Sony promises more NEX lenses in updated E-mount lens roadmap

It seems like it's becoming quite apparent that lenses aren't Sony's forte.

Very foreboding for Nex. I suspected, in my limited knowledge, that the flange depth of mount diameter were too small for these sensor sizes; and it seems Sony is proving my guess somewhat correct. Even if they manage faster, better lenses, they won't be significantly smaller than traditional SLR lenses and that kinda voids the Nex system. I'm sure e-mount can thrive on the cinema side because small lenses aren't favored, but as m4/3 sensors catch up and Sony keeps balking, it will seem like other systems will be better investments. No reason to have small cameras with big lenses.

So what exactly is being released this year? It looks like late 2012 or 2013 before we see anything. If so that's just absurd. They should already have 5-6 new lenses being gradually released this year alone.

This lens roadmap validates my decision of going with the m4/3 system over the NEX system when I was looking to buy a mirrorless camera last year. I had to choose between the NEX's superior sensors and m4/3 superior lens quality/collection and I decided the latter was more important (the m4/3 12/16mp sensors are plenty good enough for me, especially with the fast, quality reasonably-priced glass available). I returned the nex-5n and bought an e-pm1 + a panny 20mm lens and couldn't be happier.

I was planning to revisit the NEX system again when Sony release fast, quality, pancake primes, but that will apparently have to wait for some time yet.

Among all the mirrorless players. I have to say, only Fuji and Panasonic got the good lenses line-up right from the beginning.

More new Carl Zeiss lenses would be better. Sony should consider to cooperate with other brands, like Leica, Cooke and Angenieux.

I usually do not post any comments, but in this case I MUST write one: With the NEX-7 Sony came out with a camera I dreamed of as a very serious amateur. I was waiting, until a few moments ago, for the NEX-7 that I ordered last September…. I just canceled my order. With such a winner camera design and features I was certain that Sony/Zeiss would develop quality and fast lenses sooner than later. I want autofocus: I want Zeiss and G quality to take advantage of the 24Mp…. All that the brainless Sony people can think of are cheap zooms that the 24Mp sensor will only show how bad they are. ONLY 1 Zeiss and 1 G lens for all of 2012 and 2013??? Sony still thinks small when it comes to photographers: great e-mount bodies (finally) and a collection of lenses that are, in my opinion, good for Sunday amateurs (maybe not even). I am so disappointed and will wait for the Fuji X Pro-1 to arrive. Wake up SONY, and realize that great bodies are worthless if you have mostly cheap lenses.

I'll take the so-so Sony lens roadmap and the awesome NEX APS-C sensors. MFT's latest sensors are about as good as a Canon Rebel from 2005ish, but the NEX 16 mp sensor is the equal of any 2012 APS-C DSLR.

It's really a shame. I'm no fan of Sony, neither as a company, or as a camera designer (although some of the new Alphas are interesting), but they have one of the best APS-C sensor available, and the NEX system is quite compact, it's just shame that it is let down by crappy lenses.

The fact that they haven't even decided on the actual focal lengths yet makes me doubtful that they'll actually release all these in the next two years. It'll probably be delayed perpetually.

Sony got pretty unlucky acquiring Minolta just few years before whole SLR business was about to turn south in favor of Mirrorless. They did not get their money worth, before they were forced to get back to R&D for mirror removal and create totally new lenses. Old Minolta expertise is not super helpful for them now, and they need more.

Hopefully rumors about Sony's interest of investment/partnership with Olympus is true. They could use some help in lens department, while Olympus could gain in sensor and OLED EVF technology. (especially since Panasonic is no longer interested in Olympus)

I believe 5N is the best camera today for MF legacy lenses, and their Cine cameras are some of the best period. Sony and Oly would be a perfect couple capable, if not killing, at least hurting Canikon business by huge margin. (especially considering how slow they have been to react to changes)

All sony lenses are weak compared with other brands, i have nikon which are better in sharpness, color,F-stop...etc
have NEX-FS100 and hope they can make nice lenses not these rubbish stuff.

This roadmap sucks big time! why so many long zooms? shorter focal lengths are more useful. For now I'll stick to my Nex-5 and some legacy lenses I already have.

I might wait to 2013, hopefully there will be a sweet Nex-9 with those lenses you're promising Sony, but it might be too late and I'll probably have a Pentax K-02 or something else by that time, and NEX will be a memory of something that seemed nice at the time but didn't deliver...

Sony continues to position the NEX system as mid-level in their lineup. f/3.5 is fine for a macro lens, but 30mm sounds awfully short. Nevertheless, it should appeal to those who ask "how close can you focus?" And then only one G lens in the foreseeable future? 50mm f/1.8 is the only portrait choice? Micro 4/3 definitely have an advantage with the new 60mm macro and 75mm f/1.8.

And the wide angle looks like it's not even in the plans, which is a shame since the new Sony sensor would be so great for landscape.

Does sony hate ultra wide angle?

Where are the 35mm=50mm equiv lenses?... common Sony, considering your resources and the amount of time e-mount has been around; it is PATHETIC. Not only are there massive gaps, all we get so far is glorified kit at best quality, even the Zeiss lens is pathetic considering the big fat size and price..

if Sony hopes ever to recover a fraction of its credibility, it should deliver on the non-existent NEX-7 before it promises ANYTHING.
No wonder this company lost several billions last year.

Seriously, if Olympus wants to make an extra buck... Make a lens for Sony :) They made the specs free!

Still no pancake lens this year...

By the end of 2013 Sony should be able to build a time machine and travel to the future, a wondrous place where they will have developed some worthwhile lenses for the NEX system. If they can only bring one back I suggest a bright portrait prime.

I never really comment on these things, and I don't own a NEX but I did consider one once to play with. This lens lineup simply makes no sense *at all*. Do they serious think someone is going to sit down and debate between a very slow 18-200mm and a very slow 55-210mm? Or get excited about a very slow 30mm macro? I'm guessing that only audience for a 30mm macro are food photographers, because you would have to be insane to try shooting poisonous spiders and scorpions with something that short. A slow 18-55mm, isn't that the kit lens that comes with most other DSLR cameras? I don't see anything to get excited about in this roadmap, it's almost like Sony is trying to cross their "t"s and dot their "i"s by covering all the weak links first.

I wanted to buy a NEX-5N for 1080/60p to compliment my GH2 and 5D MK II. In the end, I considered the native lenses (not adverse to MF lenses via adapters, but it's nice have have some native glass) and the only really interesting lens happens to be the $1000. In the end, I just couldn't do it, and ended up adding the first-rate GX1 with PL 25 1.4, which was made easier with Panasonic's $150 rebate for this kit. I couldn't be happier, and in the end it was that one lens that sold me.

Seeing Sony talking about 2013 with a chart of already available lenses, and promises for the future seems a bit strange. Contrast this with Fuji or Panasonic who don't seem to have a problem offering high quality fast primes at decent prices.

I'm not taking Sony's cr@p anymore. I've owned NEX-5 for more than a year and the only lens usable is the zoom kit. The 16 is pure trash, and the 18-200 is not making any sense with its size. The 'new' ones? big and slow 35 macro, so so 50/1.8 (which is short tele that is not really usable for me) and the big pricey 24 zeiss that performs like a cheaper lens. Sounds harsh? Sony should learn how to make lenses from Samsung and Panasonic! their sensors might not be as good as sony's but as a system they work very well...

A fast normal would certainly be welcome, assuming they do it soon. Really needs to be reasonably compact.

This is the weakest lens lineup ever.

It's a long wait for a wide lens.

The Zeiss is very nice and as an only lens, probably a great one. Combined with the 50, there's some sort of system here.

But my travel kit also needs a wide lens with at least 90 degree horizontal field - not a "converter." I see a "wide zoom" sometime 2012-2013, but until I see how capable it is, I'm probably not moving on this system. The "high performance" standard zoom may do as a portrait lens if it goes to 60mm with good performance, but a 60mm or 75mm f/2 would be perfect. Don't they have any photographers working on this lens map?

OTOH, if Nikon gives us a compact fast wide prime for DX soon to go with the D300s replacement, I probably won't get into this system at all.

The NEX-7 seems to have huge potential, but is very limited by this lens lineup.

too little, too late... see what M43 is offering... NOW!

Sony, please hurry up with the wide angle zoom.

Thats what NEX is missing most (along with a compact fastish normalish prime) - a high quality wide angle solution (no the E16 is certainly not it).

My Voigtlander 15 is great on my 5N, but would appear to be a no-go on the high end NEX-7.

A 12-24 type zoom, the 50mm 1.8 OSS and my Leica 90mm would make an awesome, flexible, capable and small kit on the NEX-7.

LOL

WHAT A FREAKIN' JOKE!

make. believe. I suppose that's what Sony needs to do to sustain the illusion that its lens lineup is competitive with Micro 4/3. So far I'm quite delighted about my GF2 even though it's got a 4 year old sensor in it. Portability and footprint are unbeatable when compared to my Canon with 24-105mm lens. And the primes are quite sharp. So on a good day it's more than good enough.

Stop whining about the lenses, you can use any alpha mount lens via one of two adapters and you get PDAF, something you'll never get from MFT

I think that picture of the whole stable of 4/3 lenses with the Om-D made the nex system seem pretty sparce. This announcement is I think a 'don't jump ship they are coming' type of announcement.

Precise timing and a lot of details - thank you, Sony!

laughing.....