24-105 f4 SSM G?

If true, then this should be a killer walkaround lens on Full-frame. The only downside is that this will not trigger the f/2.8 sensitive, fast and accurate sensors on the AF but otherwise should be cheaper and much lighter than the f/2.8 alternative.

Also, from the looks of it, the direction Sony is moving toward, seems to be to go with Carl Zeiss for their fastest lenses and move the "G" line, to a notch below it.

This leads me to a feeling that Sony will replace the 70-200 f/2.8 G, with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 70-200 f/2.8ZA T* SSM and might come out with a 70-200 f/4G SSM as a lighter/slower supplement.

I like the way it says "Fax only, dont web or email"

24-105 f4 better be very good optically. The my current M 24-105 is no slouch in focusing, it has pretty bad purple fringing on higher contrast objects. I hate to use it for that very reason, however it is very compact, and that is appealing. This SSM is not going to be small. It better be stellar on FF, no CA, no PF, nice bokeh. More importantly many ppl would be happy on "SSM" walkabout.

N

Originally posted by Entropy my guess? $1200 USD

That would hurt, but I wouldn't be surprised. Hopefully if the 70-300G SSM is $800 this one may squeeze in for $1000.

I very much disagree.   There are different markets, and different users. To me, this is a Pro Lens, where the 24-70 is a premium lens, just as Sony has described the difference between G and ZA.   A 24-105 like this is something i would expect working pro's who are running around, covering stories, doing some sports even to have with them as a lens to cover a wide range, in a manageable package. I don't expect many action type pro's to be carrying around a heavy/giant 2.8/24-70. The people using the Zeiss I expect to be more stationary shooting users. People who are more likely to need to speed, and not care so much about the bulk.

Further, I massively doubt any 2.8/70-200 replacement will be ZA. That's in the big tele range which is G stuff right now. It's part of the system of lenses that uses the G teleconvertors. Ditch TC support on a replacement lens, no chance. Start putting the APO TCs on ZA lenses, sounds a bit strange.

Just look at it as working the problem from 2 ends. At the long end, you have the big teles, 4/600s 4/500s and the like. G lens country.   At the other end, you have 16-35s, small primes, Sony has clearly established this as ZA country. Someplace things will mix here. Stuff that is more like the long G stuff will be G (70-300G, 70-200G, 80-400G (yeah yeah, just go with it)). Stuff that is more like ZA stuff will go that way, 24-70ZA, 85ZA, 100ZA, 135ZA 1.8/200ZA.     200mm on primes is probably about the top in I would expect for ZAs. With possibility of a 1.8 or 2/200ZA existing along with a 2.8/200G existing. Where the 2.8/200 is compatible with G lens stuff like the TCs, the ZA is not. A 24-105 is an aggressive zoom, and a straight F4 means it's shooting for high quality, yet trying to not be a huge heavy lump like ZA stuff.

There will probably always be odd balls to the above. But a 70-200 replacement being a ZA, I say almost no chance. Now if there was ever something crazy, like a 2/70-200DT, sure, that could be ZA.

Originally posted by roweraay Also, from the looks of it, the direction Sony is moving toward, seems to be to go with Carl Zeiss for their fastest lenses and move the "G" line, to a notch below it. This leads me to a feeling that Sony will replace the 70-200 f/2.8 G, with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 70-200 f/2.8ZA T* SSM and might come out with a 70-200 f/4G SSM as a lighter/slower supplement.

Yup,

Zeiss is a Prime company, and then some short zooms and mainly sticks to the wide and standard end of the world.   Sure, they make stuff in the Tele end and such, but it's just not their bread and butter world.

I think it's very easy to expect that any prime under 200mm that is anything other than a plan Sony will be a ZA in time. Some of the zooms down there will be ZA too.

So this looks to be another G coming. we see mockups of at least 2 more G lenses. It's pretty safe bet that you won't see a 2.8/400G SSM, and then a 4/600ZA SSM. Just wouldn't make sense to mix and match like that.

If it's stuff you would expect a person looking for a medium format replacement to use, then it's probably going to be ZA. If it's stuff you expect a sport shooter, nature shooter and such to use, it will be G.   Some groups will straddle both, like wedding photographers, I can see them blurring between ZA and G.

Now, there is always the question of "Is a ZA G possible".   In theory, I think it can be. If it's built to be used in with other G stuff and meets what people expect of a G lenses, but is designed by Zeiss, then why not. If this is a possibility, then I would give much more chance to a 2.8/70-200 ZA G SSM. I don't think Zeiss or Sony ever said anything to preclude this from happening. I would also see this as the only long term way to make everything in the system ZA if that is sony's intention. Maybe the 1.8 or 2/200 ZA I ponder about above could be such a lens too.

Hmmm... If this lens will have top-notch IQ and is not to big (heavy), I think it will make a good option for APS-C too, coupled with the upcoming 10-24 and 70-300 (or Minolta 100-300). I wonder how soon will we see it "in action"...