Steve Spencer
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 p.8 #2 · p.8 #2 · Now In-Stock: Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM ($2,998) | |
bjornthun wrote:
The Zeiss Batis range contains three f/2 lenses, 25/2, 40/2, 85/1.8, and my impression is that these may no longer be the long term success Zeiss had hoped for. It is almost two years since the Batis 40/2 came out, and it had AF issues and was quite large for a 40/2 lens. Has Zeiss since lost interest? Surely Sony, Sigma et al have been watching this. So, I think too that a GM f/2 range might run into trouble. The Sony 35/1.8 is the right size, I think. Could Sony turn it into a GM lens while maintaining the small size with a 55mm filter thread?
The new 12-24/2.8 GM weighs about as much as three Zeiss Batis lenses, and covers a lot of ground....Show more →
It really is an interesting question about what set of lenses sells. Although, it looks like the Batis lenses were not a great success, both Nikon (with the Z mount) and Leica (with the L mount) have taken a similar strategy. Nikon has a whole set of f/1.8S (and S in their premium line for mirrorless) primes (20, 24, 35, 50, & 85) and these lenses are genuinely well regarded and although not small, not huge and generally fall right around 400-500g. Leica for the L mount has built a whole set of APO summicron (i.e., f/2) lenses (35, 50, 75, & 90) as their primary lenses for the L mount. These lenses are a bit big (typically around 750g) but are fantastic optically and even though f/2 still carry the hefty Leica price. Canon of course didn't go this route at first but now have a 35 f/1.8, a 50 f/1.8, and an 85 f/2 and have took the interesting approach of making the 35 and 85 (and maybe the 50?) 1:2 magnification macros.
So, I think it makes sense for Sony to rethink their lineup of smaller lenses. They have a lot of small lenses, the 20 f/1.8 G, 24 f/1.4 GM, 28 f/2, Sony/Zeiss 35 f/2.8 ZA, 35 f/1.8, 50 f/1.8, 50 f/2.8 Macro, Sony/Zeiss 55 f/1.8, 85 f/1.8, but there isn't a coherence to this lineup of small lenses. You have an excellent 20 f/1.8 G lens, and an even better 24 f/1.4 GM, but you also have a fairly weak 28 f/2 and everything in between. What I would like to see Sony do is launch a series of small G prime lenses using the 20 f/1.8G as a sort of model. These could be lenses generally less than 400g, with a close MFD, very good aberration control, sharp, and better than decent bokeh. The price should be under $1,000.
They could start with a 28 f/1.8, where an additional lens is definitely needed. Then add a 50 f/1.8 as an alternative to both the cheap plain 50 f/1.8 and even the Sony/Zeiss which is starting to get a bit long in the tooth. If these sell well then add a 35 f/1.8 with 1:2 macro and an 85 f/1.8 with OS (and at least 1:3 max magnification at MFD) and a bit sharper than the current plain 85 f/1.8 (and with better bokeh than the Batis)--I know this is a tall order but it won't be easy to justify why this lens costs more than the already excellent plain 85 f/1.8. Together these would make an excellent line of G primes to compete with Nikon, Canon, and the L-mount. A line of such G lenses at 20, 28, 35, 50, & 85 all under 400g (well maybe keep the 85 under 500g), would be excellent for people who want to keep their kit smaller.
Of course these aren't the only lenses Sony needs to develop. A replacement for the Sony/Zeiss 35 f/1.4 seems needed. Do they make a 50 f/1.2? What about all the long lenses? One would think they would want a 300 f/2.8 and 500 f/4 at least. Do they make a 200 f/2? Do they make a 200-400 f/4 zoom? How about DO/PF lenses? How about tilt/shift lenses?
Sony has built a wonderful system of lenses, but it is not as though they don't still have a lot of work to do. I am glad I don't have to decide, even at this fairly mature state of their system, what to build and what to wait to build.
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The price is pretty steep though! I might be interested in this but maybe not right now.