Alpha Lens Ecosystem

Linear Motors

The only thing new about the recent linear motors is their size and number. Nearly all the original FE lenses had voice-coil linear motors: 2/28, 2.8/35ZA, 1.8/55ZA, 16-35ZA, 24-70ZA, 24-240, 28-70. The 1.8/35 and 1.8/85 do too as did pre-FE APS-C F1.8 OSS primes. Early reports about the compact G trio of primes talked about them having Dual XD linear motors, but now Sony officially has them listed as just linear motors.

Supersonic-wave Motor (SSM)

Defined by Konica-Minolta: The supersonic-wave motor uses a piezo-electric system, which causes components to change shape when voltage is applied. Compared to conventional DC motors, the supersonic-wave motor has characteristics, such as producing high torque from slow rotation and providing quick start and stop responses, that make it the ideal form of lens drive, . By employing this motor, the SSM lenses provide ultra-quiet, ultra-smooth and superior AF operation.

Ring Drive SSM

It is not clear why they went with SLR style piezo-electric ring drives in the 1.4/50ZA and 1.4/85GM. Other than familiarity from their previous SLR lenses. They did combine them with smaller voice-coil motors in the 28-135 G and the original 70-200 GM.

Direct Drive SSM

They also introduced a bunch of linear piezo electric motors (DDSSM) later: 1.4/24GM, 1.4/35ZA, 2.8/90G, 2.8/100GM, 12-24G, 16-35GM, 24-70GM, 24-105G, 100-400GM (combined with smaller voice-coil motors), 200-600G. They mention heavy focus elements with the oldest of these, but the 1.4/24GM and 12-24G don’t seem to have heavy focusing groups.

Image Stabilization with Body-Lens Coordinated Control

The camera body and the lens perform image stabilization in coordination, allowing for more effective stabilization of images than would otherwise be possible. (A7RIV, A7CR, A7CII, ZV-E1)

  • SEL24105G FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
  • SEL70200GM2 FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS
  • SEL70200G2 FE 70-200mm Macro F4 G OSS
  • SEL100400GM FE 70-400mm F4-5.6 GM OSS
  • SEL200600G FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Breathing Compensation

This function corrects for the phenomenon in which the angle of view changes according to the focusing distance during movie recording.

  • SEL11F18
  • SEL15F14G
  • SELP1020G
  • SEL14F18GM
  • SEL20F18G
  • SEL24F14GM
  • SEL24F28G
  • SEL35F14GM
  • SEL35F18F
  • SEL40F25G
  • SEL50F12GM
  • SEL50F14GM
  • SEL50F14Z
  • SEL50F25G
  • SEL85F14GM
  • SEL85F18
  • SEL100F28GM
  • SEL135F18GM
  • SEL1224GM
  • SEL1224G
  • SEL1635GM
  • SEL1635GM2
  • SELC1635G
  • SELP1635G
  • SEL2070G
  • SEL2470GM
  • SEL2470GM2
  • SEL24105G
  • SELP28135G
  • SEL70200GM
  • SEL70200GM2
  • SEL70200G2

Silent Priority Aperture Drive in AF (16: 14 FF, 2 APS-C)

These are the most recent Sony lenses support the Silent Priority Aperture Drive in AF feature. These also support 120 FPS tracking on the A9III and 30 FPS on the A1.

  • SEL11F18 E 11mm F1.8
  • SEL15F14G E 15mm F1.4 G
  • SELP1020G E PZ 10-20mm F4 G
  • SEL1655G E 16-55mm F2.8 G
  • SEL70350G E 70-350mm F4.5-6.3 G OSS
  • SEL14F18GM FE 14mm F1.8 GM
  • SEL20F18G FE 20mm F1.8 G
  • SEL24F14GM FE 24mm F1.4 GM
  • SEL24F28G FE 24mm F2.8 G
  • SEL35F14GM FE 35mm F1.4 GM
  • SEL35F18F FE 35mm F1.8
  • SEL40F25G FE 40mm F2.5 G
  • SEL50F12GM FE 50mm F1.2 GM
  • SEL50F14GM FE 50mm F1.4 GM
  • SEL50F25G FE 50mm F2.5 G
  • SEL135F18GM FE 135mm F1.8 GM
  • SEL300F28GM FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS
  • SEL400F28GM FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS
  • SEL600F40GM FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
  • SEL1224GM FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM
  • SEL2070G FE 20-70mm F4 G
  • SEL2470GM2 24-70mm F2.8 GM II
  • SEL2860 FE 28-60mm F4-5.6
  • SEL70200G2 FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II
  • SEL70200GM2 FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
  • SEL200600G FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Post G Master Lenses (10: 8 FF, 2 APS-C)

These are the slightly older lenses that don’t support Silent Priority Aperture Drive in AF feature. During continuous shooting at 60 FPS or greater, the aperture value of the lens is fixed at the aperture value set for the first image.

  • SELP18110G E PZ 18-110mm F4 G OSS
  • SEL18135 E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
  • SEL1224G FE 12-24mm F4 G
  • SEL1635GM FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM
  • SEL2470GM FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM
  • SEL24105G FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS
  • SEL70200GM FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS
  • SEL85F18 FE 85mm F1.8
  • SEL100F28GM FE 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS
  • SEL100400GM FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS

Early Post GM Lenses (4: 4 FF, 0 APS-C)

These are a few slightly older lenses that only support up to 20 FPS AF-C tracking. These also don’t support Silent Priority Aperture Drive. These use either piezo-electric ring gear SSM or DC AF motors. The two SSM lenses received firmware updates to improve AF tracking.

  • SEL50F14Z FE 50mm F1.4 ZA Planar T*
  • SEL50F18F FE 50mm F1.8
  • SEL50M28 FE 50mm F2.8 Macro
  • SEL85F14GM FE 85mm F1.4 GM

Pre GM Fast Hybrid Lenses (26: 12 FF, 14 APS-C)

These lenses support up to 15 FPS AF-C tracking. Fast Hybrid AF debuted with the NEX 5R in 2012. The older Sony APS-C E-mount lenses were given firmware updates to support Fast Hybrid AF except the 16mm F2.8 pancake kit prime. Third-party AF lenses have so far been limited to this level including native emulation AF adapters.

  • SEL1018 E 10-18mm F4 OSS
  • SELP1650 E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
  • SEL1670Z E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T*
  • SEL1850 E 18-50mm F4-5.6
  • SEL1855 E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
  • SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS
  • SEL18200 E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
  • SEL18200LE E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE
  • SELP18200 E PZ 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
  • SEL20F28 E 20mm F2.8
  • SEL24F18Z E 24mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T*
  • SEL30M35 E 30mm F3.5 Macro
  • SEL35F18 E 35mm F1.8 OSS
  • SEL50F18 E 50mm F1.8 OSS
  • SEL55210 E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS
  • SEL28F20 FE 28mm F2
  • SEL35F14Z FE 35mm F1.4 ZA Distagon T*
  • SEL35F28Z FE 35mm F2.8 ZA Sonnar T*
  • SEL55F18Z FE 55mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T*
  • SEL1635Z FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T*
  • SEL2470Z FE 24-70mm F4 ZA OSS Vario-Tessar T*
  • SEL24240 FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
  • SEL2870 FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
  • SELP28135G FE PZ 28-135mm F4 G OSS
  • SEL70200G FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS
  • SEL70300G FE 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G OSS
  • SEL90M28G FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

Non-Fast Hybrid AF Lens – 2.5 FPS A1

  • SEL16F28 E 16mm F2.8

Third-Party AF

Zeiss/Tamron (8: 5 FF, 3 APS-C)

Touit: DC Motor
Batis: Linear Motor(s)

  • 12mm F2.8 Touit
  • 32mm F1.8 Touit
  • 50mm F2.8 Touit
  • 18mm F2.8 Batis
  • 25mm F2 Batis
  • 40mm F2 Batis
  • 85mm F1.8 Batis
  • 135mm F2.8 Batis

Tamron (10: 8 FF, 2 APS-C)

OSD: Optimized Silent Drive (DC Motor)
RXD: Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive
VXD: Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive
VC: Vibration Control – optical stabilization

Tamron released the first third-party E-mount lens in 2011 — an 18-200mm APS-C zoom. Sony soon rebadged this lens as the LE. 7 years later Tamron released their second E-mount lens, the 28-75mm F2.8 RXD.

  • 17-70mm F2.8 Di III-A VC RXD
  • 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Di III VC
  • 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
  • 20mm F2.8 Di III OSD M1:2
  • 24mm F2.8 Di III OSD M1:2
  • 28-75mm F2.8 Di III RXD
  • 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 Di III RXD
  • 35mm F2.8 Di III OSD M1:2
  • 70-180mm F2.8 Di III VXD
  • 70-300mm F4.5-6.3 Di III RXD

Early Sigma DN (3 APS-C) center PD area only

Sigma released two APS-C EX DN E-mount primes in 2012 a 19mm and a 30mm. They use the letters DN to indicate a native mirrorless lens. The next year they cosmetically redesigned those primes with alloy exteriors and grouped them into their Art series. They also introduced a third 60mm F2.8 DN Art prime.

These lenses never fully-support Fast-Hybrid AF that debuted with the NEX-5R that same year meaning only the central phase-detect points work with these lenses.

  • 19mm F2.8 EX DN/DN A
  • 30mm F2.8 EX DN/DN A
  • 60mm F2.8 DN A

Sigma DC DN C (3 APS-C)

In 2016 Sigma introduced another 30mm APS-C for mirrorless cameras. They group this lens with their Contemporary lenses despite it being F1.4 like the 30mm F1.4 DC Art prime. DC is Sigma’s marking for APS-C lenses which for whatever reason was not applied to their previous mirrorless F2.8 primes–maybe since they were also marketed for Micro Four-Thirds.

  • 16mm F1.4 DC DN C
  • 30mm F1.4 DC DN C — AF issues
  • 56mm F1.4 DC DN C

Sigma DG HSM (11 FF SLR designs)

Sigma announced in 2018 that they will port all their full-frame Art primes to E-mount. The EF and SA versions of these primes were already supported by their MC-11 adapters. These lenses retain the DG designation for digital optimized lenses.

  • 14mm F1.8 DG HSM A
  • 20mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 24mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 28mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 35mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 40mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 50mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 70mm F2.8 DG HSM A
  • 85mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 105mm F1.4 DG HSM A
  • 135mm F1.8 DG HSM A

Sigma DG DN (11 FF)

Sigma began to release lenses designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras in 2018 and gave these both the DG and DN designations.

  • 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN A
  • 24mm F3.5 DG DN C
  • 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN A
  • 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN C
  • 35mm F1.4 DG DN A
  • 35mm F1.2 DG DN A
  • 35mm F2 DG DN C
  • 45mm F2.8 DG DN C
  • 65mm F2 DG DN C
  • 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS C
  • 105mm F2.8 DG DN MACRO A

Samyang AF (11 FF)

Samyang began with larger AF lenses but perhaps found more success with their smaller offerings and is now focusing on modest F1.8 primes.

  • 14mm F2.8
  • 18mm F2.8
  • 24mm F1.8
  • 24mm F2.8
  • 35mm F1.4
  • 35mm F1.8
  • 35mm F2.8
  • 45mm F1.8
  • 50mm F1.4
  • 75mm F1.8
  • 85mm F1.4

Viltrox/Tokina AF (11: 8 FF, 3 APS-C)

  • 23mm F1.4 E
  • 33mm F1.4 E
  • 56mm F1.4 E
  • Firin 20mm F2 FE AF
  • 24mm F1.8 FE
  • 35mm F1.8 FE
  • 50mm F1.8 FE
  • 85mm F1.8 FE ATX-M
  • 85mm F1.8 STM
  • 85mm F1.8 II STM
  • Firin 100mm F2.8 FE Macro

Legacy AF A-mount

DT = APS-C
SAM = DC Motor
SSM = Piezo Ring Motor
SSM II = Updated LSI
D = Distance encoder

Lens Compensation
  • A77+ SLT and A7/A9/A1 with LA-EA adapters
  • 6 Minolta lenses: 20/2.8, 28/2.8, 50/2.8D, 100/2.8D, SSM
AF-D = A99 Dual AF System
  • DT lenses not supported
  • all full-frame SSM/SAM lenses supported
  • 4 Minolta lenses: 50/2.8D, 100/2.8D, SSM
HAF = A99II Hybrid AF
  • All Sony/Minolta SAM/SSM lenses supported
  • AF-D supported lenses also support Hybrid AF

Lenses Limited to 61 points on 79 point AF sensor

  • SAL30M28 DT 30mm F2.8 Macro SAM
  • SAL1118 DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6
  • SAL1855/2 DT 18-55m F3.5-5.6 SAM I/II
  • SAL55200/-2 DT 55-200 F4-5.6 SAM
  • SAL55300 DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM
  • SAL75300 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
  • 50mm F3.5 Macro
  • 20-35mm F3.5-4.5
  • 20-50mm F4 (all)
  • 24-85mm F3.5-4.5 (all)
  • 28-80mm (all)
  • 28-85mm F3.5-4.5 (all)
  • 28-100mm F3.5-5.6 D
  • 28-105mm F3.5-4.5 (all)
  • 28-135mm F4-4.5
  • 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 (all)
  • 35-80mm F4-5.6 I/II
  • 35-105mm F3.5-4.5 (all)
  • 35-200mm F4.5-5.6 Xi
  • 70-210mm F3.5-4.5
  • 70-210mm F4.5-5.6 (all)
  • 75-300mm F4.5-5.6 (all)
  • 80-200mm F4.5-5.6 (all)
  • 100-200mm F4.5
  • 100-300mm F4.5-5.6 (all)
  • 100-400mm F4.5-6.7 APO

Sony Lenses Since A77 (11: 8 FF, 3 APS-C)

These lenses support 20 FPS in AF-S and 10 FPS in AF-C on the A9 and A1. These all came with Lens Compensation support which extends to A7/A9/A1 cameras.

“Lens processing has been revised for faster subject tracking, and it is dust and moisture resistant.”
“with 4x faster autofocus tracking”
“Faster tracking and improved response”
“A new LSI drive circuit takes that performance to a new level, achieving significantly faster autofocus subject tracking than previous models, and making the SSM drive system more responsive than ever.”

  • SAL1650 DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM
  • SAL18135 DT 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 SAM
  • SAL55300 DT 55-300mm F4.5-5.6 SAM
  • SAL1635Z2 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM II Vario-Sonnar T*
  • SAL2470Z2 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM II Vario-Sonnar T*
  • SAL50F14Z 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM Planar T*
  • SAL70200G2 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM II
  • SAL70300G2 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM II
  • SAL70400G2 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II
  • SAL300F28G2 300mm F2.8 G SSM II
  • SAL500F40G 500mm F4 G SSM

Pre A77 SSM/SAM Lenses (15: 9 FF, 6 APS-C)

These lenses are limited to 15 FPS in AF-S and 8 FPS in AF-C on the A9 and 17 FPS in AF-S on the A1. These are lower frame rates than screw-driven lenses. Includes 2 Minolta Lenses and third-party motorized lenses (see list below). The first-party lenses listed here gained Lens Compensation support.

  • SAL1855 DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM
  • SAL18552 DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II
  • SAL30M28 DT 30mm F2.8 Macro SAM
  • SAL35F18 DT 35mm F1.8 SAM
  • SAL50F18 DT 50mm F1.8 SAM
  • SAL55200-2 DT 55-200mm F4-5.6 SAM
  • SAL1635Z 16-35mm F2.8 ZA SSM Vario-Sonnar T*
  • SAL2470Z 24-70mm F2.8 ZA SSM Vario-Sonnar T*
  • SAL24F20Z 24mm F2 ZA SSM Distagon T*
  • SAL2875 28-75mm F2.8 SAM
  • SAL70200G 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM +Minolta
  • SAL70300G 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM
  • SAL70400G 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM
  • SAL85F28 85mm F2.8 SAM
  • SAL300F28G 300mm F2.8 G SSM +Minolta

Screw-Driven Lenses w/ Lens Compensation: (13: 8 FF, 5 APS-C)

  • SAL1680Z DT 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA Vario-Sonnar T* (HAF)
  • SAL16105 DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6
  • SAL18200 DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 (Minolta)
  • SAL18250 DT 18-250mm F3.5-6.3
  • SAL55200 DT 55-200mm F4-5.6
  • SAL20F28 20mm F2.8 (Minolta) (non D)
  • SAL28F28 28mm F2.8 (Minolta) (non D)
  • SAL35F14G 35mm F1.4 G (AF-D)
  • SAL50F14 50mm F1.4 (AF-D)
  • SAL50M28 50mm F2.8 Macro (Minolta D) (AF-D)
  • SAL85F14Z 85mm F1.4 ZA Planar T* (AF-D)
  • SAL100M28 100mm F2.8 Macro (Minolta D) (AF-D)
  • SAL135F18Z 135mm F1.8 ZA Sonnar T* (AF-D)

Sony Lenses without Compensation (7: 5 FF, 2 APS-C)

  • SAL1188 DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6
  • SAL1870 DT 18-70mm F3.5-5.6
  • SAL16F28 16mm F2.8 Fisheye (non D)
  • SAL24105 24-105mm F3.5-4.5
  • SAL75300 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
  • SAL135F28 135mm F2.8 [T4.5] STF (non D)
  • SAL500F80 500mm F8 Reflex (non D)

Minolta Distance Encoder Lenses (15: 12 FF, 3 APS-C)

  • DT 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 D
  • DT 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 D
  • DT 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 D
  • 17-35mm F2.8-4 D
  • 24-105mm F3.5-4.5 D
  • 28-75mm F2.8 D
  • 28-80mm F3.5-5.6 D
  • 28-100mm F3.5-5.6 D
  • 50mm F2.8 Macro D
  • 70-200mm F2.8 APO G D SSM
  • 75-300mm F4.5-5.6 D
  • 85mm F1.4 G D (Limited)
  • 100mm F2.8 Macro D
  • 100-300mm F4.5-5.6 APO D
  • 300mm F2.8 APO G D SSM

Lenses with zoom motors (screw AF)

  • 8 pins without distance encoder
  • No function on LA-EA adapters
  • Electronic zoom focus compensation
  • MF by wire but direct manual zoom
  • 28-80mm F4-5.6 Xi
  • 28-105mm F3.5-4.5 Xi
  • 35-80mm F4-5.6 Power Zoom
  • 35-200mm F4.5-5.6 Xi
  • 80-200mm F4.5-5.6 Xi
  • 100-300mm F4.5-5.6 Xi

Sigma Intelligent Auto (IA)

  • 28-70mm F3.5-4 UC
  • 70-210mm F4-5.6

Third-Party Lenses with focus motors (51: 29 FF, 22 APS-C)

  • Sigma and Tamron only
  • 8 pins
  • Distance encoder inaccuracy – stabilization issues
  • Borrowed Lens IDs – Lens Compensation errors
  • AF issues

Tamron (16: 12 FF, 4 APS-C)

  • 16-30mm PZD
  • 18-200mm
  • 18-270mm PZD
  • SP 60mm F2 – Lens ID SAL50F18
  • SP 15-30mm F2.8 USD
  • SP 24-70mm F2.8 USD
  • 28-300mm PZD
  • SP 35mm F1.8 USD
  • SP 45mm F1.8 USD
  • SP 70-200mm F2.8 USD
  • SP 70-300mm F4-5.6 USD – Lens ID SAL70300G
  • SP 85mm F1.8 USD
  • SP 90mm F2.8 USD (x2) – Lens ID SAL100M28?
  • SP 150-600mm USD
  • SP 150-600mm USD G2

Sigma (35: 17 FF, 18 APS-C)

  • 17-70mm F2.8-4 C
  • 18-35mm F1.8 Art
  • 18-200mm C
  • 18-300mm C
  • 30mm F1.4 Art
  • 4.5mm F2.8
  • 8-16mm
  • 10mm F2.8
  • 10-20mm F3.5
  • 17-50mm F2.8 OS
  • 17-70mm F2.8-4
  • 18-50mm F2.8-4.5 OS
  • 18-125mm
  • 18-200mm
  • 18-250mm
  • 18-250mm OS
  • 50-150mm F2.8
  • 50-200mm OS
  • 24-105mm F4 Art
  • 35 F1.4mm Art
  • 50 F1.4mm Art
  • 12-24mm F4.5-5.6
  • 24-70mm F2.8
  • 50mm F1.4
  • 50-500mm OS
  • 70-200mm F2.8 Macro
  • 70-200mm F2.8 OS
  • 85mm F1.4
  • 105mm F2.8 OS
  • 120-400mm
  • 120-400mm OS
  • 150mm F2.8 OS
  • 150-500mm
  • 150-500mm OS
  • 180mm F2.8 OS

Screw Driven with Distance Encoding (45: 32 FF, 13 APS-C)

  • Sigma and Tamron only
  • 8 pins
  • distance encoder inaccuracy
  • stabilization issues
  • borrowed Lens IDs