About to jump the Panasonic ship for first time in 8 years

mainstreetprod

mainstreetprod

Veteran
Up until 2005 I owned a Sony VX1000 (3 chip DV) and loved it. Then Panasonic came out with the HVX200 and won me over. I shot general video projects with it (and still do), while buying and selling better cameras to shoot feature movies (HVX900, AF100). I'm about to shoot a third feature that will have a lot of slow motion shots. I debated for a long time between a used Red One or Scarlet and decided to put the priority on great slomo - so here I am. New FS700 will arrive from B & H tomorrow along with a selection of lenses I picked out . None of the lenses are typically used with the FS700 so it will be interesting to see how they do. Here's what I ordered:
[TABLE="width: 496"]
[TR]
[TD]NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SONPF970[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]NP-F970 L-Series Info-Lithium Battery Pack (6300mAh)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SI1928DNSE[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Sony E Mount Camera
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SI3028DNSEM[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Sony E Mount Cameras
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SO5521045[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]SEL55210 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VELANEXNG[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Nikon G Lens to Sony NEX Camera Adapter[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


I know most everyone is getting A mount lenses with an adaptor for faster autofocus. I chose the two Sigma primes after reading many reviews commenting about their sharpness. Autofocus isn't a priority (although I do expect to use the touch screen to rack focus so lenses with focusing motors will be handy). I got the adapter to mount the Nikons I used on my AF100 - a 35mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.8. I have an inexpensive follow focus to use with them.

I got the 55-210 Sony because I feel it is better than the kit lens for my purposes. All of these lenses are inexpensive (B & H sells the two primes as a package for $199 and the Sony is $348. I'll be checking them out over the next couple of weeks, posting footage and reporting back on how I like them.
 
mainstreetprod said:
Up until 2005 I owned a Sony VX1000 (3 chip DV) and loved it. Then Panasonic came out with the HVX200 and won me over. I shot general video projects with it (and still do), while buying and selling better cameras to shoot feature movies (HVX900, AF100). I'm about to shoot a third feature that will have a lot of slow motion shots. I debated for a long time between a used Red One or Scarlet and decided to put the priority on great slomo - so here I am. New FS700 will arrive from B & H tomorrow along with a selection of lenses I picked out . None of the lenses are typically used with the FS700 so it will be interesting to see how they do. Here's what I ordered:
[TABLE="width: 496"]
[TR]
[TD]NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SONPF970[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]NP-F970 L-Series Info-Lithium Battery Pack (6300mAh)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SI1928DNSE[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Sony E Mount Camera[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SI3028DNSEM[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Sony E Mount Cameras[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SO5521045[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]SEL55210 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VELANEXNG[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Nikon G Lens to Sony NEX Camera Adapter[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


I know most everyone is getting A mount lenses with an adaptor for faster autofocus. I chose the two Sigma primes after reading many reviews commenting about their sharpness. Autofocus isn't a priority (although I do expect to use the touch screen to rack focus so lenses with focusing motors will be handy). I got the adapter to mount the Nikons I used on my AF100 - a 35mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.8. I have an inexpensive follow focus to use with them.

I got the 55-210 Sony because I feel it is better than the kit lens for my purposes. All of these lenses are inexpensive (B & H sells the two primes as a package for $199 and the Sony is $348. I'll be checking them out over the next couple of weeks, posting footage and reporting back on how I like them.
Click to expand...

And you better test them for LESS than 30 days and return it to B&H ! ... PRICE is nothing compare some IMPORTANT options, as IMAGE STABILIZATION! ... E-lenses good only if they are: 1. FAST and 2. Have OSS! so I would recommend:

1. Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 PZ OSS Alpha E-mount Lens POWER ZOOM with OSS ! it's better than KIt lens and better than 55-210!
2. Sony 10-18mm F4 OSS - FANTASTIC GEOMETRY in this lens! You can see it in my test here: http://youtu.be/DWKNi3dF_UM
3. Sony 35mm F1.8 OSS
4. Sony 50mm F1.8 OSS

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Brand_Sony&ci=17912&N=4196380428+4291215468

There also Zeiss e-mount lenses: 24mm F1.8 and new TOUIT lenses: Distagon 12mm F2.8 and Planar 32mm F1.8 .. but I'm not recommend it as they don't have OSS and they are very expensive ...

The best lenses WITHOUT stabilization will be manual Rokinon Cine lenses with CANON mount ( to use it with Metabones Speed Booster! ) : 8mm T3.8 Fisheye lens, 14mm T3.1, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 85mm T1.5 .. at list 3 of them - 14, 35 and 85mm is "must have" lenses! :) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
 
mainstreetprod said:
Up until 2005 I owned a Sony VX1000 (3 chip DV) and loved it. Then Panasonic came out with the HVX200 and won me over. I shot general video projects with it (and still do), while buying and selling better cameras to shoot feature movies (HVX900, AF100). I'm about to shoot a third feature that will have a lot of slow motion shots. I debated for a long time between a used Red One or Scarlet and decided to put the priority on great slomo - so here I am. New FS700 will arrive from B & H tomorrow along with a selection of lenses I picked out . None of the lenses are typically used with the FS700 so it will be interesting to see how they do. Here's what I ordered:
[TABLE="width: 496"]
[TR]
[TD]NEX-FS700U Super 35 Camcorder (Body Only)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SONPF970[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]NP-F970 L-Series Info-Lithium Battery Pack (6300mAh)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SI1928DNSE[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Sony E Mount Camera[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SI3028DNSEM[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Sony E Mount Cameras[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SO5521045[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]SEL55210 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 Lens[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]VELANEXNG[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Nikon G Lens to Sony NEX Camera Adapter[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


I know most everyone is getting A mount lenses with an adaptor for faster autofocus. I chose the two Sigma primes after reading many reviews commenting about their sharpness. Autofocus isn't a priority (although I do expect to use the touch screen to rack focus so lenses with focusing motors will be handy). I got the adapter to mount the Nikons I used on my AF100 - a 35mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.8. I have an inexpensive follow focus to use with them.

I got the 55-210 Sony because I feel it is better than the kit lens for my purposes. All of these lenses are inexpensive (B & H sells the two primes as a package for $199 and the Sony is $348. I'll be checking them out over the next couple of weeks, posting footage and reporting back on how I like them.
Click to expand...

Why do you think a 55-210 F4.5-6.3 would be better than a 18-200 f3.5-6.3? Just curious about
this as most criticisms of the kit lens revolve around the slow, variable aperture. The 55-210 gives
you the same slow variable aperture without the range and 'all in one' package. Of course you
do get an extra 10mm on the telephoto side I guess, I was just wondering what your thoughts
were on this and what you were seeing as the better features of the 55-210 over the kit lens.
 
Surprising selection of lenses... not what I would have chosen.

f2.8 primes? I guess you are trying to stick with native E-mount lenses, and there are very few to choose from? I'd say just go for a more popular more prevalent mount since your lenses will hold value better in a popular mount and you'll never get the most out of the camera if you limit yourself to e-mount lenses. I doubt there is much demand for e-mount lenses, and there is the selection to match.

Why not get a $190 focal reducer and a $200 28-300mm f3.5-6.3 lens if you need all that range. With the focal reducer, it will be a 20mm-210mm f2.5-4.5, which covers about the same range as your three lenses and will be at least as fast at each of their respective focal lengths but you won't have to carry extra lenses or change lenses. And then you could also pick up a 24-70mm f2.8 which is an awesome lens with a focal reducer since it becomes an f2.0 zoom which is just about impossible to get any other way. You wouldn't have electronic aperture or focus with the inexpensive focal reducer, but with the right adapter you could have manual aperture control on any nikon lens, or splurge for the speed booster with electronic control.

I would never trust S35 video camera autofocus anyway, manual all the way.
 
If you need to do precise manual focusing, the E-Mount lenses from my experience is not great for that. I don't know how to describe it but you can go from infinite to the minimal focus distance by rotating the focus ring in the same direction continuously without stopping. I found this to be very annoying!

Keep in mind I've only used the 18-200 Kit Lens and the 16mm Pancake Lens.
 
Yes many e-mount lenses are servo focus, meaning you wont ever get repeatable focus, and it will be far more difficult to get critical focus accurately since the speed at which the lens focuses is not linear with the rate at which you turn the focus ring, so you will always overshoot a little on any pull. I stay away from e-mount lenses for that reason and because they are generally slow and designed only with consumer photo cameras in mind. They prioritize price and size above image quality and build quality.
 
I've been using the stock emount lens and wondered why you never get linear focus. It's been really annoying me. Autofocus is quite handy for me doing events where I am trying to track a 250mph dot in the sky (rc jets) but I have shot them without it on Canon's. I was about to invest in the 50mm Emount 1.8 as it has OSS and I can't find many (if any) in the same price range that are that fast with OSS too. Are there any suitable alerntatives to the Sony 50mm (I was looking at the Canon 50mm 1.4 but no is).
 
LFXdan said:
I've been using the stock emount lens and wondered why you never get linear focus. It's been really annoying me. Autofocus is quite handy for me doing events where I am trying to track a 250mph dot in the sky (rc jets) but I have shot them without it on Canon's. I was about to invest in the 50mm Emount 1.8 as it has OSS and I can't find many (if any) in the same price range that are that fast with OSS too. Are there any suitable alerntatives to the Sony 50mm (I was looking at the Canon 50mm 1.4 but no is).
Click to expand...

Canon makes a 35mm f2.0 IS lens. Also 24-70mm lenses are available with IS/OSS/OS/VC which with speedbooster would be f2.0. Otherwise there are plenty of ~17-50mm f2.8 lenses that have IS. Also there were rumors of canon coming out with 50mm and 85mm f1.4 IS lenses but either the rumor was false or they just haven't been released yet.
 
I'm selling my NEX f/1.8 prime lenses in case you're interested. The Sigma 30/2.8 is a great lens, super sharp, and just feels very good for stills. But the NEX 35/1.8 is faster and stabilized, and I don't think either is optically better than the other.

The SEL18200 is very practical. Great range, light weight, and the OSS is amazing. But the IQ is a bit subpar. I keep selling and buying and selling it again because I like its convenience but dont like its image. In its stead, consider the Canon 24-105 with Speed Booster.

I personally haven't found electronic focusing by wire of the NEX lenses to be a deal-breaker. What I can't stand rather is the teeny, awkwardly placed, and slow-reacting aperture control wheel on the FS cameras, which is why I've switched over to manual lenses. Even the AF100's aperture control wheel is much better. If you're used to your Nikons with manual aperture rings, get ready for some pain...
 
And you better test them for LESS than 30 days and return it to B&H ! ... PRICE is nothing compare some IMPORTANT options, as IMAGE STABILIZATION! ... E-lenses good only if they are: 1. FAST and 2. Have OSS! so I would recommend:

"1. Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 PZ OSS Alpha E-mount Lens POWER ZOOM with OSS ! it's better than KIt lens and better than 55-210!
2. Sony 10-18mm F4 OSS - FANTASTIC GEOMETRY in this lens! You can see it in my test here: http://youtu.be/DWKNi3dF_UM
3. Sony 35mm F1.8 OSS
4. Sony 50mm F1.8 OSS



Image stabilization isn't much of a factor for me. I have an HVX i use for run and gun, my FS700 is for narrative filmmaking on a tripod. If I take it off the tripod, I'm usually wanting it to look less stable. Fast is also not that important, as I'm used to lighting my scenes - and F2.8 is not that slow anyway. I am a bit concerned with "focus by wire" as I didn't like it in the 20mm pancake for the AF100. But for $200 for two lenses, I figure why not give them a try, especially when they are returnable?

I do appreciate the recommendations. If these don't work out, I will be looking to replace them with something more suitable (and probably more expensive). Right now I'm unpacking the camera and charging the batteries. Should have some footage today or tomorrow.​
 
I followed the same path with Panasonic (DVX, HVX, AF) a year ago and changed to the FS700 which is a whole new league compared to the AF100. You've taken a step up with production and I hate to see you sell yourself short with inexpensive glass that worked on the AF100 or cheaper models of Sony lenses.
 
spyke said:
I followed the same path with Panasonic (DVX, HVX, AF) a year ago and changed to the FS700 which is a whole new league compared to the AF100. You've taken a step up with production and I hate to see you sell yourself short with inexpensive glass that worked on the AF100 or cheaper models of Sony lenses.
Click to expand...


Well, last night I went to a carnival and shot with two of the lenses, the Sigma 19mm F 2.8 ($100 when purchased at B & H with the 30mm version) and a couple of shots with the 55 -210. The telephoto was marginal in that kind of light as might be expected. I found the Sigma to be plenty fast enough and got some shots I was very pleased with. I also like the way the focus ring feels.



I've never been one to go along with the crowd when it comes to buying anything like this. As I get older I've found that sometimes, if you buy carefully, you can get a lot more than you pay for. Zeiss VS a cheaper lens is a lot like Lexus VS Toyota. Both get you down the road, but only the Zeiss and the Lexus (which costs 3x as much) will win the envy and admiration of camera buffs or car buffs. A blindfolded person couldn't tell you which car he's riding in. Could an experienced producer tell the difference between the same shot taken with a Zeiss prime and the best cheapie prime? I won't go so far as to say they couldn't- but I'll bet the difference is pretty marginal.

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about run of the mill cheap lenses. I'm talking about that one lens out of 10 that performs way better than average for the price. There are quite a few inexpensive Nikkor and Canon lenses that fall in that category.

Example: This is a list of lenses comprehensively tested for several performance factors, then given a score. At the very top is a $500 Nikkor, with the $2000- $3000 Zeiss lenses populating the middle of the list.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses/Camera-Lens-Ratings
 
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