A7RII + LA EA3 + Tamron 150-600mm

[Aajay]

I have read Brian Smith's review that the A7RII + LA EA3 + Tamron 150-600mm (The Sony version of the Tamron) is a great combination for still-photography but I would really like to know if this combination works well for video. Specifically how well does autofocus work while recording?

I understand how most videographers prefer to use manual focus for documentaries and such, but while shooting wildlife, I'd much prefer to have a rig that autofocuses since wildlife is unpredictable.

I currently have been using a GH4 + Metabones + Canon mount Tamron 150-600mm and love the combo although I yearn for autofocus. I am contemplating moving to Sony if the Sony version of the Tamron works like I think it should.

Does anyone have first-hand experience?

Thanks,

AJ

 

[caseywilsondp]

I have not, however the samsung nx1 has unparalleled autofocus in video mode (in 4k)... so if autofocus is that important to you, you may want to consider that camera system.

 

[M. Gilden]

I have not, however the samsung nx1 has unparalleled autofocus in video mode (in 4k)... so if autofocus is that important to you, you may want to consider that camera system.

Not with adapted lenses, and their lens selection is pretty slim.

AAjay, I've actually wondered about the AF in movie mode on the A7Rii in that setup. I have the original A7S and an LA-EA4 adapter (version with a mirror), but the problem with using the EA4 is that you become aperture locked in video recording. It has nothing to do with the A7S, apparently all the E-mount cameras that adapt A-mount lenses with a mirror become locked at F/3.5 in movie mode (including FS100, FS7, etc). If the lens can't open to F/3.5, it jumps to whatever the widest possible aperture is (my Minolta 70-210 becomes locked at f/4). That means you can't stop it down or anything, which I'd imagine you want to do with wildlife/nature shooting. In fact, I think the original A-mount cameras like the A99 and A77 have this same bizarre restriction, so it has something to do with the way that focus system was designed to work when recording video. Turn off the AF, and the lens works as you'd expect again will full control.

Now, the A7Rii has this new phase-detection symbiotic AF thing going on that claims to be able to focus adapted lenses at native speed without the mirrored PDAF system that other cameras require. That means technically, all you need is the LA-EA3 which is cheaper and allows 100% light pass through. But the question is, will you still be aperture locked? Is that limited to the mirror focus system or how these cameras handle A-mount lenses regardless?

On that note, I wonder if they can AF Canon lenses with a Metabones or Commlite in movie recording now as well. I really should do some digging, has anyone tried this?

 

[Aajay]

Thanks for the replies. I think through my own research I have my answer which isn't what I was hoping for. From what I have learned, (and this only applies to video mode) whenever you use non-native lenses (meaning with an adapter) the A7RII only used contrast detect autofocus and in this mode, the autofocus is not dependable.

I'm not sure if Tamron or some other lens company such as Sigma is considering developing lenses with an FE mount, but it seems that FE mount lenses focus much better in video mode. (Are they using phase-detection rather than contrast?)

It would sure be nice if there were long telephoto native lenses for the FE mount cameras.

Thanks for the replies,

AJ

 

[M. Gilden]

Thanks for the replies. I think through my own research I have my answer which isn't what I was hoping for. From what I have learned, (and this only applies to video mode) whenever you use non-native lenses (meaning with an adapter) the A7RII only used contrast detect autofocus and in this mode, the autofocus is not dependable.

I'm not sure if Tamron or some other lens company such as Sigma is considering developing lenses with an FE mount, but it seems that FE mount lenses focus much better in video mode. (Are they using phase-detection rather than contrast?)

It would sure be nice if there were long telephoto native lenses for the FE mount cameras.

Thanks for the replies,

AJ

That's a shame. The LA-EA4 mode uses its own phase-detect AF system in photo and video mode, which is surprisingly fast even on 30-year old screw-drive focus lenses. But then you'd have that aperture lock problem. Native FE lenses AF fast in video because they are designed to do micro-stepping at high speed, which is how contrast-based works. A lens that isn't designed to do that will hunt around slowly and noisily (like an original A7 trying to focus with an adapted Canon lens). Not sure why PDAF is disabled if the A7Rii supports it, though! Really disappointing.

E-mount (the APSC version) has been around a while and has some love from third parties like Sigma and Tamron already. I think the only reason there aren't any FE versions is just because the full frame format is too recent. Sony still has a long way to go with their own lineup, third parties will join in eventually. Meanwhile, perhaps an option would be to consider an E-mount APS-C version and shoot in APS-C mode?

 

[RTI]

Thanks for the replies. I think through my own research I have my answer which isn't what I was hoping for. From what I have learned, (and this only applies to video mode) whenever you use non-native lenses (meaning with an adapter) the A7RII only used contrast detect autofocus and in this mode, the autofocus is not dependable.

I'm not sure if Tamron or some other lens company such as Sigma is considering developing lenses with an FE mount, but it seems that FE mount lenses focus much better in video mode. (Are they using phase-detection rather than contrast?)

It would sure be nice if there were long telephoto native lenses for the FE mount cameras.

Thanks for the replies,

AJ

I'm not that sure btw. "Adapted lenses" - I suppose the term was used for Canon-EF and metabones alike adapters. Using LA-EA3 is kind of Sony native tech, might have phase detect in video, unless there is a specific test to show the opposite.

 

[M. Gilden]

I'm not that sure btw. "Adapted lenses" - I suppose the term was used for Canon-EF and metabones alike adapters. Using LA-EA3 is kind of Sony native tech, might have phase detect in video, unless there is a specific test to show the opposite.

Its still native Sony tech, but the camera considers it "adapted". On my A7S with an LA-EA4, it opens up certain things my camera isn't usually capable of (such as microadjustments and picking from the array of on-screen focus points), and then disables certain other ones such as the ability to control F-stop in video with AF, and the AF assist lamp is completely disabled.
That last one has been kind of a kick in the shins for photographers who are trying to replace their pro-level A99 with an A7 and bring their lens collection. A friend of mine was livid that he could not focus in dimly lit wedding halls anymore because it was too dark to focus before the flash fired. On any regular camera, a little AF assist lamp (usually a red or green light or array of dots) fires so that the AF system can "see" the subject, then shuts off when focus is achieved and fires the flash. The A7 line of cameras, at least last I checked, could ONLY DO THIS with native FE lenses. The Canon adapters as well as the official Sony LA adapters caused it to be disabled when shooting. I'd be surprised because the Canon adapters still allow the native focus system and that doesn't work either.

Maybe the A7Rii handles it differently since it can use the native focusing system from the get-go. But so far from my experience, it looks like A-mount is considered adapted.