Sony’s cameras and lenses by the numbers

Posted by Kurt on April 30, 2012 in Jottings

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been slowly updating the Sony DLSR page and lenses chart, and in the process, I’ve collected some interesting tidbits about Sony’s DSLR and NEX camera systems, so I thought I’d share that info with you.  Some people will probably get PO’d over some of my assessments, but sometimes reality sucks, sorry.  However, on the flip side, some people may be pleasantly surprised by reading other parts.

I’ll start off with some stats for all of Sony’s cameras and lenses, and then offer some thoughts on Sony’s progress (FF, APS-C and NEX) since their purchase of Konica Minolta’s imaging division in late 2005.

Sony has been in the DSLR/SLT business for a relatively long period of time (over six years now), so let’s see what they’ve achieved!

Note; the term ‘current’ or ‘currently’ means May of 2012.

Prices and availability are from Sony’s US retail website on the last week of April, 2012.

 

Sony DSLR lenses.

Total number of lenses offered by Sony since buying Konica Minolta’s DSLR business in late 2005; 35, plus 2 teleconverters.

Current number of lenses available for purchase from Sony, 32.

Number of new lenses designed by Sony and Carl Zeiss; 13.

Number of tele-converters designed by Sony or CZ; 0.

Number of tilt-shift or other specialty lenses designed by Sony or CZ; 0.

Current number of legacy lenses (designed by Minolta or Konica Minolta, both FF and DT) still offered by Sony; 13.

Number of currently available full frame lenses; 20.

Number of lenses still using the 1980s Minolta slot-screw focusing system; 14.

Number of manually focusing lenses available; 1.

Full frame lenses introduced in the last two years (since summer of 2010); 1, the 500/4.

Number of lenses discontinued by Sony; 3+ (24-105mm, 28mm F/2.8, 500mm F/8), and the 18-70mm, although it’s still listed as a clearance item on Sony’s US website.  Also, the first 55-200mm DT lens which was replaced by the 55-200mm using the new SAM focusing system.

Average current retail price of Sony DSLR lenses including FF and DT; $1532.

Average current retail price of a Sony Full frame lens; $2092.

Number of full frame lenses with a retail price under $1000; 7.  (7 out of 20 FF lenses)

 

 

DSLR and SLT Cameras

Total number of Sony cameras produced; 23.

Total number of pro camera bodies produced; 2

Total number of intermediate camera bodies produced; 2

Current number of pro camera bodies available; 0

Current number of intermediate bodies available; 1

Current number of camera bodies for sale at all levels; 5—really 3, as the A35/55 are listed as ‘no longer available on Sony’s US website.

 

 

Full Frame system.

Right now, Sony’s full frame system is inferior to the SLT and even NEX system, here’s why:  Sony currently has no full frame cameras available, you have to buy new old stock, or used on eBay.  That’s just plain wrong.  Additionally, the quality and variety of lenses is not first class; look at the differences between the CZ 24/2 and NEX CZ 24/1.8, the NEX lens is smaller, lighter, faster, performs better at all levels, and is cheaper.  If you try and argue the focal length is more appropriately compared to the 35/1.4, the NEX CZ 24/1.8 looks better yet.  Also compare the new DT 16-50mm SSM to the full frame 28-75mm SAM; the DT 16-50mm is built better, sharper at the long end, less expensive, and has superior SSM focusing, why is that?  Again, how about the new NEX 50/1.8 OSS, it’s better overall than the 25 year old 50/1.4 full frame lens, and much less expensive.  One last item, Sony is trying to get $1000 for a 1980s fisheye lens (Sony 16mm F/2.8) with archaic film filters built-in?  That’s a joke!  Get a good quality $280 Bower fisheye for your APS-C camera and save the $720 for a nice vacation!

Sony does have a few top-notch lenses for full frame, like the 70-400mm, CZ 135/1.8, 300/2.8, 500/4 (no review yet) and the cheap but good 85/2.8.  Price for the five lenses; $24,100!

As mentioned above, well over half of Sony’s full frame lenses are re-badged Minoltas from the mid 1980s to late 1990s, and most of those use the old fashioned slot-screw focusing system.

Also worthy of mention; the APS-C A77 is more useable than the now defunct, and former flagship A900 due to the tilting screen, much faster continuous shooting, live-view focusing and peaking feature.  I think the different viewfinders (optical VS OLED) have their pluses and minuses, so that’s a toss-up.

 

The lack of good quality, less-expensive lenses such as a 70-200mm F/4, or 200/300mm F/4, 35/1.8, 85/1.8 etc will keep Sony from becoming a real player in the full frame camera business.   Sony has been doing this for six years now, with no real progress.  At least they had one or two full frame cameras to offer between 2008 and 2011, now there’s nothing.  I’m sure Sony will come out with a new FF camera later this year or in 2013, but who will care?  I think Sony’s whole FF system is meant to impress amateur photographers; making them think Sony is a legitimate force in the professional camera world, and a logical choice when they become more advanced photographers, and ready for professional equipment.  Unfortunately, Sony is not a real player by any means in the world of full frame, so switch to Canon or Nikon for the best value and choice in full frame pro cameras.  However, not all is lost.  In the APS-C world, things are looking very good for Sony.

 

 

APS-C, or ‘DT’system.

Sony’s APS-C system is moving forward in a very good way.  Most of the ‘DT’ lenses within the past several years have been winners, like the fabulous 35/1.8, 16-50/2.8 and older CZ 16-80mm.  Prices for cameras and lenses are very reasonable and competitive in the market.  The newest cameras are also setting the standard with high continuous shooting speeds, focus peaking, auto lens corrections, well implemented video features, stunning OLED EVF’s and  of course the ever present built-in SteadyShot.

No big complaints here, although Sony should expand the lens line-up with a few more fast primes and high quality tele- zooms to keep people satisfied as their level of creativity and knowledge grows.

Number of APS-C cameras produced; 21.

Current number of APS-C camera bodies available; 5, or 3 in the US from Sony’s website.

Average retail price of a Sony ‘DT’ lens; $501.

Number of ‘DT’ lenses with a retail price under $1000; 11 (12 with 18-70mm)

Number of currently available ‘DT’ lenses; 11 (12 if you count the 18-70mm)

DT lenses introduced in the last two years (since the summer of 2010); 1; the 16-50/2.8.

 

NEX system.

Sony’s newest system is the shining star of their small-scale imaging abilities, and it’s clearly number one on their list of priorities.  Since the debut of the NEX system in early 2010, Sony has come out with five cameras and seven lenses, with many more coming up according to Sony.  This system has great potential, it remains to be seen if Sony can lock down this segment of the market before other manufacturers are able to create a better camera and more lens selections at lower prices.

Total number of cameras produced; 5

Total number of lenses produced; 7 (excludes converter lenses).

Number of lenses produced in last two years (since summer of 2010); 4.

Number of lenses over $1000; 1.

Average retail price for a NEX lens; $497.

 

Well, that’s about it.  In six years Sony has come a long ways in the consumer grade DSLR/SLT/mirrorless market; where will Sony be in 2018?  Will there be a full frame camera?  My hope is that Sony abandons the full frame market, (too heavy, too expensive, totally unnecessary now for good images) and concentrates its resources on bringing out more inexpensive, but excellent quality lenses for its APS-C market, and making the NEX cameras capable of phase detect focusing without the adapter, with the addition of more great lenses like the CZ 24/1.8, and a high quality zoom or two.

  • Chris Jankowski

    I think that in about 3-5 years we might see revival of full frame cameras in SLT form (or perhaps DSLR form) aimed at the hobbyist/amateur market. With progressing miniaturization of electronics a full frame SLT camera may be constructed that weighs less than 500g and is the size of the A35/A37/A55. I still have somewhere in my bottom drawer a full frame film SLR Konica Minolta Dynax 3 body that weighs 315 grams. Such camera would not have the magnesium alloy sealed body of a professional camera but it will be excellent for more or less anything. However, it may not come from Sony, but Canon or Nikon first. Sony, as Kurt pointed out, does not have a FF lens system to leverage.

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Yes, I had a Pentax ME Super with the 40mm pancake; that’s a small set-up, but the quality wasn’t so good. Unfortunately, the normal zooms etc where much bigger and heavier than the camera body. I’m thinking the future is NEX-7 or slightly larger body and good lenses no bigger than the CZ 24/1.8—Leica style. Fuji is doing some great things right now, especially with the X pro 1.

      • jake

        but you should try the Fuji out in real life , it’s got terrrible AF that really makes it useless for grab the moment kind street work.

  • Pavev

    I think it might be Sony’s advantage, that it doesn’t have a huge catalog of FF-lenses that are designed for SLR-cameras. Mirrors will disappear completely in the future and all FF-lenses must be redesigned anyway for a shorter flange-distance and contrast detection. I believe that this is partially a reason why Sony haven’t really commit themselves for FF, because they know that change is coming. At least I hope so.

    Huge lens-line-up doesn’t really help much Canon and Nikon, when all those lenses become obsolete.

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Not sure about that, I’m assuming you’re talking about a FF mirrorless design, in which you’d have smaller camera lenses and less weight in theory, but look at the sizes of some of the NEX lenses out now, like the 18-200mm and kit lens, they’re just as big as DSLR lenses. My whole FF issue is size and weight, it’s not necessary anymore.

  • Matthew Durr

    Kurt, I do believe Sony is doing well with APS-C and the NEX system. I have talked with a few other event photographers recently when they are curious about my NEX, and they always tell me that if Sony were to find a way to have a full-frame NEX camera with fast PDAF (perhaps on sensor phase detect similar to the Nikon 1′s, but works well in low-light too?), it would be absolutely picked up in droves (if cameras like the NEX-7 and 5n aren’t already being scooped up as such).

    Good news is Sony has stated recently how they’re focusing their resources to their “pillar” strategy, with digital imaging one of the key pillars. Not that it means anything specific, but good news they may be trying to keep pace.

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      I’m just hoping for some good quality smaller NEX lenses in the near future for the current system. I think I’ll be pushin’ up daisies before the FF NEX system is mature!

  • Art in Torrance

    It’s nice that you included average lens prices for the range. However, could you provide the median prices (whole range and just FF)? Like Bill Gates’s wealth, I think that 500/4 yanks the average up a lot!

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Very true, however, one shouldn’t eliminate the only super telephoto in the lens line up, or the 300mm. If you were to exclude the 300/2.8 and 500/4, you come in at about half the average. I think the total price for all lenses is $47,510, and full frame at $41,850. The 300/2.8 and 500/4 are $20k

      • Art in Torrance

        Thanks for the additional data!

  • http://www.facebook.com/marc.vorgers Marc Vorgers

    I also hope Sony abandons the ‘Full Frame’ market. By the way the right name is FX format, DX for APS-C. Let Canikon handle the FX part of the world for people who think they still need the old 35mm film format. Sony is on the right way, the A77 and the NEX-7 are superb and very innovative camera’s, period. (As are the A65 and 16 MP NEX-5). As you stated some time ago Kurt 24 MP is more than enough. I would settle for 18 MP, however 24 MP is ideal to have additional ‘headroom’ to crop a photo ;-) Like some people I am absolutely NOT waiting for another BIG FX camera and certainly not for one delivering 36 MP output. Let Sony improve and fine tune the SLT and NEX systems. Let Sony design and build new versatile and compact lenses for these systems. Amongst others the SAL1650SSM, NEX 1.8/50, NEX Zeiss 24 mm are a VERY good start. For the SLT system I wish for a environmental sealed 24-105 F2.8 and a NEW designed environmental sealed BLACK 70-200 F2.8.
    Thanks for posting these Sony numerology jottings!

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Hi Marc! Don’t hold your breath for that 24-105/2.8, although I could see an F/4 version like Canon’s coming at some point. As far as the 70-200mm; I’d like to see an upgrade to the current model, or F/4 version at least, or better yet a 50-135mm F/2.8 strictly for APS-C users, it would compliment the 16-50/2.8 SSM. Well, I guess it’s fun to think out loud, reality is unfortunately more complicated.

    • jake

      extremely well said ,100 percent agreed.

  • Pingback: sonyalpharumors | Blog | A critic of the Sony strategy by Photojottings.

  • travelshots

    For me, fullframe ist still important and I hope that Sony will keep fullframe cameras in their portfolio. Well, if Sony finally would manage to build an APS-C camera, that is about one ISO step better is noise properties than current fullframe cameras (e.g. EOS5DIII) of other brands, then I will not need the fullframe anymore.

    I also do not agree to your opinion / conclusion about the comparison of SEL 1.8/24 and SAL 2.0/24. The SEL may have great sharpness, but the overal perception of the SAL images is better, the images of the SAL are more pleasing in my opinion. At least this is my conclusion drawn from the images you have shown in the tests. I have the SAL 2.0/24 and especially on APS-C (like NEX) I don’t have any complaints.

  • http://twitter.com/TheEulerID Steve Jones

    The most important point about FF is that it gathers twice as much light. If you photograph in low light conditions using natural light that is important. It’s not all about resolving power, some of the IQ issues are about dynamic range

    For any given level of technology, the larger sensor will always outperform the smaller format at low light levels. For some types of photography that is the critical matter.

    Of course there are also DoF issues. You can, of course, emulate the effect using faster lenses on the small format, but that increases lens size and cost of course.

  • Jerome

    I certainly don’t hope that Sony will abandon the full frame market. If you think that full frame is “totally unnecessary” for good images, you must know something that working pros don’t, since all of them use FF cameras. Besides: it is about the pro lenses. There is no equivalent of typical pro lenses as the 16-35 f/2.8 or 70-200 f/2.8 in APS-C format, because the pros don’t use APS-C and, hence, would not buy an APS-C equivalent. If you want pro lenses, fast primes and zooms, you need the pro market to finance them. If you want the pro market, you need a full frame camera.

    In the end, it is about money: either Sony only caters to the less affluent amateur and they only need cheap, slow zooms or they want to get the customers who will buy the expensive fast lenses, but they’ll also need the camera to tempt them.

  • Wipw

    Information about Full Frame is obviously wrong?

    It is after all already confirmed several times that year (August / September 2012) has come a new SLT FF camera with 24 Mpxi and about half a year (maybe longer) the second SLT FF camera with 36 Mpxi sensor, which now has the Nikon D800 and who excelled in DxoMarku quality in all aspects, including the low-iso.

    So my idea about the full frame cameras and Sony comes completely wrong.

  • Hendrik Neumann

    Dude, you really made me think. I think yo made a good point and all the information you are giving totally leads the conclusion that Sony would do some good for itself by abandoning the FF-market. I somehow just can’t yet get a good feeling about this idea (maybe we germans are a little into traditional things, e.g. in our forums the SLT-Models are always flamed by traditionalists who insist on a flipping mirror). I think that Sony should by now keep up with focusing on NEX and APS-C Cameras to get back into the profit zone. After they have achieved that, i think they should get back into FF-market because, as you said, its something a serious camera manufacturer has to do. We’ll see..maye an upcoming A99 will blow away any doubt?…

  • Hendrik Neumann

    Your Article inspired me to write down my own thoughts on the topic while quoting you a lot. Hope some of my german readers will get to see this as well http://alphawelle.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/sollte-sony-dem-vollformat-den-rucken-kehren/

  • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

    Howdy everyone, thanks for the input. I’m going to add fuel to the fire in an update to this post sometime this weekend. Tradition goes the way of the dinosaur, and ‘professional photographer’ doesn’t mean what you think.

  • FlashFoto

    Kurt, I have been a fan of yours for some time and love your blogs. However, I believe you are way off the mark when you assert that Sony should abandon FF. I understand that for your line of work things like shallow depth of field, which FF offers, is of zero importance to you. However, to wedding photographers and others this is important. I also believe that FF image quality is noticeably better. The problem is you are comparing the old A900 to the next generation NEX-7 and A77. Wait to pass judgment until Sony actually releases the next phase of FF SLTs, as I think you will change your tune then.

    The problem with abandoning FF is that once you do, it is practically impossible to ever get back into the game. Just ask Pentax. I think what we will see are APS-C DSLRs being phased out as this segment will be overtaken by compact and mirrorless cameras that use these sensors. FF cameras still have optical advantages in many areas of photography. Canon and Nikon realize this. It would seem a waste for Sony to throw away their number three spot in FF just to develop more NEX lenses.

  • M Friend

    Sorry Kurt but neither the APS- C or NEX lens provides anything close to the versatility or value of Sony’s FF offerings.
    The lens which serve my Alpha 900 are also used for my Alpha 700 and our daughter’s 390 in addition they have the added dimension of a working with my late Dad’s Maxxum 7000 and a recently acquired Maxxum 7 for B&W film.
    Imagine, three different camera systems utilizing one set of lens! I hope that Sony will maintain their full frame line given it’s incredible versatility and value which is lacking in the APS-C/NEX offerings.

  • Nelson Munz

    Your last paragraph was completely idiotic. You could have also said this about a competitor to Sony:

    “My hope is that Nikon abandons the full frame market, (too heavy, too expensive, totally unnecessary now for good images) and concentrates its resources on bringing out more inexpensive, but excellent quality lenses for its APS-C market…”

    or you could have said this about another competitor:

    “My hope is that Canon abandons the full frame market, (too heavy, too expensive, totally unnecessary now for good images) and concentrates its resources on bringing out more inexpensive, but excellent quality lenses for its APS-C market…”

    • http://photojottings.com/ Kurt Munger

      Your comment is idiotic, Sony currently has a total of zero full frame cameras for sale. They’re playing games with people. The last time I checked, Nikon and Canon offered plenty of FF bodies; they’re serious.