FE Distagon by SLRclub.

Note for US readers: A couple of Distagon lenses are in Stock at Amazon US (Click here). Refurbished 55mm FE for $749 on [shoplink 35281 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].

Many bloggers and photographers are testing the new FE lenses. Time for a new roundup:

Diglloyd is testing the new Zeiss Distagon FE 35mm lens.

A camera system needs at least one outstanding lens that makes owning that system worthwhile. Or rather, a lens that is so appealing that the camera body becomes an accessory.
Until now, that Sony A7 series platform has been a study in “good enough”. That system mediocrity ends now with the Sony/Zeiss FE 35mm f/1.4 Distagon. The question is whether lens siblings of similar quality will emerge to complete the nucleus of a complete system that demanding photographers hunger for.
Dang, where is that 50 or 80 megapixel Sony A9 with real 14-bit files?

Just a note for Digglloyd. Do not forget there is an excellent 55mm FE lens in the line up :)

Steve Huff tested the FE 28mm lens:

As for this 28mm, it is to me, a no brainer at $450. You will not find a better new production 28mm for full frame for this price, period. While not perfect due to the distortion that is present without correction or using a lens profile, it is easily overcome. Shoot JPEG and they are perfect out of the camera. Shoot RAW and you will need to apply the camera lens profile to fix the distortion, but when it is fixed the images will be gorgeous.

Amateur Photographer also tested the 28mm lens:

This 28mm lens may not be quite as optically stunning as the Zeiss-branded 55mm f/1.8 or 35mm f/2.8, but it’s still pretty sharp wide open, and once it’s stopped down to normal working apertures of, say, f/5.6 to f/11, it’s very good indeed. It’s also small and light enough to slip into your bag and carry around, where larger lenses may be left behind.

Mark Galer is testing the 90mm macro lens:

This is sharpest lens I have tested since the original 55 and 35 mm primes. It is sharp at maximum aperture and stacks up well with the 55 F1.8. I like the fact that the Focus ring, when put in Manual Focus, has definite stops and was surprised that it was not as heavy as it looks. It is well balanced lens on the A7R. Sony’s Eye AF was quick and accurate – even with such a narrow depth of field. I posted two full size JPEGs to a Flickr album so Alpha users can pixel peep.

Amateur Photographer reviewed the 24-240mm lens:

In essence, the 24-240mm has the quality of a good kit lens, but with a focal length that can’t be equalled without a significant financial, and backbreaking, investment in extra glass. Those who demand the best image quality already know the downside to travel-zoom lenses, and this Sony 24-240mm optic certainly won’t be for them, but as a travel companion I think this will form a good partnership, especially with the Alpha 7 II and its advanced image stabilisation system.

More tests:
Sony FE 28mm f/2 Samples Gallery (Dpreview).
Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS real-world samples posted (Dpreview).
28mm FE review at SLRclub.
35mm f/1.4 FE review at SLRclub.
Distagon image samples by Paulferzoco.

All new FE lens preorder links:
In USA at:
Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 FE at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Sony US.
Sony 90mm f/2.8 FE at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Sony US.
Sony 24-240mm FE at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Sony US.
Sony 28mm f/2.0 FE at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, FocusCamera, Sony US.
Sony Fisheye Conversion Lens for FE 28mm F/2 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony Ultra-Wide Conversion Lens for FE 28mm F/2 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony Fisheye Converter for E 16mm F/2.8 and E 20mm F/2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
Sony Ultra-Wide Converter for E 16mm F2.8 and E 20mm F2.8 at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at:
Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 FE at Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Sony 90mm f/2.8 FE at Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Sony 24-240mm FE at Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Sony 28mm f/2.0 FE at Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Wide Angle converter at Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Fisheye converter at Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Wide angle converter for 16 and 20mm lenses at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Fisheye converter for 16 and 20mm lenses at Sony DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
In Asia/Australia at:
Sony 24-240mm FE lens at Digitalrev, CameraPRO, Sony Australia.
Sony 28mm FE lens at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.
Sony 90mm FE lens at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.
Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 FE lens at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.
Wide angle converter for 16 and 20mm lenses at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.
Fisheye converter for 16 and 20mm lenses at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.

 
Image courtesy: Carline Jensen (please do not use them without the authors permission)

Sony Artisan Caroline Jensen posted a nice set of images shot with the brand new Velvet 56mm f/1.6 A-mount lens on the Sony A7s. See them all at carolinejensen website (Click here). She writes:

The Velvet 56  has a dreamy book too, and a killer build (very similar to all metal vintage lenses) with dreamy halation properties (the velvet look) from f1.6 to about f4. When you stop down the halation diminishes and it becomes a standard lens that is razor sharp. The only way I can describe it is that it has an “old Hollywood” feel. 

The lens can be bought at Lensbaby’s website (Click here).

Image courtesy: Carline Jensen (please do not use them without the authors permission)

[shoplink 34680 ebay][/shoplink]

ePhotozine (Click here) posted the full review of the World’s First 2:1 Magnification Lens with Infinity Focus. So it’s worth to check out the review even if they tested the lens on the Canon mount version:

At 2:1 ratio, the front of the lens is just about 5cm from the subject which can lead to the camera and lens blocking ambient light, so something you have to learn to deal with. IQ is of course of prime importance, and this lens is very sharp. If your focus is precise, you will find the detail produced is excellent. My early experience in using this lens is that it is most definitely worth the purchase price and more!

You can buy the lens for $379 from [shoplink 34680 ebay]eBay Hong Kong sellers (Click here)[/shoplink].