FS7: FS7 with GM Lenses

Joshua Milligan

Joshua Milligan

Well-known member
Hey fellas. I'm a strict Sony shooter with an A7SII, A7RII and FS7, but all my lenses (except two Zeiss Batis's) are Canon L. I'm considering taking the dive into Sony's GM lenses and selling my Canon lenses so that I can utilize all the things that makes their mirrorless cameras great, like video AF on my gimbal/slider and eye AF for photography.

I'm a little concerned, however, that the focus-by-wire nature of these lenses will be awful to work with. I've read online that since their 24-70 2.8 GM they've really made the GM's focus-by-wire system much better to work with, but most places that say that are photo websites, not video sites like this.

So, I'm wanting to know if anyone here has experience using the GM lenses on their FS7 or FS5 cameras. Since you guys are video professionals like me, it would be great to hear from your experience rather than from people who's main job is photography. Have you had any luck with these lenses? Thanks in advance for your time!
 
I use FS7, A7Rii and GH5, so this fact alone makes using Canon lenses sensible as - of course with two appropriate Speed Boosters - I can use them on all my cameras (in Full Frame, APS-C and M43 imagers. The Canon lenses are great for focusing manually, with the clutch - type stops and Great follow focus support. That's for the movies.

As for the stills I do have several native lenses for both the E-mount and the M43 mount; I almost never use then for video for exactly the reason you mention: the awful experience in manual focusing. The only exception being my Sony 28-135mm kit lens, which does great in manual focusing as well as in all the auto functions for stills, including AF.

PIOTR
 
Hi Josh.

I've just had a play with my 24-70/2.8 GM on the FS7. It doesn't normally get used on there - I use the 18-110 for most FS7 shoots. I bought native Sony lenses for the A7Rii - Canon lenses don't give me the AF speed I want on the A7Rii, so I sold all of my Canon Ls and bit the bullet on a new set of Sony native lenses.

I'd say the 24-70 feels very similar in behaviour to the 18-110. Very different to the 18-105 "focus by wire" feel. It feels totally connected to the glass. Slightly lighter twist than the 18-110 and the throw not quite as long, but it doesn't feel electronic in any way.

Certainly worth trying one out in your local camera shop or borrowing one.

If you've got an A7 series camera, I think native lenses are a no-brainer. But mine stay on the A7Rii and the 18-110 has a much more useful range for me on the FS7. One other thing - the 24-70 does trombone in and out, unlike the 18-110.

Hope that helps.

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Ben.
 
I have a A7RII and an A7RIII so going sony makes sense for me.
I love the Sony/Zeiss 55mm 1.8 for interviews on the FS5.
Also get a lot of use out of the new 16-35mm f2.8. It's way better than the old f4 lens.
Both are totally sharp at 4k.
The 24-70GM, Batis 25+85, are all good as well.
I trust DXO labs and their testing. Here's a link to their Sony FE measurements...
https://www.dxomark.com/lenses/laun...Options=false&viewMode=list&yDataType=rankDxo
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate your feedback. I decided to go ahead and make the switch after getting to test a couple GM lenses here in Texas. I was able to sell all my Canon lenses this past week and switched over to Sony. I got the GM zooms, the new 24-105 G and the Zeiss 50mm 1.4. I already had the Batis 25mm 2.0 for gimbal work and loved it. Manually focusing on the Batis isn't fun, but for AF gimbal work, timelapses and starscapes, it's great.

I think I'll get used to the focus-by-wire system after a while with the lenses. Ben's right, the 24-70 GM doesn't feel much like a FBW lens, which is great. I love the AF on the A7RIII as well as finally not having to use adapters. My only real concern is IS in the 70-200 and 100-400 GM's. The IS (or OSS as they call it) works really well, but it has to be "woken up" when shooting video. If I'm filming wildlife for example, when I go to pan or move the camera, the image shows a lot of shake because the OSS hasn't kicked in. You almost have to shake the camera to wake it up. It's very weird and is completely different than my experience with Canon. But, perhaps Sony can address this some day with a firmware update.
 
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Hey Danijel, the only way to have stabilization work on a FS7 or FS5 camera is with a lens that has image stabilization. Unfortunately, the 24-70 GM does not, so you would need a lens like the 18-110 Cine Servo, 24-105 G or 24-70 Zeiss f/4 to have IS with the FS7. There isn't an onboard IBIS in this camera, so that's the only way. I hope this helps!
 
Hi Josuhua, thank you for answering!

Kind of newby question from me because I did'nt look too much in Steadyshot option on FS7, I was just aware i'ts there. Now I've done some reserach and learned that is useless. Not knowing what Steadyshot represent, I was hoping that it may help a little on lens without IS.
I really like that lens and it's main purpose would be using it on b roll camera, A7 3. What is your experience on using that lens on Super 35, without IS, is it managable handheld or not at all? Only not having IS on FS7 is dealbreaker for me in this case, too bad because I realy like this lens :(

It covers nicely both sensor, sharp and nice image, fast enough etc. Because it fits so nicely in my setup overall, was thinking maybe to bite the bullet and try it like it is. Unfortunately, can't get my hands on one of those atm to try it.So far I was using 24-105 L IS with Speedbooster on my FS7 as a workhorse but I am doing switch back to Super 35, it's no use for me to have two FF cameras.

Sorry for long post and thank you :)
 
I've been toying with the idea of getting an A7iii as B roll camera to my FGS7 esp since I've been renting them repeatedly in the last few months . However the lens question gives me pause for 2 reasons.
First I want to be able to use it on a handheld gimbal like a Zhiyun crane so i would need small lenses. Secondly I really like using speed boosters so don't want to switch over my EF mt lens to E for the FS7.
I think that leaves me with only 3 lenses to get for the A7 - the 24-70 f4 and the 35 and 28 primes. I hate the idea of wasting money on duplicate lenses in E mt and and EF and I'm not sure about the quality of that 24-70 . Actually i need to test it on the gimbal as well, though the upcoming version of the Zhiyun crane should have no problem with it.

Anyone using the 24-70 f4 Sony? Like it ?
 
LennyLevy said:
I think that leaves me with only 3 lenses to get for the A7 - the 24-70 f4 and the 35 and 28 primes. I hate the idea of wasting money on duplicate lenses in E mt and and EF and I'm not sure about the quality of that 24-70 . Actually i need to test it on the gimbal as well, though the upcoming version of the Zhiyun crane should have no problem with it. Anyone using the 24-70 f4 Sony? Like it ?
Click to expand...

Lenny, I haven't tried the f4 version, but since writing the post further up with the GM 24-70/2.8, I've since chopped it in for a 28/2.0 and 55/1.7 - both of which get used far more than the zoom ever did, especially for stills. Both are excellent for static interviews on the FS7 too - my standard kit for the FS7 is now the 18-110 for actuality and the 55 and 28 for interviews.

Ben.
 
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