FS7: dont throw away your 18-200

M

morgan_moore

Major Contributor
Since getting my movi Ive turned my mind more to owning zoom lenses and AF which aids minimal crew operation of a remote camera.

New camera? New lens? full FIZ system? How many more £/$ into the hole?

Anyway I remembered I have a large range AF zoom and an AF camera.. my FS7 and 18-200 kit lens.

Did some car filming and honestly the AF did the thing!

 
I had that lens with the FS700, later used with the A7S (crop mode). Also had the servo version. For the A7S II I used the 24-240 (FF).
For video Sony lenses rock- totally silent vs. e.g. Canon. The older contrast AF can work ok, especially outdoors in daylight as seen in your video.
The phase+contrast AF on the A6400, A7 III, and A9 is now market leading.
 
I won't get rid of that oddball SELP 18-200 f3.5-6.3 lens. With its built in 'Active' stabilization mode shooting crop on the A7III and as it comes on the FS7 it can deliver some amazingly steady shots. I know a shooter who used it as his main lens for the entire Tour De France. Said he tried many different combinations of lenses for car to bike and it was the smoothest. He said even the slow servo was a bonus to use. On the A7III I've been pretty happy with its hybrid auto focus performance.

If the lens is the SEL18-200 (non servo) make sure the lens has Update_SEL18200_V2. This upgrade enables "Fast Hybrid AF" function.- Without this lens update, the camera will use the normal contrast-detection AF even if Fast Hybrid AF is selected on the in camera. It helps considerably.

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/lenses-e-mount-lenses/sel18200/downloads/Z0008036

Even after all this time the SELP 18-200 still has a place for sure.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/sony-sel-p-18-200mm-f-3-5-6-3-oss-lens-review-21956

Chris Young
 
Last edited:
Maybe its the 'perfect' cycling lens. Usually the subject is in the middle and human without drama style pulls.

Firmware? I dont do such things. Got the lens with the FS100 (7+ years ago)

Would the FW be relevant to the FS7.. or just the sony mirror cameras?
 
MM. If it's the SELP 18200 (servo) it's already Hybrid AF compatible for mirrorless. If it's the SEL 18-200 the non servo model it needs the upgrade to work with the mirrorless cams. FS7 doesn't have Hybrid AF so both are not affected by Hybrid AF... shame :)

Chris Young
 
morgan_moore said:
its the silver one - no servo.
Click to expand...

I agree with your thread. I prefer the silver one and wouldn't trade it straight across for the (much more expensive) servo version if someone made the offer. It's the cheapest lens I own but one of the most handy in some situations even though I'd never use the AF. Lots of ROI in that lens.
 
In the situation here I can promis that trying to use the Movi Mimic with one hand and a remote focus with the other is somewhat challenging. The AF has done the job.

Without AF I would have needed a puller, and another monitor rigged.
 
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that AF wasn't useful for some situations, I just don't find myself in those kinds of situations with that lens.
I'm not against AF, though. I use it all the time with my Z90 because the Fast Hyrbid AF truly is amazing. And I use Face Detect AF with my Z280 anytime there's faces. AF is getting better and better with every new camera and only a fool would ignore those advances.
 
The Movi Mimic looks great for the right shots.

Agree Doug the Z90 shocks me how well the Fast Hyrbid AF works, when I use is in action shots.
 
The mimic is to me super. I have it rigged in various ways like on a tripod and head.. this gives one a camera like experience when remote operating. Im too old for gameboy controllers. Im still getting used to using it in a vehicle as one somehow needs to keep movement from transfering into the shot. you can see Im struggling on the long lens sections.. its about 150mm.
 
Thanks for this thread. I had the more expensive servo version up for sale for a while and no one bought it. Guess I'll keep it. A long lens that can follow action with AF is a valuable thing even if I rarely use it .
 
LennyLevy said:
Thanks for this thread. I had the more expensive servo version up for sale for a while and no one bought it. Guess I'll keep it. A long lens that can follow action with AF is a valuable thing even if I rarely use it .
Click to expand...

In LA, on Craigslist no less, had no issue moving all three lenses for the typical 'eBay Sold' price. For the FS700, A7S, and A7S II, these zooms were used 99% of the time, even though I had the MB IV and SpeedBooster and lots of great Canon L lenses. While the Canons do indeed have a nicer out of camera look, they are slower, noisy and not really any sharper (not rigorously tested, just didn't notice the Sony's being significantly softer for video). The shift to the Sony native lenses started when filming an actress walking toward the camera when using a Canon lens on SpeedBooster and realizing I could not track focus manually. I didn't have a follow focus and had never practiced; after a many missed takes the Sony 18-200 was swapped in and after a few takes we had the shot (contrast AF isn't that great, but with a few takes we got a winner). Again, never did specific tests, but I recall all the Sony's having better IS for video vs. the Canon L's. Sony's were cooler (K) vs. Canon.

Curious if Zeiss is involved with non-Zeiss labeled Sony lenses? https://www.digitalrev.com/article/difference-between-sony-zeiss-and-pure-zeiss

Newer LE version and review: https://kenrockwell.com/sony/lenses/18-200mm.htm
 
Sam, thanks for opening my mind to the Movi Mimic. I am going to hunt down a rental for some upcoming shoots this summer. Looks like it could help me nail a few important shots.
 
My eyes have seen the glory.
Hey, if wer'e on the verge of self-driving cars, surely auto-focus shouldn't be a tough nut to crack. I think face detect and Fast Hybrid are good enough to use in the right situations. I put stamp of approval on them.
 
Cracked my glasses when I fell over! Just goes to show you can still teach an old dog new tricks. Gotta admit I agree.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top