Where are the FE portrait lenses?

Just picked up an A7 today and I still can't get over the lack of FE lenses, there is pretty much nothing for portraits. Figured the 24-70 f/4 would be the best the store had but this thing is soft and weak, especially wide open as well as at 70mm. Just another reason I prefer primes. Where are the primes over 50mm? Is the upcoming Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 it? I might have to get an EF mount adapter and start buying Canon lenses. I understand this is a rather new segment for Sony, but 3 years should be more than enough time to get some quality portrait lenses out. Whats the hold up?

Zeiss batis is already released albeit they haven't kept up with demand. There's a sony 85 coming if you believe the rumours. There's also the 90 macro although not an ideal portrait lens due to the bokeh.

There are gaps but they are being filled. Did you not check out the lenses before you made your purchase?

The a7 and a7r were announced on 16 october 2013 and released after that. Not sure where you are getting your 3 year figure from.

Going from zero to where we are now in 23 months is pretty impressive in my book

That would be good news. Yes they were announced two years ago but let's be honest, Sony had been working on them a good year prior. No reason to be so lacking in lenses. I figured I could get an adapter and use Canon lenses while waiting for native lenses but every AF EF to E mount I've seen gets terrible reviews.

dexter75 wrote in post #17704348
That would be good news. Yes they were announced two years ago but let's be honest, Sony had been working on them a good year prior. No reason to be so lacking in lenses. I figured I could get an adapter and use Canon lenses while waiting for native lenses but every AF EF to E mount I've seen gets terrible reviews.

AF on adapted lenses was poor at best until the a7rii was released. For your A7 you would be best either manually focussing one of the many great legacy portrait lenses or waiting until there are more FE options if you require AF (or buy the Batis).

When the a7 and a7r were released it was done ti test the market. It wouldn't have been until after that when sony realised there was potential that they would have started having a serious think about a lens lineup

xpfloyd wrote in post #17704351
AF on adapted lenses was poor at best until the a7rii was released. For your A7 you would be best either manually focussing one of the many great legacy portrait lenses or waiting until there are more FE options if you require AF (or buy the Batis).

When the a7 and a7r were released it was done ti test the market. It wouldn't have been until after that when sony realised there was potential that they would have started having a serious think about a lens lineup

Would love the Batis 85, not available anywhere I've seen though.

It should be readily available within a month or two I reckon.

xpfloyd wrote in post #17704351
AF on adapted lenses was poor at best until the a7rii was released. For your A7 you would be best either manually focussing one of the many great legacy portrait lenses or waiting until there are more FE options if you require AF (or buy the Batis).

When the a7 and a7r were released it was done ti test the market. It wouldn't have been until after that when sony realised there was potential that they would have started having a serious think about a lens lineup

Hey xpfloyd, I've been googling and researching my question, but wanted to ask you personally your experience with what you just stated. I have an A7SII on preorder and was wondering how to expect my Canon EF lenses to work adapted onto the Sony body. I have had no experiences with any of the A7 cameras and wanted to get someone's opinion and hands on knowledge of the matter. I plan on getting a fotodiox adapter if that makes any difference.

I plan on using the camera for 80% video work and 20% photo. For photos where I will need autofocus, is it just downright better to get Sony lenses or do you think the Canon ones adapted will perform okay?

hellokevin wrote in post #17738113
Hey xpfloyd, I've been googling and researching my question, but wanted to ask you personally your experience with what you just stated. I have an A7SII on preorder and was wondering how to expect my Canon EF lenses to work adapted onto the Sony body. I have had no experiences with any of the A7 cameras and wanted to get someone's opinion and hands on knowledge of the matter. I plan on getting a fotodiox adapter if that makes any difference.

I plan on using the camera for 80% video work and 20% photo. For photos where I will need autofocus, is it just downright better to get Sony lenses or do you think the Canon ones adapted will perform okay?

There's a few things at play here. First the a7rii has pdaf focus but i believe the a7sii is fully cdaf so I dont know if it will be the same af performance or not. I used the canon 35 IS on my a7rii before I sold the lens and it locked focus as quick as my 5DIII with a viltrox II adaptor. I imagine fotodiox would be the same. Some lenses didn't focus at all with the viltrox though such as my 135L and 85 1.8. Metbones however have been bringing out firmware updates for their mark 4 adaptor and those lenses now focus quickly as the adaptor can fully utilise all the pdaf points. I'm actually tempted to now pay the premium for a metabones and add a couple of canon lenses (still prefer my sony lenses for a walkaround kit as the size and weight is better). Also the iq of the two I have is better than any L prime I've owned. The other good thing about FE lenses that you can't do with adapted lenses is utilise all the advanced features such as eye AF etc but its now very useable.

However, like I said at the start the a7sii is full contrast detect af so it may or may not be a completely different experience with adapted lenses (I imagine it will be a lot slower)

Get a Sony Alpha adapter and you'll have more options than you can dream about. The minolta A mount stuff will also adapt and auto focus with the same adapter.

Do not forget old MF glass like minolta or Takumar. With the A7r2 and the in camera stabilzation and top notch focus peaking it opens up a whole new world.

My extensive old glass collection has gotten a new life.

This is an old thread of mine. Hated my A7 and was tired of waiting for quality FE lenses to come out, didn't want to spend $400 on an adapter either. Returned it and got a 6D, thanks.

dexter75 wrote in post #17739326
This is an old thread of mine. Hated my A7 and was tired of waiting for quality FE lenses to come out, didn't want to spend $400 on an adapter either. Returned it and got a 6D, thanks.

Yeah, you owned it for a couple of days... that's a lot of waiting

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #17739472
Yeah, you owned it for a couple of days... that's a lot of waiting

Here we go again, following me into threads trolling and trying to start another argument. Reported.

dexter75 wrote in post #17739636
Here we go again, following me into threads trolling and trying to start another argument. Reported.

Follow you into threads? Are you joking? This thread is in the Sony body subforum, a forum I frequent daily. Don't flatter yourself.

Maverick's advice for the Sony A adopted is solid advice for any future readers btw.

dexter75 wrote in post #17739326
This is an old thread of mine. Hated my A7 and was tired of waiting for quality FE lenses to come out, didn't want to spend $400 on an adapter either. Returned it and got a 6D, thanks.

why even bother writing this? Trying to kill another thread? Everyone knows what you done