March 2009 SONY new bodies, new lens

[synapseman]

DPreview's Andy Westlake on DT 50 f1.8

http://blog.dpreview.com/editorial/2009/03/where-are-the-portrait-lenses.html

... have to say that I agree with him.

Good read.

Yes, 50mm DT is a waste of time. At least with a regular 50mm, even though it's neither here nor there on APS-C, there's still that option of mounting it on FF. If anything, it's just a marketing ploy by Sony to get less informed people to buy the 50/DT. Lots of people seem to like buying the 50 without knowing what they're going to use it for (including myself!!), and in the end, it becomes a white elephant.

 

[weishengg]

Good read.

Yes, 50mm DT is a waste of time. At least with a regular 50mm, even though it's neither here nor there on APS-C, there's still that option of mounting it on FF. If anything, it's just a marketing ploy by Sony to get less informed people to buy the 50/DT. Lots of people seem to like buying the 50 without knowing what they're going to use it for (including myself!!), and in the end, it becomes a white elephant.

if it has SSM, cheap and light, why not?
i don't think people (professionals, enthusiasts and the rich excluded) have to always place such high priority on FF-compatibility. how many years is it before you'll upgrade to a FF model? 2-3 years? why not enjoy what you have on the APS-C for now?
Perhaps this lens has better CA control
Perhaps this lens focus faster (it better do)
Perhaps this lens is sharper

so once again, if its cheap, why not?
its a good way to get people kick started into prime lenses or into the A-mount. may not be the best lens for you, but i think its a good one for the company.

 

[tsan81]

Good read.

Yes, 50mm DT is a waste of time. At least with a regular 50mm, even though it's neither here nor there on APS-C, there's still that option of mounting it on FF. If anything, it's just a marketing ploy by Sony to get less informed people to buy the 50/DT. Lots of people seem to like buying the 50 without knowing what they're going to use it for (including myself!!), and in the end, it becomes a white elephant.

It is waste of time for ppl who are looking forward to switch to FF (including myself). I would rather go for old 50mm f.17, so that I can use it for FF next time, Or if I wished to play with a film camera. At least I have options.

For ppl who wish to stick to APS-C for good, then it is a blessing - they no need to search hard for an old/cheap/good minolta 50mm. I think that old minolta 50mm f.17 are overpriced these days. If DT 50 is cheap (under $200??), then it will be good. If DT 50 is expensive, people might as well go for sony 50 f1.4.

 

[Rashkae]

For ppl who wish to stick to APS-C for good, then it is a blessing -

Agreed. There are a lot of people who will be happy to stick with aps-C, especially the mom-and-pops who bought a DSLR to take pictures of their kids and want a cheap portrait lens.

We need to stop thinking like the minority (pros looking to FF) and start thinking from a consumer perspective. A cheap 50mm for the masses who bought the A200/A300/A350 can only be a good thing.

 

[TME]

tamron got 28-75 what. and speaking of which the sony 28-75 looks a little familiar to the tamron design

Mmm.... it's not the same... lens design for 24mm and 28mm is quite different... once you read 24mm, the distortion can become quite pronounced as well as vignetting... so not quite comparable... especially at constant f/2.8...

 

[Titan10k]

It's been said a lot lately why the DT 50 would be a bad idea, and let me reiterate here again:

Ask yourself, why you bought the 50 f1.7 in the first place? For portraiture? I doubt not. Some may actually buy it for portraiture, but most probably have no idea why, like bro synapseman has stated. The 50 f1.7 has such great appealing because it's about the cheapest fast prime that you can get. Portraiture comes in as an application because you may never find any other use for it. 50mm on APS-C is never a good focal length for portraiture.

If they want to give us a DT portraiture prime, then make it a proper 60mm. Else a DT 35mm would make lots of sense as a standard prime on APS-C. Hate to say this, but when i first read about the new Nikon APS-C 35/1.8, i was like "wow, great idea", and my reaction to Sony DT 50/1.8 was like "wtf... Canon's already offered a FF 50 for $120..."

If you're excited about the SSM on these new lenses, remind yourself that they're most likely the consumer graded version, micro-motor, not the true ring-motor like those found on the G or CZ. Micro-motor is certainly quieter than screw-in counterpart, but not necessarily faster. I highly doubt those new things will be faster the A700 motor.

 

[synapseman]

The main issue is more of focal length than anything else. Not so much the features. It could well be CZ G SSM f/1.2 selling at S$550, but really, what's the point? 50mm on 135mm format was versatile as it was moderately wide enough for general phototaking. 50mm was designed, and stood the test of time because it "looked right" through the viewfinder of a 135mm format camera.

But 50mm DT? It's equivalent to 75mm on APS-C, and I have to agree with the author that traditionally, 75mm primes on 135mm format were not produced for good reason. It's not wide enough for general shots, and just that bit too short for a proper portrait shot. Of course, it's not to say that a lens with an effective focal length of 75mm is useless. I'm sure that many people have taken excellent street & landscape shots and portraits with this lens. Is just that, IMO, it's a bit too restrictive. Neither here nor there.

A fast 30mm DT would be a much better way to go.

 

[weishengg]

The 50 f1.7 has such great appealing because it's about the cheapest fast prime that you can get.

totally agree! but of course that's not the only appeal, i find 50mm on aps-c convenient for portrait shots in a group setting in a small event. i use 28mm aps-c if i want portraits of friends since we tend to be physically much closer together

If you're excited about the SSM on these new lenses, remind yourself that they're most likely the consumer graded version, micro-motor, not the true ring-motor like those found on the G or CZ. Micro-motor is certainly quieter than screw-in counterpart, but not necessarily faster. I highly doubt those new things will be faster the A700 motor.

Not too sure about this though.
As far as I remember, SSM is sony's tradename/marketing name for their ultrasonic motor, same as USM and SWM or SWD or SDM. they work on the same principle of using friction of the oscillating stator to drive a rotational motion in the ring rotor.

As for micro-motor, i don't think it is a appropriate definition for the working principle of a motor. directly interpreted, it is just a small motor. the ultrasonic motor can be considered a micro-motor. and so can a small dc coil motor be considered micromotor.
if your in-camera screw driven motor is small enough, you can call it a micromotor too!

And after writing these, i realized i made a wrong assumption. i assumed that these lenses that Sony displayed had SSM in them because the AF/MF switch was on them. Walas, for all i know it could just be a small dc coil motor (a.k.a. micro-motor) on them instead! Damn...

But in any case, there is no guarantee that SSM is faster than the A700 motor. However, SSMs have much higher potential to be faster, quieter, more accurate, more precise. Speccing the components in a SSM differently (such as the control circuit, the oscillator, the coating, the material etc...) would result in different performance of a SSM.

So, if Sony does give me a SSM in the DT50mm, i would be excited about its potential to be faster and more accurate. And be damned if Sony gives me a low-specced SSM

 

[TME]

Hmm... so PMA has come and gone... and it looks like I'll have to settle for the A900... haiz... would still have preferred to have a full frame with lower resolution...

 

[navlem]

This time the PMA quite disappointing, only the Cybershot HX1 is the interesting thing. No new dslr bodies

 

[pipo999]

As already announed weeks before the PMA started in a Sony press conference (somewhat pages back here in this thread).

Apart from the proposed body, nothing so much happened lens wise as well as alot of us were hoping on new ranges and 'G' material.

Retailers will be happy, it allows them for packages and kits and Sony will further barge into the market like an elephant, becoming a serious threat for Canon and Nikon. Pity however that the loyal user who has spent thousands of dollars is left with not so many choices but high-end, needing to splash another thousands of dollars.

Now the question is, like me and other who slowly wish to upgrade. Wait until the announcement comes? And announcement does not mean release so this could take another 9 months.

Change to A700? Two years old in the meantime.
Or trash on the A900? Any change a firmware upgrade coming soon Sony?

Hard times for the Sony users on the medium to high-end ...

 

[godzilla60]

Hmm... so PMA has come and gone... and it looks like I'll have to settle for the A900... haiz... would still have preferred to have a full frame with lower resolution...

same here bro......



oh well....more time to save that $$ for the model that I hope they launch....

 

[Getz10]

Y so concern over new bodies?? Let's not forget MF tat's release 3-4 years ago still walk over DSLR like nothing and film bodies still deliver wonder images.............

How Sony market or develop their product is something way out of local market control......totally too small comparing to even Malaysia. As for lens line-up, Minolta already have the lens everyone needs....

DT VS FF, how much difference is noticable??
I had been using lens tat's develop 20 years ago and even when trying SSM, dun really feel TAT much difference 50mm may be a length tat's not wide or tele but when u had nothing in mind and just walking around, a light/cheap/fast lens might just fit the bill.....at least for me

 

[TME]

Y so concern over new bodies?? Let's not forget MF tat's release 3-4 years ago still walk over DSLR like nothing and film bodies still deliver wonder images.............

How Sony market or develop their product is something way out of local market control......totally too small comparing to even Malaysia. As for lens line-up, Minolta already have the lens everyone needs....

DT VS FF, how much difference is noticable??
I had been using lens tat's develop 20 years ago and even when trying SSM, dun really feel TAT much difference 50mm may be a length tat's not wide or tele but when u had nothing in mind and just walking around, a light/cheap/fast lens might just fit the bill.....at least for me

The body is very important in the age of digital photography... cos it has an equal part to play in constructing the image unlike film days... and since DSLRs are expensive, getting a body that you like and can use easily is not something so easy to do...

 

[kingfishers]

hi,
just bought a A 700 and a sony g lenses:bheart:

 

[navlem]

hi,
just bought a A 700 and a sony g lenses:bheart:

wat G lens have you got?

 

[kingfishers]

hi,

Sorry the G-sony lenses 70-200mm will not be replaced with the newer lenses.

 

[kingfishers]

hi, Tats 70-200mm G 2.8

 

[kingfishers]

HI,
Just wish to know the new 70-400 mm ssm from sony is it good enough fo wild life shooting

 

[Rashkae]

HI,
Just wish to know the new 70-400 mm ssm from sony is it good enough fo wild life shooting

Discussed to death and pictures of it being used for wildlife are all over the internet.