Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony Digital Cinema Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM PMW-F3 CineAlta

Sony XDCAM PMW-F3 CineAlta
HD recording with a Super35 CMOS Sensor.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 21st, 2011, 01:51 AM   #1
Trustee
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 1,684
Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Has anybody had a chance to try out the new Sony lenses that come in the kit with the camera?
I don't expect them to be Zeiss quality but how do they compare say to the other inexpensive choices out there, especially something like the Nikon lenses.
Obviously they have the advantage of being geared and having longer focus throws. I imagine they might also have a CAC correction connection to the camera which might hide a great many flaws.

Also I've heard the mechanics are not too good, but again how bad when compared to using still glass or say Red glass?

Lenny
Leonard Levy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 21st, 2011, 03:11 AM   #2
Tourist
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 3
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Will test tomorrow and post.
Paul Richards is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 21st, 2011, 08:46 AM   #3
Sponsor: Abel CineTech
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 361
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

They are optically very similar to the Red Pro Primes. They have very little if any breathing, little CA, and hold focus well. Mechanically they are a bit heavy, the rings are plastic, and do not have any exact markings. However they are much better than still glass in terms of pulling focus, and smooth iris changes. I say for the money they are fantastic lenses. $6k for 3 PL lenses cannot be beat.
__________________
Andy Shipsides -Camera Technology Specialist
AbelCineTech, New York - Visit our Blog - http://blog.abelcine.com
Andy Shipsides is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 21st, 2011, 03:39 PM   #4
Trustee
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 1,684
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Thanks Andy,
Not being very familiar with the Red Pro primes - what does that mean about the optical quality say compared to Zeiss compacts
Leonard Levy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 22nd, 2011, 12:44 AM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New York City
Posts: 120
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy Shipsides View Post
They are optically very similar to the Red Pro Primes. They have very little if any breathing, little CA, and hold focus well. Mechanically they are a bit heavy, the rings are plastic, and do not have any exact markings. However they are much better than still glass in terms of pulling focus, and smooth iris changes. I say for the money they are fantastic lenses. $6k for 3 PL lenses cannot be beat.
I've not used them, but andy is right. 6k for pl glass that's aT2 is a damn good deal.
__________________
Director of Photography - www.timurcivan.com
Sony F3, Cooke lenses, sunny disposition.
Timur Civan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 22nd, 2011, 04:50 AM   #6
New Boot
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lancaster, PA
Posts: 23
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Glad I ordered mine with the glass..even if you move to something else, I think those lenses will be hot in the market. (very easy to sell!)
Steve Strickle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 22nd, 2011, 05:00 PM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New York City
Posts: 120
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

I think they would trickle down very nicely to the entering AF100/F3 market of owner operators.
__________________
Director of Photography - www.timurcivan.com
Sony F3, Cooke lenses, sunny disposition.
Timur Civan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 22nd, 2011, 06:50 PM   #8
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Posts: 114
Re: Big Honkin' Sony Plastic Lenses

My dealer loaned me an F3 last weekend, since mine isn't in yet, and the Sony primes were in the box. I decided to leave them there, since I had an MTF adapter and a set of Zeiss ZF2s.

The ZF2s look great to me, and they cost half as much. They're also made of metal. When you turn the focus ring on the Sony lenses, you hear plastic on plastic. Grrrrrr. The Zeiss lenses are silky smooth.

Another issue for me: the Sony primes are really, really big. Ginormous. I know that has advantages for pulling focus. And big stuff really impresses clients, sometimes. But, I think I'll get by just fine without 'em.
Jim Tittle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 22nd, 2011, 07:35 PM   #9
Wrangler
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,100
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Tittle View Post
Another issue for me: the Sony primes are really, really big. Ginormous. I know that has advantages for pulling focus. And big stuff really impresses clients, sometimes. But, I think I'll get by just fine without 'em.
big primes are usually that way so they can all be the same size...just an FYI. So the fronts stay the same size (no bellows changes on matteboxes), and the gears all stay in the same place so you can switch lenses quickly...especially for setups with motors.

Not applicable to you, of course :-)
__________________
My Work: nateweaver.net
Nate Weaver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 23rd, 2011, 02:25 AM   #10
Trustee
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 1,684
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

What do you guys think of the Duclos ZF.2 adaptations as an alternative to the Sony primes for an affordable set.
You could get a set of 28mm- 100mm for $9K (28 & 100 are f2 and the 35, 50 and 85 are f1.4)

Price is comparable to Sony's and you do have that magic word Zeiss on your gear list,

If I read the literature right maybe an Arri follow focus can gear down to slow the shorter focus barrel and can reverse the gear direction for AC's used to standard direction.

Image quality compared to Sony's or Red primes?

Lenny
Leonard Levy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 23rd, 2011, 11:50 AM   #11
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Posts: 114
chump change, size matters

Nate: Yeah, I know. Size does matter. In some ways. Some times.

The Sony lenses, despite their substantial girth, don't inspire confidence. Mechanically, they remind me of cheap DSLR kit lenses. I know that it's possible to make a great lens with plastic components, but I'm not convinced that it'll still be a great lens in a year or two. And, even though $2,000 each qualifies these as cheap PL lenses, $2000 is still $2000. In my world, that ain't chump change.
Jim Tittle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 23rd, 2011, 02:41 PM   #12
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: New York City
Posts: 120
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leonard Levy View Post
What do you guys think of the Duclos ZF.2 adaptations as an alternative to the Sony primes for an affordable set.
You could get a set of 28mm- 100mm for $9K (28 & 100 are f2 and the 35, 50 and 85 are f1.4)

Price is comparable to Sony's and you do have that magic word Zeiss on your gear list,

If I read the literature right maybe an Arri follow focus can gear down to slow the shorter focus barrel and can reverse the gear direction for AC's used to standard direction.

Image quality compared to Sony's or Red primes?

Lenny
Ive usedthe Duclos adapter ZF2's. They are VERY nice and essentialy CP2's, with less convenience.
__________________
Director of Photography - www.timurcivan.com
Sony F3, Cooke lenses, sunny disposition.
Timur Civan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 4th, 2011, 01:34 AM   #13
New Boot
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
Posts: 6
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

I have been wondering how the Sony lenses would compare for weeks.
The CP2's are still not readily available, but I got a hold of a Zeiss 35mm CP2 and a Sony 35 mm that comes with the F3, both PL mount.
I went to Band Pro in Burbank,Ca. (who owned the lenses) and projected them both on a Chrosziel Lens Testing Projector MK5 in their lens testing room.
To my and the sales persons surprise the Sony 35mm looked sharper. Not only in the center, but the edges as well.
That said, the construction of the Sony lenses are not of the best quality and the Focus Witness marks are pretty much useless.
They cost $1866.00 a piece an are a T2....pretty hard to beat for the money.
The CP2's aren't available and cost $3900 each and up.
I bought the camera with the 3 lenses.
Sam Painter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 4th, 2011, 03:13 AM   #14
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 92
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

Maybe I'm getting confused, but the CP2s are full frame, so there's a crop factor, right? Are the Sonys any different?
Ryan Koo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 4th, 2011, 03:47 AM   #15
Trustee
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
Posts: 1,259
Re: Sony Kit lenses vs still or Red lenses?

IMHO, buy it with the lenses b/c you can't get the Sony glass any other way. If you don't like 'em, sell 'em. There should be a good secondary market. JMHO.
__________________
Avid Media Composer 3.1.3. Boris Red and Continuum Complete. Vegas 8.0c. TMPGEnc Xpress Pro 4.0
Peter Moretti is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony Digital Cinema Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM PMW-F3 CineAlta

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:30 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network