Zeiss FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS lens announced by Sony

After introducing the new A77 II A-mount camera, Sony has announced the development of two FE-mount lenses: Zeiss FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS and Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS.

Sony has been rumored to make several announcements during a special event on May 1, including a couple of new cameras. Only one of the two shooters has become official: the Sony A77 II. Meanwhile, the Sony RX100M3 launch is believed to have been rescheduled for mid-May.

A bunch of lenses have been supposed to go live at the show, too. However, Sony has decided only to update its FE-mount roadmap by adding a couple of new products to it, whose development has just been announced.

The two optics are the Zeiss FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS and Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS. They are in the works and they will be released soon, the company said during the presentation.

The updated Sony FE-mount lens roadmap 2014-2015. The Zeiss FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS and the Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS lenses will both become available sometime in the next few months. (Click to make the image larger).

Sony announces Zeiss FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS lens

Sony has introduced its first photography-bound mirrorless cameras with full frame image sensors in 2013. The A7 and A7R are small and lightweight shooters with impressive full frame sensors. However, they need lenses designed just for them and, so far, the options are rather limited. Users can still attach E-mount optics, but they will work in crop mode only.

The next step in the evolution of the so-called FE-mount is the new Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS. This is an optically-stabilized lens that will prevent photographers from capturing blurry shots, while also being of use in low-light environments.

It has been listed as a wide-angle zoom lens with an f/4 aperture in the roadmap for quite a long time, but the PlayStation manufacturer has decided not to reveal any release date or price details for now.

Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS lens is in the works, too

The second model consists of the Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS lens. It has been mentioned a few times before, but this is the first time the company has officially acknowledged its “in-development” status.

Since this is a Power Zoom unit that provides smooth and quiet electronic zooming, it means that it has been designed for videographers. It comes with optical image stabilization technology, so it will prevent your videos from getting shaky.

Nevertheless, it does not mean that it cannot be used for photo shooting. Its constant maximum aperture of f/4 throughout the zoom range makes it a versatile lens, so a lot of users will take an interest in it. As stated above, no availability info for now.