need to make any lenses for a FF NEX-9. Just release the damn thing with IBIS and an M-mount adapter and people will sell their children for it.
Wayne Summers
7 months ago |I have close to 10 lenses for my nex and every one of them is MF. The only good lens for the nex is the CZ and I don’t have the money for that at the current moment. I would work 3 jobs to get a full frame nex and I am sure they will make one soon so I think I will start saving now.
GreenLens
7 months ago |Too bad. You won’t have time for chats then!
rod90
7 months ago |Sony is on the right track.
Their body design for the NEX7 is perfect. Just stick a FF sensor in there with PDAF on the sensor like the A99, IBIS, add a few electrical contacts to the lens mount to make it much more universal so that 3rd party companies or Sony can license some tech from whoever and make adapters so that any lens can work just as well as native NEX lenses.
This way Sony gets to be the new Kodak selling bodies and sensors and using any glass you want How awesome would that be?
Combustion Justin
7 months ago |I don’t care about full frame e-mount when there is a perfectly good e-mount to A-mount converter. Sure it adds size but the glass is going to need to be bigger anyway to cover full-frame so the puny little NEX camera is going to be off balanced and weird anyway. If you want to shoot with big lenses get a bigger camera. Keep producing A-mount G and Zeiss lenses and keep trickling in a few e-mount lenses to keep the pocket NEX gang happy too.
Like if the RX1 had a full frame e-mount would you put the 70-400 on there? What’s the point.
Maybe I’m missing something but it seems like everyone wants a panavision in a GOPRO with really nice Leica lenses but they want to pay for an NEX3 and bitch about the viewfinder that’s missing.
Me I just bought the A99 and it’s everything I need. Now I’ll just bring the RX100 with me when I don’t want the big camera.
Douglas
7 months ago |NEX 7 successor need to Improve high Iso performance, fix the overheating on video, fast zoom e-mount lens, clean hdmi output, manual audio control.
I don’t eat the NEX FF idea yet, need good and bigger lens for this, so, for this i will stay with a A99.
Sony is doing well, with new lenses for A and E mounts, we already have great cameras now we need great lenses.
John Maverick
7 months ago |The ZM25 biogon is regarded as about the best wide-angle in existence. Virtually no distortion, and so sharp it handily out-resolves current sensor tech. Remember symmetrical wides have inherent design advantages over reverse-retrofocal wides.
The ZM50, is also sharper than the Summicron 50, and with typical Zeiss higher contrast.
It would be fantastic to have a full-frame SONY camera that could mount them.
NotME
7 months ago |Why doesn’t Sony(or any 3rd party manufacturer) make a MFT to NEX adapter with auto-focus and aperture control support? Both mounts are open. It can works in crop mode(multi aspect ratio). The advantage is an access to wider range of MFT lenses. This way, the future FF NEX would have 2 crop mode, APS-C and MFT.
John Maverick
7 months ago |SONY already make the best 4/3 sensors, including the OMD-EM5. They make money everytime Olympus sells a camera, so there’s not much incentive to compete in the same space.
On the other hand, a NEX that could also mount all the great full-frame lenses out there can probably only be made by SONY. It’s where they have a marketing and technical competitive advantage.
daenur
7 months ago |I hope they don’t go down the route of building YET ANOTHER line of lenses. They have APS-C, FF Alpha, NEX and now a FOURTH one? No way.
If there is any market for an FF NEX, it’s very limited anyway, so making it a priority doesn’t make sense.
Agree with what Sky_walker said above, Sony Pro (FF) lens line needs a lot of attention.
gin esso
7 months ago |For video they also currently make PL and FZ mount lenses. What’s interesting is the new F5/F55 cameras have interchangable mounts. And Sony is promoting adaptability of other manufacture’s still lenses for pro video through the FZ mount.
I would imagine FF E-mount lenses would be a much easier sell than native FZ mount glass. And FF E-mount could probably work on all APS-C NEX cameras. Not too different of a situation than current FF A-mount glass in the Alpha A lineup.
georgcrismed
7 months ago |will increase a little distance from the lens to the focal plane of the image circle is bigger and build a body mount of the camera a bit more prominent not think is a big challenge …?
Jurka
7 months ago |Hi!
Today i am tested vg-900.
E-mount IS NOT fullframe, it is about 1,8-2,0 x times crop.
A-mount is fullframe, but WITHOUT autofocus.
Piece of crap…