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Sigma Art Lenses for Sony E-Mount Compared to Nikon/Canon Versions

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Last month, Sigma announced that it is releasing Sony E-mount versions of its Art lens line to accompany the Canon, Nikon and Sigma camera mount versions. While we’ve been able to use Sigma lenses on Sony’s A7 series thanks to the Sigma MC-11 adapter, the performance is still lacking because it is not a native connection for the Sony A7 lens mount.

Now, Sony users have a native E-mount for the A7 series, as well as other E-mount cameras. However, due to the fact that the identical optics are used for the Sony version, the lenses are substantially larger to accomodate the flange distance for the Sony camera.

Above, the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art lens is shown in Sony (left) and Nikon (right) mounts. Essentially, this is the same barrel length increase as using the adapter on the EF-mount lenses. [Read more…]

Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 Lens for Sony E-mount Unveiled

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Zeiss Batis 18mm 2.8 Sony E-mount

Zeiss has announced the Batis 18mm f/2.8 lens for Sony E-mount, which goes along with the 25mm and 85mm Batis lenses that were released a year ago.

As with the existing Batis lenses, the 18mm lens offers autofocus and an OLED display for focus distance and depth of field info. It uses a floating element system and Zeiss’ Distagon optical design.

The new Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 lens will be available in early May 2016 for $1499. Check it out here at B&H Photo.

Sony Unveils 50mm f/1.8 and 70-300mm G OSS Full Frame Lenses

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Sony-FE-70-300mm-f4.5-5.6G-OSS-Lens-and-Sony-FE-50mm-1.8-Lens

Sony has unveiled a pair of new full frame lenses – the FE 50mm f/1.8 lens and the FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G OSS lens.

The new 50mm f/1.8 lens isn’t quite in the “nifty fifty” price range of others, but it still isn’t too expensive at just $248. It has a 7-blade aperture and a nice, large manual focus ring for better control. It also features a 49mm filter thread. The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 lens will ship in May 2016 and is available for pre-order here at B&H Photo.

The new 70-300mm lens adds to Sony’s G line and features built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization, two ED glass elements, four aspherical elements and a Nano AR coating to reduce ghosting and flare. It also features a 9-blade circular aperture and a 72mm filter thread. It has a minimum focusing distance of 3′ and a focus limiter for faster AF when shooting beyond three meters.

Priced at $1198, the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G OSS lens will ship in May 2016 and is available for pre-order here at B&H Photo.

Sigma Unveils Affordable 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Mirrorless Cameras

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Sigma 30mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens 2

While Sigma stole headlines earlier this week with its new 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens, it also announced a fast and affordable 30mm lens for Sony E and Micro Four Thirds lens mounts. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens is the first truly affordable f/1.4 lens in the mirrorless market at just $339. [Read more…]