Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
June 6, 2006 – Along with the announcement of the α DSLR-A100, Sony made known its plans for compatible interchangeable lenses too. The DSLR will be released in July along with 6 lenses that attach to the camera’s Minolta, now also known as α Alpha, bayonet mount. Sony revealed plans for 22 lenses, which will come with Carl Zeiss glass. All of the lenses will benefit from the Sony α DSLR-A100’s Super SteadyShot image stabilization
Sony will also release the SAL-18200 in July for $499. It has a zoom range from 18-200 mm and offers apertures of f/3.5-6.3. Another ultra-zoom lens on sale in July is the SAL-75300 that will sell for $229. This lens is more affordable with its maximum aperture of f/4.5 and its minimum focusing distance of nearly 5 ft.
Sony will release three fixed focal length lenses in July as well. The SAL-50F14 has a wide aperture of f/1.4 and retails for $349. The SAL-50M28 will sell for $479 and has a 50 mm fixed length. The SAL-100M28 will retail for $679.
Sony will continue to release lenses for its system all summer long. In August, the following lenses will be on store shelves: the SAL-70200F28 for $2,399 and the SAL-1118 ultra-wide lens for $649. According to Sony’s release schedule, the SAL-300F28 lens will be the only new offering in September. The 300 mm, f/2.8 lens will be Sony’s most expensive lens technology at $5,999.

Another wave of lenses will be introduced in October. The SAL-24105 will retail for $479 and provide photographers with short-range zooming capability. Six more fixed lenses will hit the market: the SAL-16F28 for $999, the SAL-20F28 for $679, the SAL-28F28 for $249, the SAL-135F28 for $1,199, the SAL-500F80 for $699, and the SAL-35F14 for $1,399.


Sony will also release high-end lenses. A Planar T 85 mm lens is in the works for release in October. The SAL-85F14 will retail for $1,299. A Sonnar T 135 mm lens, also known as the SAL-135F18, will have a wide f/1.8 aperture and will retail for $1,399. Coming in November is the SAL-1680 that employs a Vario-Sonnar T zoom lens and ultra-wide Carl Zeiss glass for a 16-80 mm range; it will sell for $699.