Steve Spencer
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 p.24 #19 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount | |
philip_pj wrote:
Listening to Rich Schleuning, it is very clear this is just the start of a new line, one Zeiss are likely to put out ahead of the specialist Loxias, in which they originally promised five lenses.
It is only speculation, but Zeiss rarely do anything by half measures in 'own brand' lenses - Touit being the exception as Sony moves away from APS-C in this age of $1000 full frame bodies.
Contax Yashica had 30 lenses, ZEF around 11, ZM almost as many as that. All these ranges had very good spans with short separation, ZEF being the most recent had 15-18-21-25-28-35 (f1.4, f2)-50 (f1.4, f2)-85-100-135. Canon and Nikon are long lens specialists so Zeiss chased the 'enthusiast' focal lengths in ZEF, ZM stopped at 85.
Zeiss are big on common ergo and put considerable work into it with Batis. There are going to be just three Otus lenses, project 'halo' pro lenses if you will. They have now completed ZEF and ZM, so they have plenty of scope to develop full frame stills lenses in their favorite 135 format. They might be out to use FE as a vehicle and REALLY do the job well. Given a little time, of course. What if they duplicate the focal lengths in ZEF? The quality will not surprise, their latest lenses are 135/2 APO, Otus 55/85 and the hard to find Loxias.
Finally, AF zooms may enter the picture. The 35-70 still surprises after 20 years, can you say that about any contemporaneous Canon or Nikon zoom - no. They were noisy, clunky and heavy, hideous AF. No special anything in the CY either. Imagine a new version plus an 80-200/4.
Lacking C/N's range depth, Sony must be delighted....Show more →
I think you are right that eventually the Batis line will be a full line, but not right away and it only makes sense to consider the Sony/Zeiss lenses as it develops. So what does that mean? In my view I think that means that the next lenses we can expect are something wider perhaps an 18mm f/2.8 or 3.5 (this has no Sony/Zeiss competition), something longer perhaps a 135mm f/2 or f/2.5 (this has no Sony/Zeiss E mount competition, but does have A mount competition). I would also expect a shorter macro perhaps a 60mm f/2 or f/2.8. Then I think the next obvious moves are for a 35 f/2 and a 50 f/1.4 (these have Sony/Zeiss competition at the focal length but not the aperture and Loxia competition for the 35 at both focal length and aperture and at 50 just at the focal length). This would give a Batis line of 18, 25, 35, 50, 60 (macro), 85, and 135. Not a bad line-up at all. Not quite complete, but all fairly different from the Sony/Zeiss offerings. To that if they could add a nice 24-85ish f/4 zoom, and perhaps a 400 f/4 (borrowing from their excellent Contax N designs), they could add a great deal of functionality to the FE mount and I think sell quite a few lenses without competing with the Sony/Zeiss lenses that are available. Of course they might leave some of these lenses to be developed by Sony and they might add a lens or two that do compete with Sony/Zeiss or Sony G offerings if the Sony lenses don't sell well or aren't up to expectations.
This Batis line has also led me to rethink the Loxia line. I think I was wrong in initially predicting the next three Loxia lenses would be a 18, 25, and 85. Given these Batis lenses, I would be very surprised if that happens. Instead I think all three lenses will be wider, where I think there is more demand from videographers. I also expect Zeiss to avoid competition with the Batis lenses where they can. So I would expect something like a 15 or 16mm fisheye, a 21mm, and a 28mm. This would give a Loxia line with a 15 or 16mm fisheye, a 21mm, a 28mm, a 35mm and a 50mm. That would go a long way toward providing solid lenses for video for the system and would keep their commitment of making 5 Loxia lenses.
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