Anyone using the Sony FE 28-135 f4 with the A7S?

jurny said:
i'm considering the new FE 24–240 mm F3,5–6,3 OSS

for run&gun
havent fount any footage yet.
I hope it doesn't suck like SEL24105 for video.
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I think you mean the 18-105 which if you don't like the fly by wire action and the general optics, I don't think you will find the 24-240 much different in general. You also will have a lens that has serious pump action with the extention tubes which will push and suck air in and out of the lens with zooming and focusing bringing stuff with it.

The 18-105 has it's place as a light weight all arounder but it has soulless optics. I am really curious if the optics of the 28-135 has decent mojo. Considering it is more than four times the price of the 18-105, it better. However, considering the utility of the 18-105 and the price, I think it is a no brainer for virtually all A7S owners. I still gravitate towards my full-frame f2.8 Nikon zoom lenses but the 18-105 is highly useful to have around.

I am sure we will see lots of FS7 cameras being used at many NAB booths. Hopefully there will be 28-135 lenses on some of these cameras so we can get a feel for the lens. Better yet would be on A7Ss in APC-S mode but that may be expecting too much.
 
jurny said:
18105 is trash for video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZaoGIUBD_0

so far i film around with nikon or m42 glass and switch to the kit lens if i need oss. best and cheapest solution. it's effectively a 28-105mm lens. fair enough for run&gun. I never thought I'd buy a kit lens :D
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There is a setting in the A7S to compensate for the pin cushioned/barrel distortion. It does effectively remove it but like I said the optics are soulless. Agreed the lens is absolutely unusable without it under any application, not just video but still as well. Nikon's rectinlear full frame lenses are pretty spectacular for the price point. I am referring to the 17-35, the 28-70 and the 70 (or 80)-200. The replacement for the 28-70, the 24 to 70 suffers from barrel distortion at the wide end from 28 to 24mm. For Super35 (APS-C) I use the Sigma 50-150 in place of the Nikon. It is a lot lighter.

I would still have a look through and operate the 28-135 before putting cash down. You also with this lens have to use the computer optimization within the camera to remove the barrel distortion, just like the 18-105.
 
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I'd love to give you my thoughts on the 28-135 lens on my A7s... but I've been waiting over a month now and my local Sony store STILL doesn't have it. Apparently it's on the way, but who knows...

Sorry, just frustrated! hah
 
Terrence Wilkins said:
I've owned the lens since the middle of February now, I'm very impressed. It's incredibly sharp through out the zoom range and the fact it can hold focus is a life saver.
If you own only one lens for the a7s make it the 28-135, you won't regret it.
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terrence do let us know if you've posted some footage please!
sold out everywhere now but i can wait for next batch.
 
aly324 said:
terrence do let us know if you've posted some footage please!
sold out everywhere now but i can wait for next batch.
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i have the lens now finally and would be happy to record some clips. Let me know what you would like to see.
 
jurny said:
18105 is trash for video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZaoGIUBD_0

so far i film around with nikon or m42 glass and switch to the kit lens if i need oss. best and cheapest solution. it's effectively a 28-105mm lens. fair enough for run&gun. I never thought I'd buy a kit lens :D
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The FS700 has been upgraded to compensate for that since that video was made. (No such luck for FS100 users though).

I just got the 18-105 som haven't used it for anything to really say anything about it. But I got it for shooting live performances where powerzoom and some flexibility in range is needed more that superb optical quality.

I rented the 28-135 to shoot a play at a theatre. Didn't have time to test it on the A7s though, only used it on the FS700. On which, as the lights were good, I didn't feel it was a significant enough improvement over the 18-200PZ to warrant the price. I suspect it could shine on the A7s though where the range is different and the f4 isn't so limiting.
 
Terrence Wilkins said:
This was actually all shot with PP OFF Standard picture profile with -3 contrast. Graded in premiere pro using a custom LUT I created.
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Thanks Terrence. Just using the standard color tools in Premiere? Personally I've never been to get a nice look with the built-in color correction tools and have only got good results from CC plugins. But it's worked for you I can see.
 
Is the lens too heavy for a7s? Does one need some sort of support or is it ok to run'n'gun without?

ps. Considering this lens for run'n'gun docu on a7s,pictures of rigs are much appreciated :-)
 
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The lens is a poor choice for documentary work. The digital zoom is totally obnoxious, far too slow to be useful.

However, for narrative work, which I was rented it for, it performs very well. It's heavy, and felt great to operate with. I stacked 5 filters on it with my matte box with no trouble. It lived on a slider, jib, dolly, and sticks all shoot. I operated it handheld once in a pinch but didn't have the right gear to make it useful.

It'd be nice if it came with a handgrip option ENG style, then it'd be more of a winner.
 
Hello,

I've been lurking on this site for awhile now, I'm looking for some clarification on the focus system used in this lens. Some reviewers state that its focus by wire, but others state that it can be switched to full manual focus and will allow for repeatable focus pulls. Just looking to get a response from some owners that can clarify that this is the case. I'm a wedding videographer and my A7s combined with 24-105 Canon (Commlite adapter) is not giving me the results I am looking for. I'm hoping to avoid adapters all together with this lens and the 90mm macro which is also supposed to have switchable full manual focus.
 
William-Paul said:
Hello,

I've been lurking on this site for awhile now, I'm looking for some clarification on the focus system used in this lens. Some reviewers state that its focus by wire, but others state that it can be switched to full manual focus and will allow for repeatable focus pulls. Just looking to get a response from some owners that can clarify that this is the case. I'm a wedding videographer and my A7s combined with 24-105 Canon (Commlite adapter) is not giving me the results I am looking for. I'm hoping to avoid adapters all together with this lens and the 90mm macro which is also supposed to have switchable full manual focus.
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I just spent three days playing with one on a shoot. It can switch between auto/focus-by-wire and fully manual with hard stops by sliding the focus ring backwards/forwards. Very clever system. We did repeatable focus pulls no problem. The zoom system is where the big compromise is: by wire only and a bit slow in response and movement.
 
bags said:
I just spent three days playing with one on a shoot. It can switch between auto/focus-by-wire and fully manual with hard stops by sliding the focus ring backwards/forwards. Very clever system. We did repeatable focus pulls no problem. The zoom system is where the big compromise is: by wire only and a bit slow in response and movement.
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Thank you so much for this!!!! I have been wanting to purchase this lens for quite some time!
 
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