Should SONY keep producing new DT lens offerings?

[DonSchap]

I went looking at the Canon site, to see what was happening and I happened to notice that they have include two new lens offering, along with the EOS 7D and EOS 1D MkIV camera introductions.

A pair of kit-style apertures:

• EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (MSRP $499.99)
  EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (MSRP $799.99)

Both these lenses are designed for APS-C sensor DSLRs ... and would have limited use on the FF. Obviously, every thing shifts 1.6x (Canon's DCF) to the right, making them, in operation, effectively:

• EF-S 29mm-216mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
  EF-S 24-136mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Being "IS" equipped lenses, it probably makes sense that Canon would need to supply these to their users, but would SONY be so "trite" as to add even more dark zoom lenses to their "DT" selection? Personally, I hope this nonsense is over.

[Rooz]

of course they should and WILL. aps-c is far from over. its still a viable and valuable medium and will be around for a long time.

[SONYNUT]

I could go for a zeiss 200-1000 2.8 ff though

[DonSchap]

I could go for a zeiss 200-1000 2.8 ff though

The math on that, Steve (and I sure hope you are in superior shape to manage this much glass), reveals that the front element would have to be, at least, 360mm in diameter. That's about 14.2 inches across. Just image what a glass lens disk would weigh at that dimension ...



Handheld?

"Yeah ... sure."

[SONYNUT]

HEAVY? TRANPARENT ALUMINUM IS GETTING CLOSER

http://www.physorg.com/news167925273.html
http://aimpoints.hq.af.mil/display.cfm?id=7223

The math on that, Steve (and I sure hope you are in superior shape to manage this much glass), reveals that the front element would have to be, at least, 360mm in diameter. That's about 14.2 inches across. Just image what a glass lens disk would weigh at that dimension ...

[laydros]

This stuff will keep coming. People buy dark lenses. Canon seems to sell the most expensive dark APS-C lenses, but Sony, Nikon, Pentax, and to an extent Olympus will keep doing it as well.

APS-C probably isn't going away anytime soon.

Some of Canon's best glass is in two of their EF-S lenses, the 10-22 and 17-55.

BTW, these lenses will not be of limited use on the FF cameras, they are completely unusable on the FF or APS-H cameras. The mount extends into the body and the mirrors of the FF and APS-H cameras will hit the lens.

[DonSchap]

It the case of Canon, you are correct. "DT" lenses in SONY Land work on any SONY DLSR, you just have to mode switch to get proper response on the FF-Frame cameras.

I would suggest that making everything "Full Frame" makes for more sales, overall. There are very few people that would select a "DT" lens for their Full Frame camera (be it FF-digital or 35mm-film).

[jekostas]

I would suggest that making everything "Full Frame" makes for more sales, overall. There are very few people that would select a "DT" lens for their Full Frame camera (be it FF-digital or 35mm-film).

Except... making everything FF compatible would needlessly increase the cost for the vast majority of users. Think what you like, Don, but FF is not the natural progression for dSLR users. FF is the natural progression for users that can definitely benefit from FF (FOV, better moire control).

Bigger image circle = more glass = more cost in manufacturing = harder to develop = more costs in R+D = higher initial lens cost.

[DonSchap]

Okay, let's say you can get a better result in the knowledge that APS-C sensors are eventually going to become ... extinct. How does that work for you?

Having cheap, smaller aperture glass sort fails in that regard. If the photographic universe (PU) standardizes on "normal"-sized glass elements for the Full Frame, it eliminates a lot of confusion and any limitation whatsoever. Everything works everywhere. ... oh, how novel. Personally, I am liking that idea ... marrying up the real past and eliminating this weird, awkward (APS-C & H) phase of el cheap lenses we are currently trending in.

The next series of Full Frame sensors should pretty well cement this idea.

[David Metsky]

Okay, let's say you can get a better result in the knowledge that APS-C sensors are eventually going to become ... extinct. How does that work for you?

Not very well. I don't see a whole lot of reason to expect crop sensors to disappear. Most people don't need the additional size/weight/expense of the FF camera system. Why push them someplace they don't need to go for sake of, what, exactly? A more streamlined product line? Yes, there are some savings to fewer products but it's not a huge issue at this point.

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds"