FF VG900 hands-on !
- Thread starter joe1946
- Start date
Yeah right now I use a 1980's era Minolta 28-135mm f4.0-4.5 full frame lens on my vg900 as a do-it-all lens like when I film at a nearby park and don't want to carry a bunch of gear (just tripod + camera). But it's a-mount so it's manual focus only which is usually ok for me, but being able to use the vg900 as a full frame run & gun auto focus video camera would be cool as well. If that canon ef 28-135mm you mention could auto focus at full frame on the vg900 with the metabones adapter then that would be cool.
joe1946
Veteran
The Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM is as low as $319.95 w/FS for refurbished by Canon ones on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...olp_refurbished?ie=UTF8&condition=refurbished
Hi,
I just received the Metabones MarkIII EF-NEX adapter for my VG900. I have three Canon lenses: 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM II, 80mm 2.8 L and 24-70mm 2.8L USM II. None of these lenses will either autofocus or enable auto-iris with the 900. However, the iris can be controlled with the camera's adjustment wheel but that's about all. Granted, these may be older series lenses that do not conform to the Metabones protocol but their designations appear on the website's list of tested lenses. There is a disclaimer indicating that auto focus "may" not work in video mode. Not a big deal, since I rarely use autofocus. But auto-iris would be nice for fast changing environmental—read, lighting—conditions.
I just received the Metabones MarkIII EF-NEX adapter for my VG900. I have three Canon lenses: 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM II, 80mm 2.8 L and 24-70mm 2.8L USM II. None of these lenses will either autofocus or enable auto-iris with the 900. However, the iris can be controlled with the camera's adjustment wheel but that's about all. Granted, these may be older series lenses that do not conform to the Metabones protocol but their designations appear on the website's list of tested lenses. There is a disclaimer indicating that auto focus "may" not work in video mode. Not a big deal, since I rarely use autofocus. But auto-iris would be nice for fast changing environmental—read, lighting—conditions.
Last edited:
joe1946
Veteran
Hi Ron,
The 24-70mm 2.8 L USM II / 70-200mm 2.8L USM II combo is the perfect pair of zooms for the VG900 IMHO. Canon has refurbished versions but they sell out quick like the 70-200mm 2.8L for $985.
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_269491_-1?WT.mc_id=C126149
BTW Adorama just posted this VG900 video on youtube :
It's amazing how clueless Adorama and B&H are about the many lens adapters available for the VG900 that they sell.
http://www.adorama.com/MBEFEM.html
The 24-70mm 2.8 L USM II / 70-200mm 2.8L USM II combo is the perfect pair of zooms for the VG900 IMHO. Canon has refurbished versions but they sell out quick like the 70-200mm 2.8L for $985.
http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_269491_-1?WT.mc_id=C126149
BTW Adorama just posted this VG900 video on youtube :
It's amazing how clueless Adorama and B&H are about the many lens adapters available for the VG900 that they sell.
http://www.adorama.com/MBEFEM.html
Last edited:
Hi Joe,
Thank you for the heads-up, but as stated in my previous post, I already own those two zooms. I agree that they are tack sharp and a perfect combo for the VG900, however, they do not seem to function as suggested by Metabones when using their Mark III smart adapter (see prior post). I have also noticed that, unlike my Leica M, Voightlander, Nikon and Rokinon lenses, these two Canon lenses tend to impart a subtle greenish tint to the image that can be removed in post.
Thank you for the heads-up, but as stated in my previous post, I already own those two zooms. I agree that they are tack sharp and a perfect combo for the VG900, however, they do not seem to function as suggested by Metabones when using their Mark III smart adapter (see prior post). I have also noticed that, unlike my Leica M, Voightlander, Nikon and Rokinon lenses, these two Canon lenses tend to impart a subtle greenish tint to the image that can be removed in post.
joe1946
Veteran
Ron, I guess I will just stick with my Lens Turbo and other PK-NEX adapters for now since I have been shooting video in full manual mode with my larger sensor cameras since July 2009 with my Pentax K-7. If I want to shoot full auto I could use my 16-50 PZ OSS and 55-210mm OSS in APS-C mode but I use full frame mode 90% of the time .
Hi Joe, Like you, I use full manual whenever possible with all cameras. But it would be nice if the product in question did what it was touted as being capable of. On the other hand, if I have somehow fallen into the "operator error" category by not performing some undocumented operative task, then I will be happy to be proven wrong. BTW, the mount comes boxed rather nicely but sans any form of documentation. That seems to be the norm these days. Either a user manual is non-existent, must be downloaded from a website, or one is directed to view the poorly translated and often meaningless manual from a CD or DVD. I understand that profit is king, but at some point consideration has to be given to the purchasing public, otherwise the manufacturers and distributors provoke negative Internet rants such a my own.
Just put together another compilation of ladies smoking all filmed with the Sony NEX-VG900, this time with the Rokinon 35mm and 85mm T1.5 cine lenses. In case people are curious, yes I love these lenses they are an absolute steal at the price they are being sold. Youtube video is below:
...but a much higher quality version can be downloaded from this link:
http://www.shesmokes.com/promo/SheSmokesPromo3.mp4
That direct link is full 1920x1080 60fps at high bitrate. The video is work safe, as always I love to hear constructive criticism!
...but a much higher quality version can be downloaded from this link:
http://www.shesmokes.com/promo/SheSmokesPromo3.mp4
That direct link is full 1920x1080 60fps at high bitrate. The video is work safe, as always I love to hear constructive criticism!
Hey Joe did you ever end up buying a fast 135mm full frame lens? I'm currently on the hunt for one. The Zeiss 135mm 1.8 rates well but the cost is really high, and I've heard that Sigma is planning one but that would likely be around $1000 or so as well. The difficultly I'm having is that lens review sites seem to be more photography focused and tend to favor sharpness and auto focus over everything else, but in my case I'm only interested in manual video use so sharpness isn't much of a concern since I tend to shoot wide open, and auto focus is of no concern as I shoot full manual. So it's been difficult to get good information on fast full frame lenses in the 135mm to 180mm range for video use. I've been doing some research on my own and after using the Rokinon cine lenses I find that I pretty much want to stick to cine style lenses as I love having an aperture ring and prefer the lens simplicity of full manual. If Rokinon had a fast 135mm cine lens then I'd buy it in a shot but they don't alas. I was going to make a new thread about it, but I figured I'd just ask you direct since I think me and you are the only people on the planet using the vg900 anyways
Part of the problem is knowing which lenses are full frame and which aren't. It's tough to know for sure as sometimes the people selling the items don't know either. In any case I've seen these so far that fall into the fast 135mm full manual with aperture ring lenses:
Pentax Takumar 135mm 2.5, ~$70
Sigma Sigmatel 135mm 1.8, $$700
Computar 135mm 1.8, ~$600
Rexatar 135mm 1.8, ~$?
Raynox Polaris 135mm 1.8, $500
I bought the Pentax since it was only $70 even though it's not a 1.8, I figured it's good to have a low end example to set a baseline anyways. Plus sometimes "low end" lenses can be surprising. The Sigmatel is 77mm thread so my current nd filter would fit it just fine, the other three I believe are 82mm thread so I'd have to buy a new nd filter for those. I suspect those last three may be variations of each other but I don't know for sure.
Anyways do you have any experience with the above lenses, or other 135mm 1.8 lenses that could work full frame with manual aperture ring on our vg900 video cameras?
joe1946
Veteran
[h=3]First Full Frame Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f/2.8 E-mount lens listed at Sony Germany.[/h]http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sr5-first-full-frame-zeiss-35mm-f2-8-e-mount-lens-listed-on-sony-germany/#respond
joe1946
Veteran
No I did not get the 135mm F1.8 Zeiss but it looks nice on the VG900 with great bokeh.Hey Joe did you ever end up buying a fast 135mm full frame lens? I'm currently on the hunt for one. The Zeiss 135mm 1.8 rates well but the cost is really high, and I've heard that Sigma is planning one but that would likely be around $1000 or so as well. The difficultly I'm having is that lens review sites seem to be more photography focused and tend to favor sharpness and auto focus over everything else, but in my case I'm only interested in manual video use so sharpness isn't much of a concern since I tend to shoot wide open, and auto focus is of no concern as I shoot full manual. So it's been difficult to get good information on fast full frame lenses in the 135mm to 180mm range for video use. I've been doing some research on my own and after using the Rokinon cine lenses I find that I pretty much want to stick to cine style lenses as I love having an aperture ring and prefer the lens simplicity of full manual. If Rokinon had a fast 135mm cine lens then I'd buy it in a shot but they don't alas. I was going to make a new thread about it, but I figured I'd just ask you direct since I think me and you are the only people on the planet using the vg900 anyways
Part of the problem is knowing which lenses are full frame and which aren't. It's tough to know for sure as sometimes the people selling the items don't know either. In any case I've seen these so far that fall into the fast 135mm full manual with aperture ring lenses:
Pentax Takumar 135mm 2.5, ~$70
Sigma Sigmatel 135mm 1.8, $$700
Computar 135mm 1.8, ~$600
Rexatar 135mm 1.8, ~$?
Raynox Polaris 135mm 1.8, $500
I bought the Pentax since it was only $70 even though it's not a 1.8, I figured it's good to have a low end example to set a baseline anyways. Plus sometimes "low end" lenses can be surprising. The Sigmatel is 77mm thread so my current nd filter would fit it just fine, the other three I believe are 82mm thread so I'd have to buy a new nd filter for those. I suspect those last three may be variations of each other but I don't know for sure.
Anyways do you have any experience with the above lenses, or other 135mm 1.8 lenses that could work full frame with manual aperture ring on our vg900 video cameras?
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8195443837_dc3b9ffb85_k.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dakw23/8650203480/in/set-72157631993239568
I would guess all of the lenses listed are full frame since they look like 35mm SLR lenses.
I have several of the SMC Pentax M series lenses like the 20mm F4 and 300mm F4 .
I think I am going to wait to see what native E mount full frame lenses are coming from Sony since it looks like the 35mm F2.8 Zeiss is the first full frame E mount from Sony and I bet they will have an E mount version of the 135mm F1.8 Zeiss.
Update :
I forgot about the Pentax K series.
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/category-SMC-Pentax-Lenses.html
This looks like the lens on your list :
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-K-135mm-F2.5-Lens.html
Also there is the Vivitar Professional 135mm f/1.5 with T mount :
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Vivitar_Professional_135mm_f/1.5
Joe
Last edited: