Incredibly, just two months after the company’s last announcement, Sony has two more lenses to add to its full-frame mirrorless E-mount lineup: a classic, fast FE 50mm f/1.8 prime and a high-performance FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS zoom. Both of these lenses further improve the number of options available to entry-level shooters and more demanding photographers.
Starting with the classic, Sony has finally brought a true 50mm lens to its full-frame line for users desiring a normal perspective in a lightweight, compact design. This lens features a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture and seven-blade circular diaphragm for smooth bokeh and it has one aspherical element to help reduce spherical aberrations throughout the aperture range. It is also equipped with an autofocus motor and manual focus ring for more tactile control. Additionally, when used on APS-C format cameras, it has a 75mm equivalent focal length.
Combined with the RX10 III announcement today, Sony seems to be reaching for faraway subjects, with the FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS. This high-resolution optic covers an expansive telephoto range and features a linear actuator motor and Optical SteadyShot image stabilization. For eliminating aberrations and distortion throughout the zoom range, the lens has two ED glass elements and four aspherical elements, and a Nano AR coating has also been applied to reduce ghosting and lens flare.
This lens can focus as closely as 3' with 0.31x maximum magnification, in a dust- and moisture-resistant configuration. When used on APS-C cameras, it has an even longer equivalent reach of 105-450mm. The lens has a variety of physical controls, including dedicated switches for AF/MF and Optical SteadyShot, as well as a focus range limiter switch and a focus hold button on the side of the barrel for additional control during operation.
6 Comments
Is the new 70-300mm lens compatible with the Sony a6000?
Hi Bonnie,
It will be compatible with the a6000. All E-mount lenses (including FE) are compatible with APS-C camera bodies, though you will have to account for the 1.5x crop factor for an equivalent focal length. In this case the lens would be equivalent to a 105-450mm lens on full frame.
Without checking detailed specs, I suspect that the new Sony G zoom is the same optical design as the Sony G, A-mount zoom of the same focal length and f-number ranges. I have the A-mount version and it is excellent across the board. Gary Friedman also singled it out as one that he was particularly happy with. Obviously, it matches up nicely with the 24-70 Zeiss zoom. For me, it's a long enough lens to avoid the pricey and very large 400mm alternatives.
Some have complained about its length at full extension, particularly with the long hood attached. I'll admit it doesn't look subtle. It feels relatively lightweight, given it's specs and physical size. I'd buy the new model if I didn't already have the A-mount version. It's an excellent buy.
An important footnote to my last comment: The E-mount version, like all Sony E-mount zooms, does have built-in stabilization, which the a-mount version does not.
The specs on the 50mm lens does not have image stablization. My alpha7 II has internal stablization.
Hi Tim,
The optical design of the FE version is slightly different from the A-mount model (also, as you mention, it has OSS while the A-mount does not), though I suspect that image quality will be similar. If the A-mount version is working great for you, it is likely a good decision to stick with your current lens.
Harvey,
I believe Tim was referring specifically to the 70-300mm when discussing image stabilization. But it is a huge benefit of the II series of a7 cameras to have in-body IS which works with all lenses.