[Klaus]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1305722799' post='8503']

They did?



I do not remember a normal Nikon 85mm f2.8 lens... f1.8 MF, f2 MF, yes. They still have their 85mm f2.8 PC. And Canon still has its TS-E 90mm f2.8.



Canon had a 85mm f2.8 soft focus for the FD mount. Gor Ef they did not "drop" the soft focus lens, they still have it as 135mm f2.8 SF.



My point was that Sony had one nice product in their line up which made it interesting (very compact and affordable 500mm), but now it is not in the line up anymore.

[/quote]



Com' on - a TS-E is hardly comparable to a conventional lens. It has no AF just to mention the obvious and it resides on a different planet in terms of pricing.

[mst]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1305722799' post='8503']

I do not remember a normal Nikon 85mm f2.8 lens...

[/quote]



There was a 80/2.8 in the 80's, designed to work on the F3 (with AF, but not compatible with current AF cameras).



-- Markus

[Brightcolours]

[quote name='Klaus' timestamp='1305723042' post='8504']

Com' on - a TS-E is hardly comparable to a conventional lens. It has no AF just to mention the obvious and it resides on a different planet in terms of pricing.

[/quote]

I know... but I don't remember any 85mm f2.8's for the rest...

[Yakim]

[quote name='PuxaVida' timestamp='1305721955' post='8501']

So my point is, it is really hard to find a "gap" in a lens line up, which can be accepted by all (FL, price for new / second hand, f-stop, MF vs. AF, bokeh, etc...)... [/quote]



+1



Gaps are always subjective. In fact, one of my reasons to choose Canon is that IMHO, they have fewest gaps.

[Yakim]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1305719216' post='8496']

No, they don't. In all their wisdom, Sony dropped that special niche lens from their line up.[/quote]



Silly move IMHO.

[Guest]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1305719216' post='8496']

No, they don't. In all their wisdom, Sony dropped that special niche lens from their line up.

[/quote]

Really? Nooo!!! So much for my mega gap <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':lol:' />



On the serious note, imho the one and only reason why lens is discontinued is sales figures, apparently 500mm reflector wasn't generating enough revenue despite being in a league of it own. 85mm f/2.8 is just too fresh, it might happen that Sony will evaluate sales in a few years time and drop this lens anyway. Or if lens proves to be a runaway success, the likes of Sigma will release some even cheaper alternative. Though I don't believe in the latter (the success part, that is).

[youpii]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1305724143' post='8508']

I know... but I don't remember any 85mm f2.8's for the rest...

[/quote]



Zeiss had one in C/Y mount. BTW, the optical formula of the Sony looks the same.

[youpii]

[quote name='Yakim' timestamp='1305724971' post='8512']

Silly move IMHO.

[/quote]



Yes, especially as their lens range is smaller than the competition.

[Guest]

[quote name='Brightcolours' timestamp='1305719216' post='8496']

No, they don't. In all their wisdom, Sony dropped that special niche lens from their line up.

[/quote]



It's still available in retail stores. Come back when it's not.

[Guest]

[quote name='Lomskij' timestamp='1305727556' post='8517']

Though I don't believe in the latter (the success part, that is).

[/quote]



well, it would be successful than overpriced zeiss version. that's for sure.