FS7: Controlling Electronic Iris With Canon Lens 24-105

M

markfpv

Veteran
I probably know the answer to this - but thought I'd ask around here just in case. Was on r/g shoot today using the Canon 24-105 L (version I) with MB Speedbooster and when suddenly going to adjust the iris - using both the assignable iris wheel and assignable grip dial (on FS7) - the exposure would "jump" the wrong direction - or do nothing at all. i.e. shooting at f4 and want to open up to 3.5 or 2.8 - and having the exposure get much darker but vf still displaying f4. Scrolling the wheel then suddenly seems to have no control at all. And then unexepectedly the f stop shows 11 or 16 in vf and now exposure is definitely wide open.
Tried my MK IV adapter - and had same thing happen. So, then tried multiple other Canon lenses later with no problems. Put the 24-105 on my 5D II gathering dust - and iris adjustment works fine on it. Put it back on the FS7 - and have same issues again. Tried cleaning lens contacts - no love there either.
Assume my 10 year old lens might have finally given up the electronic ghost... or is there something else possibly going on?
 
I had similar issues with older firmware and Metabones adapters and the 24-105 but the last year, with newer firmware I had no such issues.
 
Mark, I get the sense from other threads you and I are at the same crossroads with our 24-105s. Do we soldier on, or replace with cost-inflated 18-110/20-80 etc.. .

My 24-105 occasionally misbehaves on a Commlite adapter, but always sorts itself with a quick lens off/on and/or reboot.

I'm getting closer to a reluctant 18-110 purchase, though. I've got an Arctic shoot coming up and I don't need any distractions. Just wish it was a more enjoyable purchase!

Ben.
 
Yup. It's all about that convenient range for certain shoots. Honestly, until I bought the FS7 with speed booster, that lens was my least favorite and didn't get much use. Well, maybe it still is my least favorite - :smile: but it earns it keep.
I have the latest fw for the Metabones - and in past if this occurred, usually a quick lens disconnect / reconnect did the trick. Just not happening now - only scratching my head that it works with the 5D it came with. I am gonna try more alcohol on the contacts - but then will likely have to bite the bullet.... and make one of those purchases that aren't exciting... or conversely - invest in E mount (the Fuji) and live with shorter range. If the 18-110 were about half it's price...then maybe??
 
I just went through this as well. I ended up buying the fujinon 18-55, keeping the 24-105 though. This past week I worked with the 18-110 and I was quite pleased. I was in a studio environment, but i was really using that range, it was nice. Pleasantly surprised, but I think completing my set with the 50-135 will have me feeling better in the long run (with the knowledge that I can rent a kit lens for super run and gun jobs)
 
Thanks Wes.

Can you please elaborate a little on "quite pleased"?

The 18-110 seems to occupy a space where either it's actually mediocre, or it's simply become a bastard child that people don't want to admit is as good - or even better - than other more fashionable alternatives. Or maybe it's actually crap.

My axe to grind here is that I think I need to buy one, I can't demo one effectively without renting one for a week at a fifth of the cost of buying, and all I ever read is damning with faint praise. I'd consider the Fujis, but 2 lenses are not going to work for most of my shoots.

Is the 18-110 just mediocre in your experience and, if so, why? Sorry, don't mean in any way to be combative! I've yet to hear any concrete experiences of the 18-110 on this forum. Would be fab if anyone could speak up and let us know either way. TIA,

Ben.
 
Ben,
I certainly wouldn't call the 18-110 mediocre. But just as the 28-135 was a bit quirky from an operator perspective, the 18-110 is as well -- though it does improve on the 28-135 in usability of range and to some extent on feel.
You just have to remember that it's a bit of a 'fly by wire' system with the wires masked.
It's also a relatively slow lens - so you need to be ok with that.
I don't own one, but have used it several times on shoots. For running around shooting hand-held footage the zoom range is vary convenient.
It stacks up well (and intercuts fine) with many more expensive lenses in terms of image quality.
I have some higher end clients who ask for Cabrio lenses - I don't think the 18-110 has the clarity of the Cabrios, but it's a totally different beast. (Those specific clients are now asking for Alexas or Amiras as well...)
So you really need to analyze your needs. Do you want to zoom during shots? (If so, stay away from still camera lenses.) Do you need to go out with a single lens to do a variety of shots? (Then the 18-110 may be all you need.) Do you have clients who want to dictate what they want to see on the camera or that you need to 'impress'? (They'll probably never ask specifically for the 18-110) Are you shooting extreme low light situations? (Get something at least a stop faster! - or use high speed primes)
But you really need to go and spend an hour shooting with it - and then looking at what you shot. It will feel different than the higher price lenses - and you have to decide if you can deal with it. But for range and usability at a fairly reasonable price it definitely fills the bill.
 
bengiles said:
Thanks Wes.

Can you please elaborate a little on "quite pleased"?

The 18-110 seems to occupy a space where either it's actually mediocre, or it's simply become a bastard child that people don't want to admit is as good - or even better - than other more fashionable alternatives. Or maybe it's actually crap.

My axe to grind here is that I think I need to buy one, I can't demo one effectively without renting one for a week at a fifth of the cost of buying, and all I ever read is damning with faint praise. I'd consider the Fujis, but 2 lenses are not going to work for most of my shoots.

Is the 18-110 just mediocre in your experience and, if so, why? Sorry, don't mean in any way to be combative! I've yet to hear any concrete experiences of the 18-110 on this forum. Would be fab if anyone could speak up and let us know either way. TIA,

Ben.
Click to expand...

Hi Ben, the only downside I experienced with the 18-110 was the lack of parfocality when shooting 4k. I am very familiar to shooting non par focal lenses, because of the DSLR lenses we've all grown so accustomed to. I did find the focus ring to be precise, and even without the parfocality i was able to get sharp images, as long as I was diligent about the focus every zoom change (nothing new here). Since I was shooting 4k, I wasn't able to utilize any of the "sony to sony" electronic lens corrections either. Despite this, I still felt this lens was sharp, and true. We had two 18-110s and two 28-135s on set, and the difference in the two lenses from an operator standpoint is astounding. The difference in the monitor seemed to be nothing at all from kit lens to kit lens. (quad split, so easy to compare)

I was an early adopter of the 28-135, and absolutely hated it. I never rented the lens, but I trusted that if sold as a kit with the fs7 it should do me right - I was wrong. For this reason I was very gun shy of the 18-110 and admittedly, wrote it off without ever having used one.

I do lots of multi camera shoots and have been around the 18-110 a few times from fellow fs7 owners now. After a few times of "sampling" not actually shooting with it... and then this past week of actually shooting with it. I think it's a great buy. I feel annoyed that it wasn't offered as soon as the original fs7 was offered, as I would have bought it then and saved myself many headaches doing run and gun shoots with the 24-105.


I think it's a lens that's really worth having, A small part of me wishes I bought it instead of the 18-55, but I really do like that lens and am excited to get my hands on the 50-135. I have hated my EF lenses on my fs7, from an operating standpoint, since forever. I am thrilled to have cine options in familiar ranges.



In summary, 18-110 is worth the money. If you run and gun, it's pretty much definitely what you want. I can see myself using one frequently, but I'm going to complete my fujinon set before I purchase the 18-110.

edit: i repeat myself a lot huh
 
Thanks Wes. Really useful. I wasn't aware that the electronic parfocality didn't work in 4K. Lens Distortion correction limitations make sense - but I've not heard about issues with focus shift on zooming. I've put word out for a demo of this lens and the 18-80. I'm hoping CVP can oblige.

Ben.
 
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