E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS

[Lee Berger]

Just received this E Mount lens today and on first look I am quite happy. You can Google it and read about the specs. Also there are two rings, Focus and Zoom. The focus is similar to any other servo focus. The zoom ring is also a servo, but it's fairly responsive for quick focal length changes. It has a zoom lever on the lens, but it works with the zoom lever on the EA50. There are a few things I am pleased with 1) The servo zoom works much better than the original 18-200mm lens. There is no jerky start and stop, and no shift in focus. It's smoothness is quite comparable to the lens on my V1U and Z7U. Also the zoom elements are internal so there is no extension to the lens as you zoom. 2) I also like the constant f4 aperture. 3) The price point is very affordable. I'll post some sample video in the next few day. Sorry about the upside down photo. When you click on it it appears with the proper orientation.

[Dmitri Zigany]

Been hearing (and seeing videos) of quite extreme pillow distortion with this lens on FS100/700. How's it working out on the EA50?
Apparently the NEX5/6/7 and VG20/30 have compensate for this in software but not the professional video camera NEX line. Was looking forward to this lens until I saw/read this.

[Lee Berger]

Dmitri:
I looked at the video on YouTube

Sony 18 105 Pillow OSS F4 Zoom - YouTube

and I see what you are referring to, particularly at :19. looking through my EA 50 I'm not seeing that distortion. Tomorrow I'll shoot some footage and post the results.

[Dmitri Zigany]

Cool!
Maybe the EA50, using the same sensor as the NEX3/5/7(?) series still cameras also have the compensation, even if it's not included in Sony's list of supported cameras.
( SEL-P18105G (SELP18105G, SELP18105G.AE) | Products | Cameras & camcorders | Sony )

But encouraging that you're not seeing it in initial tests, cause eeven if I'm planning to get the FS700 shortly this lens would be used mainly on my EA50...

[Lee Berger]

Here is a quick and dirty test I shot this morning.

E PZ 18 105mm F4 G OSS Lens Test - YouTube
I don't see any issues with pillow distortion. In fact I saw this video last night from a trade show and the Sony rep was using this lens on the EA 50.

Inter BEE 2013: Newsshooter looks at the Sony NEX 18-105mm f4 on Vimeo

Here's a couple of observations. 1) The zoom control is better than the supplied 18-200 kit lens, but it's still not too smooth on the start. 2) It's very difficult to focus manually. I use the momentary auto focus and as with the kit lens that seems to work the best. 3) The shot of myself has a nice bokeh at f4.

So far I think it's worth the money. I have a musical performance shoot on Sunday evening so I'll see how well it does there.

[Dmitri Zigany]

Looks perfectly acceptable in your footage!

My intended use is for shooting live performances... Then I usually use the face detection and hit 'push auto' to let the camera do the focus when needed. Has been working surprisingly well with the stock 18-200 lens. the 50mm ƒ1.8 seems much slower at focusing this way. If this one is on par with the stock lens I'd be happy.

[Lee Berger]

Better than the stock lens as your aperture won't be heading towards 6.5 as soon as you start to zoom. You might miss the reach of the stock lens.

[Gabe Strong]

This lens works great on my VG 20. On my FS700, there is crazy pillow distortion. Apparently,
this lens was not made to work with the higher end cameras. It works great with the EA 50, VG 20,
VG30, and the stills line NEX 5 and so on. On the FS cameras, there is some intense distortion
going on.

[Christopher Young]

Agreed! I didn't see this posting so listed my results in a new post. Hoped this lens had a future but on the FS700 with 3.01 firmware it's no go for me. Check still image grab at:

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-nxc...apointing.html

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

[Dmitri Zigany]

Been some reports that Sony are "looking into it" but won't promising anything and "don't expect anything before spring" etc... It's a real shame as FS700 owners would have been those most interested in the lens to begin with...

[Tom Van den Berghe]

@Lee, is the F4 on this lens the same in lowlight as the stock lens at F4? Maybe there is a difference?

Only difference is constant F4 when zooming in and less reach (about 5x zoom against 11x zoom on the stocklens)?

[Lee Berger]

Tom:
I did a test today of both lenses at f4 and the 18-105 does appear to be slightly darker than the 18-200 . Also I'm surprised that with both lenses at full wide (18mm) there is a difference in the image. The 18-105 is not as wide. What the heck?

[Dmitri Zigany]

At full wide the 18-200 should be a bit lighter as it's 3.5 at the wide end. Or did you set it for f4 even wide?
As for the difference in field of view that is weirder...

I have now bought a FS700R and would love to get that lens for the EA50 to use for live shows and the 18-200 on the FS700. But I need to do some tests and see if they cut together well enough. Otherwise I might sell the EA50 and then I have no use for the 18-105 :(

[Lee Berger]

I had them both set at f4, however since the kit lens goes to 3.5 there is some wiggle room as you adjust the aperture control from the point where the VF shows f4 till it indicates f4.5.

[Erik Wittbusch]

It's the electronic correction of distortion and vignetting that makes the picture less wide and a touch darker.
That's the cost...

I adapted a Canon EF 24-105/4,0 L IS on a speedbooster. It behaves as a 17-75/2,8 now but was a costly alternative. Know what: There's distortion on the wide end too - not correctable...