Sony Launches New Lenses and Accessories
Sony introduced two new lenses, a DT 16-105mm and an 18-250mm lens, a vertical digital SLR battery grip and new 300x high speed CF memory cards. Sony also plans to release a G-Series 70-300mm lens next year.
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September 6, 2007 – Along with the announcement of its new flagship α
(Alpha) DSLR-A700, Sony introduced the DT 16-105mm and 18-250mm lenses, a vertical digital SLR battery grip and 300x high speed CF memory cards. Sony also plans to release a G-Series 70-300mm lens next year.
**Sony Lenses
**The new DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6 has a 6.6x magnification factor and an equivalent range of 24-157.5mm in traditional 35mm format. The DSLR-A700P kit, which includes the A700, has a suggested retail price of $1900 and the 16-105mm lens alone is priced at $580. The lens will be available in November.
Sony also announced the new DT 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 lens. This high magnification lens has a 14x zoom factor and a focal range that measures an equivalent 27-375mm. The 18-250mm lens will retail for $550 when it becomes available in November.
The two new Sony lenses join 21 other lenses and teleconverters in the product line, totaling 23 lens accessories.
Sony also plans to release a new G-Series 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G lens. The telephoto lens will have a 105-450mm (35mm equivalent) focal length and possess Super Sonic Wave Motor technology. The G-Series lens is expected to ship in the spring 2008, according to company press materials.
Vertical Battery Grip
The Alpha A700 is compatible with a new vertical grip that houses two InfoLi-ion batteries (NP-FM500H), an update to the A100's battery. For vertical shooting, the new grip features a custom button control, function button, AF controls, and a power switch. The battery grip has a suggested retail price of approximately $350.
CompactFlash Memory
To complement the accessories, Sony also launched its new high-speed CompactFlash memory cards. With a write speed of 300x, the CF cards have faster rates than the existing 66x and 133x Sony memory cards. They will available in 2GB and 8GB storage capacities. Pricing and availability have not been announced.