Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Mirrorless Cameras => Topic started by: Alan Goldhammer on December 13, 2015, 05:25:20 pm

Title: Zeiss Vario Tessar 16-70 Zoom f4 E Mount Lens - Price Discrepancy
Post by: Alan Goldhammer on December 13, 2015, 05:25:20 pm
I've noticed that B&H lists two versions of what looks to be the same lens for sale.  The Sony/Zeiss version retails for $998 while the Hasselbald version sells for $300 less.  The Q&A on the Hasseblad lens states:  White box items were purchased from another vendor aside from the Manufacturer. The item has been removed from a previously packaged kit, and resold it to us as a single component. Being that it was removed from their kit, we repackage it in a generic box. It is still a genuine Sony lens and will come with all the same warranty/accessories etc. that the original manufacturers packaged version would contain.  

Has anyone purchased the Hasselblad lens?  Why would there be such a difference if the price for "identical" products.  I'm considering getting an a6000 with this lens and certainly the reduced price is appealing.  Just want some input from those who have gone down this route.

TIA,

Alan

EDIT:  I tried doing a search but LuLa won't accept single letters in the search field so 'Sony E Mount Lens' is rejected.
Title: Re: Zeiss Vario Tessar 16-70 Zoom f4 E Mount Lens - Price Discrepancy
Post by: E.J. Peiker on December 13, 2015, 09:01:57 pm
It's the same lens and most of that blinged out Hasselblad stuff is being liquidated at fire sale prices as the company has dropped that business.  Similarly you can get the Hasselblad (Sony) DSLR for less money than the Sony branded one.  It's all while supplies last and there won't ever be any more.
Title: Re: Zeiss Vario Tessar 16-70 Zoom f4 E Mount Lens - Price Discrepancy
Post by: Zorki5 on December 15, 2015, 02:36:44 am
Why would there be such a difference if the price for "identical" products. I'm considering getting an a6000 with this lens and certainly the reduced price is appealing.

They pay you for your risk of being mistaken for one of those fools who paid premium for the slanted "H" during early days of this rebadging fiasco.

Seriously though, it's what E.J. Peiker said ^^^, a fire sale, so hurry up while supply lasts... I'd be interested in your experience with this lens, BTW.

Title: Re: Zeiss Vario Tessar 16-70 Zoom f4 E Mount Lens - Price Discrepancy
Post by: Zorki5 on January 10, 2016, 07:40:18 am
I'd be interested in your experience with this lens, BTW.

Alan, so, did you buy it? How does it work?

Even though it's a bit late to affect my purchase decisions (I bought "native" Zeiss 16-70/4 recently), I'm still interested in your experience.

Judging by reviews floating around the internet, the biggest risk is to get a copy with decentering issues... I always take such reports with a huge grain of salt, but with 16-70/4 at least 50% of review sites that bothered to test this lens reported decentering. Oh well. To the extent that I can see (and care...), my copy is perfectly fine, although I do not shoot brick walls, and was only checking regular shots.

What about yours? Not that curiosity is killing me,  ;) but would appreciate your opinion.