NAB firstlook zoom lenses

The SCL-Z18X140 lens is very interesting. In fact, it makes me wonder why there isn't a T3.8 constant 14x zoom for still cameras.
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There is an 11x still lens called the Canon EF 28-300 3.5-5.6L IS, it's a bit short of the 29-400mm f/6.3 35mm equiv. of the SCL-Z18X140, but I'd say close enough.
I'm guessing the SCL-Z18X140 manages a more extreme design due to the fact that it's natively made for a sensor about the size of 1.6x APS-C, rather than full-frame 35mm like the Canon.
 
Cineabel says "FZ" mount for the 18-252. The 11-16 says PL. I wonder if they will fit any other camera? Or is the investment "locked" to Sony?
 
Anything listed as PL, should work on any camera with a PL adaptor. What the difference is the Cooke I-data that Sony is building into some lenses. Still, the cooke i-data will be compatible with
any PL-mount camera that accepts it. Otherwise, it will operate as a normal manual PL mount lens.
 
F3K PL kit lenses don't fit anything else then Sony F3 afaik. Just wanted to find out if these are the same.
 
Yes. They absolutely work on other PL cameras. I saw pictures of them mounted on Red cameras and other PL cameras via NAB.
I watched that and I dont know why he said that, probably an accident.
 
In stead of saying the Sony PL lens will only fit on the F3, I think he meant to say the Sony PL Lens adapter will only fit on the F3. The PL mount is fairly universal. The adapter is not.
 
Nate Weaver said:
Not true. They go just fine on any PL mount body. Don't know where you got that info.
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I asked a rep at the Sony about this and he said that they may not fit other pl mount cameras, if any one can confirm or disprove this with the their own experience not just a picture and hearsay it will be good to know.
 
A PL mount isn't a name its a standard. If Sony were to sell things that don't fit the standard its false advertising. You could ask for your money back. They aren't likely to do that.
 
Duke M. said:
A PL mount isn't a name its a standard. If Sony were to sell things that don't fit the standard its false advertising. You could ask for your money back. They aren't likely to do that.
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Amen!

You can't call a lens a PL lens, and not have it fit on a standard PL mount...

I think the confusion is that the Sony mount, which the PL mount adapter fits to is LIKE the EX-series mounts, but slightly different.... I think the frustration was that you can't put the PL mount adapter for the F3 on an EX... right?
 
I just phoned a locel rental house. The guy took one of the Sony lenses and walked thrue the inventory. It fitted nicely on Red and Alexa. But it didn't fit the P+S, Hotrodcameras and he also checked on a no-name-eBay PL mount for AF100 - none of these three adapters worked.
 
lrtv said:
I just phoned a locel rental house. The guy took one of the Sony lenses and walked thrue the inventory. It fitted nicely on Red and Alexa. But it didn't fit the P+S, Hotrodcameras and he also checked on a no-name-eBay PL mount for AF100 - none of these three adapters worked.
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PL mounts have a four pronged rear flange and a 52mm FFD, each of these prongs may, or may not, have notch in them which lock the lens in place (positive lock, PL). So there are mechanical differences between rear mount of various PL lenses.

Looking at the back of the Sony PLs, it has standard four prongs and one notch, only difference is that much like the Cooke lenses they have the LDS contacts (which even Arri has). I'm guessing the reason that it isn't fitting in some adapters is because these adapters haven't been designed to accommodate the physical differences in the number notches.
 
The big factor people have to consider with the sony primes, and the zooms, are that they are specifically designed to couple with the F3. Though they ARE sharp, and can give you good results on other cameras, the Sony rep at NAB openly explained how they got the price point as low as they did and keeping a certain level of performance.

The F3 actually electronically compensates for some of the flaws in the lenses. It communicates with the lens, and for example, the lens might natively have very bad chromatic aberration. The software in the F3 analyzes the image where the CA might occur from the lens, and automatically counteracts it.

There may also be correction in camera for distortion, ramping, breathing, and a lot of other things we don't know about. So just throwing this out there as a word of warning for users wanting this glass for use on other cameras. Very good chance when you use them in the field on, say a RED, it won't be as pleasing as results on a F3.

You can check out the interview (very long) with the Sony rep from NAB, on FreshDV. He explained it a lot more eloquently than I just did.
 
Matt Duclos wrote a interesting article about the Sony primes and actually took one apart and was pretty surprised at the bad build quality. Lot of plastic, screws not straight, many areas for dust and dirt to get it. He recommended to never take these to the beach. And also due to the build issues, a service on those lens was prob non existent. He pretty much confirmed if you get dirt in the lens or need a repair, they will just throw it in the trash and give you a new one.
So If you have these lenses keep them clean and treat them with care.
 
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