Looking forward to this lens (Sony 18-104 OSS F4)...

Truly a pity.:-Cry(DBG): As the number of optically desireable, autofocus, auto aperture choices for the FS700 for run and gun are very limited. I am using my Canon IS/USM 24-105mm lens more and more. But, without auto focus, this lens won't work for run and gun.
 
It's funny .. I spend $5 for subway to test this crap in B&H and save $500 as result .. but what I found on B&H site - they don't place my review about this lens, even I wrote it - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1001011-REG/sony_selp18105g_18_105mm_f_4_g_lens.html You can see a small knob "write a review" .. but when you do it - it ' will be NOT AVAILABLE on the page...
Is this a new policy of Sony and B&H - to sell incompatible for FS100 & FS700 product to uninformed customers ? :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
..so, to help people to know about this "Pillow Zoom", let's make it more public: when you watch my test on YouTube - http://youtu.be/6ZaoGIUBD_0 click on "like" in it - as more "likes" - more people will see it.. and write some comments there also..... you can do it better than me, as my English is not as good as my Russian :)
 
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PaulHelling said:
So beyond greed or apathy is there a reason Sony can't issue a firmware update so this lens could work on the FS cameras?
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Greed should actually bring sony to make this lens compatible with the FS100/700/EA50 as it seems owners of those cameras are most likely to be interested in the lens. Why would anyone wanna use this lens on a NEX 5N or similar?
 
I 've just spent a day shooting with a FS100 on the 18-105, i only wish i read this thread before.
It was noticeable on faces, but i though i was just imagining it in the beginning. then we put the talent close to a white board...the frame of the board looked so bent i feared i opend some kind of portal to another dimension !

So yes,　ｔhe distortion is absolutely horrible, i have a lot of lenses and this is the first time i see one that bad.
I mean, i didn't know it was even possible to be that bad.
This one is going back to sony.

(i guess the G is for Garbage, with a capital letter)
 
Before everyone sends these back, it has been reported a fix is in progress for the FS cameras on the FB site. I've got a Sony Tech looking into it and I expect to hear back today. He was not unaware of the issue but it is being discussed by the engineers, so let's wait to hear what they say. From what I see this lens would be worth it.
 
PaulHelling said:
Before everyone sends these back, it has been reported a fix is in progress for the FS cameras on the FB site. I've got a Sony Tech looking into it and I expect to hear back today. He was not unaware of the issue but it is being discussed by the engineers, so let's wait to hear what they say. From what I see this lens would be worth it.
Click to expand...

FB site = Facebook?? This is big news if it is true.
 
PaulHelling said:
Before everyone sends these back, it has been reported a fix is in progress for the FS cameras on the FB site. I've got a Sony Tech looking into it and I expect to hear back today. He was not unaware of the issue but it is being discussed by the engineers, so let's wait to hear what they say. From what I see this lens would be worth it.
Click to expand...

That's not what they told me when I called them but if true, it's welcome news. Could you share a link?
 
QuickHitRecord said:
That's not what they told me when I called them but if true, it's welcome news. Could you share a link?
Click to expand...

It was on the Sony FS700 User Group Facebook page. It's a closed group, you have to join to see posts.
Tony (NextWaveG) from this thread, posted his review of the lens. He showed clearly the distortion
that occurs with this camera/lens combo.

In the comments section, another poster said that he had called Sony and been told that they are working
on firmware (no timeframe given) which would allow the FS700 to work with this lens like the EA 50 does
(if you noticed, in the video from Newsshooter.com in which they used this lens with the Sony EA-50,
this pillow distortion did NOT occur!) I have no other knowledge of if this will or will not occur.
My lens is here in town and will be delivered to me tomorrow. After a quick test to show what I already
know to be true, I will be calling Sony at the number left by the guy who posted and said Sony told him
they were working on a fix. If anyone is interested, that number is 201-833-5300.

I hope posting this number isn't against any rules. It seems to me, that we should call Sony and let them
know we want this lens to work with our cameras. If they cannot give me assurances that it will be fixed,
I will be sending the lens back for a refund. I'd think Sony would WANT it to work with the FS700.
I'd think they'd sell like hotcakes to FS700 owners....in fact, I honestly thought this lens was aimed
directly at us FS700 users. Power zoom? Fairly large? Why would a still camera person need a power
zoom lens? Why would a NEX still camera user want to use a bulky lens on those tiny NEX 5's and so
on? I thought the whole point of the NEX still line was that it was small and compact. So I made the
assumption that this lens was aimed at us video users of the E-Mount line. Apparently I was wrong.....
I'm just hoping Sony adds a fix so it will work...
 
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Your problem with a software fix with such a relatively low resolution camera as the FS series is that the undistort will reduce the quality of the image. Plus, i really don't think a firmware 'fix' is even possible with the FS series of camera - i don't believe there's any functionality that would allow for that. If you were going to do it you'd need to do it on the 4K source and i just don't think the cameras would have the processing power to undistort in realtime.

Take the HD footage and undistort it in post and see if you like the results.

I would never accept it but for run and gun it might be okay but frankly if you care enough to want to undistort the footage just get a proper lens...

cheers
Paul
 
paulcurtis said:
if you care enough to want to undistort the footage just get a proper lens...
Click to expand...

If the lens passes proper meta data and if the post software is doing its thing, such correction should be automated and effortless.

I would see this as entirely possible esp with the 700 and 2/4k untied in a sony viewer of some nature.

Stills cameras pull stunts like this all the time..

BTW - which proper lens, only the Fuiji has the same coverage?

S
 
mine is back and a big thanks to my dealer who cares about these issues
and handles everything by personal assistance.

I will wait what really happens but I dont care about 4K compatibility.
I will need such a lens for run and gun which is hard to imagine that there is a request in 4K
 
Was just told by Sony professional support that a fix may happen but don't expect anything until the spring. I will be packing mine up and returning it. Can always re-purchase it if a fix ever comes down the pipe. Back to square one on the FS700 zoom lens front. Ugh.
 
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