Sony to Release 500mm Super-telephoto Lens

Designed for sports and wildlife photographers, it features a bright f/4 maximum aperture and is ruggedly-engineered. It is weather-resistant with interlocking seals around the focusing ring and front/rear joints to exclude dust and moisture.  It is also compatible with the built-in SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilisation system in all Sony DSLR  cameras, providing up to 4.5 f-stops of compensation in shutter speed.The optical design features 11 elements in 10 groups and includes three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements. The SAL500F40G is also the first G Lens from Sony to include new Nano AR Coating, which minimises internal reflections to reduce ghosting and flare. Flare is further reduced by the supplied carbon fibre lens hood, which is flock-lined to absorb incident light.

The high-torque SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) features a new drive circuit, which ensures rapid, responsive AF with significantly faster object tracking than conventional Sony lenses. Four focus hold buttons are spaced around the lens barrel and complemented by a two-way DMF (Direct Manual Focus) mode button and focus range switch. The SAL500F40G is built to order and carries an RRP of  $16,999. It will be available at selected Sony stores and Sony Alpha Specialist Dealers from April 2012. For details, visit www.sony.com.au.
Specifications:Minimum aperture: f/32Aperture blades: 9 (circular aperture)Minimum focus: 4 metresMax. magnification ratio: 0.135xFilter diameter: 42 mm (exclusive)Teleconverter compatibility: Yes (1.4x: AF and MF Mode, 2x: MF mode)Dimensions (Diameter x L): 140 x 367.5 mmWeight: Approx. 3460 grams