Minolta users get to go "upscale" thanks to Sony

Nice glass.

http://www.pbase.com/andersonrm/image/69877682

Sony has the resources to push the Sinolta to the head of the pack. However
most of what I have read suggests that Zeiss badged lenses will sell at
unrealistically high price points.

"bmoag" wrote in message
m...
Sony has the resources to push the Sinolta to the head of the pack.
However most of what I have read suggests that Zeiss badged lenses will
sell at unrealistically high price points.

Oh, you mean like Canon, which are proof people will pay whatever you
charge?

bmoag wrote:
Sony has the resources to push the Sinolta to the head of the pack. However
most of what I have read suggests that Zeiss badged lenses will sell at
unrealistically high price points.

They might find buyers. Supposedly they're bringing out three more
DSLRs, at least one a "pro" model of some sort. The Zeiss glass is
actually (for what it was) cheaper than the pro Olympus glass.

"bmoag" wrote in message
m...
Sony has the resources to push the Sinolta to the head of the pack.
However most of what I have read suggests that Zeiss badged lenses will
sell at unrealistically high price points.


I doubt the difference will ever make it to the final print. More "Gray
Poupon" marketing for people with more money than brains!

Bill Crocker

"just bob" kilbyfan@aoldotcom wrote in message
...

"bmoag" wrote in message
m...
Sony has the resources to push the Sinolta to the head of the pack.
However most of what I have read suggests that Zeiss badged lenses will
sell at unrealistically high price points.

Oh, you mean like Canon, which are proof people will pay whatever you
charge?

That's true of just about any camera mfr, especially those who number DSLRs
on their product list. But Leica leads the pack by a furlong, or more.
Pentax may be to only exception to that, but it's debatable.

--
Skip Middleton
www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
www.pbase.com/skipm

This is really a key issue: absolute lens quality is just not as great a
factor in digital photography as in film photography. In my opinion the
worst sin a lens can have is chromatic aberration as this is the most
difficult to correct in high contrast portions of an image and is probably
exagerrated due to the limited dynamic range of digital sensors.

RichA wrote:
bmoag wrote:

Sony has the resources to push the Sinolta to the head of the pack. However
most of what I have read suggests that Zeiss badged lenses will sell at
unrealistically high price points.


They might find buyers. Supposedly they're bringing out three more
DSLRs, at least one a "pro" model of some sort. The Zeiss glass is
actually (for what it was) cheaper than the pro Olympus glass.



Consider, also, that Zeiss have similar (but not identical) Nikon mount
lenses just announced. Sony may have a certain hold over some of the
designs, but it's possible Zeiss could be launching Canon or Nikon AF or
even 4/3rds fit lenses in future.

What's important right now is that there remains a worldwide shortage of
SLR lens production capacity, and an overcapacity in the compact digicam
sector. Camera phones and pocket digitals are almost being given away,
while retailers are unable to obtain many DSLR lenses, with waiting
lists and delays for new gear accompanying rising prices for good used kit.

Zeiss is apparently opening up new production lines with Sony (not
hijacking existing facilities) just as Panasonic did with Leica. It will
only take two or three more companies to invest in new lines, reversing
the trend of outsourcing lenses (see the Pentax non-limited range and
the Tokina range as an example of this) and capacity will catch up with
demand. Once it exceeds demand, we can expect to see prices fall.

David

David Kilpatrick wrote:
Consider, also, that Zeiss have similar (but not identical) Nikon mount
lenses just announced. Sony may have a certain hold over some of the
designs, but it's possible Zeiss could be launching Canon or Nikon AF or
even 4/3rds fit lenses in future.

The Zeiss-branded lenses for the Nikon F mount are all manual focus
lenses without a CPU (AI-S lenses) and therefore they can only be used
by the D2 and D200 cameras. At least, if they had a CPU (like Nikon P
lenses) they could be used by any Nikon camera but that was not to be.
I doubt that Zeiss will ever put its name on Nikon or Canon AF lenses.
They will stick with Sony i.e. Sony will manufacture lenses with the
Zeiss brand name on them, for those who have more money than sense, in
order to offer something equivalent to the Canon L-type luxury lenses.

"Panos" wrote in message
oups.com...

David Kilpatrick wrote:
Consider, also, that Zeiss have similar (but not identical) Nikon mount
lenses just announced. Sony may have a certain hold over some of the
designs, but it's possible Zeiss could be launching Canon or Nikon AF or
even 4/3rds fit lenses in future.

The Zeiss-branded lenses for the Nikon F mount are all manual focus
lenses without a CPU (AI-S lenses) and therefore they can only be used
by the D2 and D200 cameras.

Is that actually true or does it simply mean that they will not meter and
you have to do your settings manually perhaps using the sunny 16 rule or use
a meter?

At least, if they had a CPU (like Nikon P
lenses) they could be used by any Nikon camera but that was not to be.

Something that Nikon really needs to fix on it's "lower end" cameras, all
Pentax D-SLRs will meter with any lens that you can physically fit to the
camera (some auto some manually), there is no excuse for Nikon not including
this feature.

I doubt that Zeiss will ever put its name on Nikon or Canon AF lenses.
They will stick with Sony i.e. Sony will manufacture lenses with the
Zeiss brand name on them, for those who have more money than sense, in
order to offer something equivalent to the Canon L-type luxury lenses.