"Are we buying size or IQ? That is a good question Guy. To that I'd add price to the "tripod of buying". Evidence so far seems to support the design reality that you can pick two, but so far can't have all three. Both Leica and Zeiss have been quite clear that this is the case.
Personally, I do not need ALL of my lenses to be super-duper IQ … IF, as a result, the optic is bigger that the camera it mounts to … and I sure the hell do NOT want to pay $4,000 for a walk about lens … I have other ways of accomplishing eye watering IQ when I need it.
My point is, that we need choices so we can fit our lens selections to level of need. To this end, Sony needs to slow down on the "Cavalcade of Cameras" and get the damned lenses out the door so we have those choices. The poor little FE35/2.8 is taking all the heat because there is no AF FE35/1.8 that delivers like the FE55/1.8 … albeit most likely much larger and more expensive.
Dear Sony:
We need lenses that maximize what your sensor division is producing! We need them NOW, not a year to two years after the camera comes to market.
Not sure to which three you are thinking, for me there are four elements to consider :
- weight and size,
- max aperture, aka how fast the lens can be,
- IQ, mainly sharpness and no coma, little flare and CA,
- price.
Given the diminutive size of the body, I'm expecting smaller lenses to fit with its philosophy, say the size of the film range finder lenses, not the Summilux, rather the Elmarit size or like the Zeiss Contax G lenses (they were very light). In exchange, I'm willing to give up fastest speed. For me, F2.8 is enough for longer and wider fixed lenses (and F4 for zooms). I love the 55mm F1.8 for its sharpness, but one fast normal lens to have for low light situation is enough. However, given the high performance of the sensor, the lenses have to offer top IQ. For performing lenses I'm ready to pay a little more than usual.
What pushes people to ask more heavy and fast lenses right now has to do with the fact that apart of the Nikon D800s no other body is offering the same sensor performance and thus this attract new DSLRs customers who don't care for size to the A7. But IMO heavy fast lenses just don't really make sense on this body. DSLRs users bought the A7r first and foremost to get the sensor and thinking they would just adapt their actual lenses... Then they see the A7 series work better with native lenses and begun asking for the type of lenses they are accustomed to use, but that type of lenses just don't really make sense on this diminutive body.
Let Sony keep the philosophy of the system and become the digital Leica Ms of our times (small and light but high IQ) . Don't ask for lenses that fit better on DSLRs. I understand that those not having a D800 are using the A7r as a digital back for the moment, but that should only be a transient state : until Canon catch up with its sensors and Sony add a 36mp DSLR..