FS5: Problem with 18-105 zoom lens - solved!

V

vanvideo

Veteran
I just received my FS5 today.
I noticed that the 18-105 zoom has a hitch. When I zoom in, it's fine.
But when I zoom out, it makes a short stop, then continues. This happens about 1/4 way through the zoom. Just a short pause, then it continues. It happens with the handle zoom and the zoom control on the lens itself.
Anybody experience this?

I tried the zoom lens on my Hasselblad Lunar (E-mount camera) and it zoomed normally.
Hmmm....
 
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I guess you can say it solves the problem, but only if you don't want to use Clear Image Zoom. Be nice if it could be smooth all the way through the zoom travel since it is almost impossible to stop zooming prior to clear image zoom kicking in; not that I plan to or have used the zoom while recording. It is too much of a laggard zoom to be useful.
 
snap zoom situations

snap zoom situations

dmitrizigany said:
Why do people go on about this always? What do you do with your zooms? I find it to be almost to fast...
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Some situations where lightning fast zoom is desired:

* Shooting a basketball game. You are tight on the player with the ball and that player is out beyond the 3-point line. You are seated on the end-line under the goal. The player suddenly passes the ball to a team mate under the basket who then does a monster dunk. You need to be able to zoom out exceptionally fast so as not to miss the action under the basket. From full tight to full wide in less than a half-second. And even then there is a chance that you are too slow.

* shooting behind the scenes of a fashion shoot or music video. You want to perform stylized "snap" zooms in and out. Super-fast snap zooms.

* shooting a car stunt with a planned SFX explosion. You are tight on the vehicles and the explosion takes place. You need to snap zoom out in order to catch the fireball.

* reality tv shooting. You are tight on a person's face who is across the room from you and then something takes place close to you. Maybe someone falls or someone close to you says something shocking. You need to snap zoom out to capture the tail-end of the fall or at least the reaction from the people in the room.

If you ever used a traditional B4 mount zoom you become used to a zoom action that is as fast as you can move the zoom ring. A zoom with any sort of delay is annoying after using zoom lenses with a super-fast zoom action. Before the only limitation on the zoom speed was your own ability. With many new generation lenses the ability of the lens becomes the limitation. It doesn't matter how skilled you are as an operator, the lens is only going to zoom so fast. Maddening at times.
 
Its a rubbish lens. Distortion at 18 is terrible and its too soft. Well for $500 what would u expect.
 
JPNola said:
Some situations where lightning fast zoom is desired:

* Shooting a basketball game. You are tight on the player with the ball and that player is out beyond the 3-point line. You are seated on the end-line under the goal. The player suddenly passes the ball to a team mate under the basket who then does a monster dunk. You need to be able to zoom out exceptionally fast so as not to miss the action under the basket. From full tight to full wide in less than a half-second. And even then there is a chance that you are too slow.

* shooting behind the scenes of a fashion shoot or music video. You want to perform stylized "snap" zooms in and out. Super-fast snap zooms.

* shooting a car stunt with a planned SFX explosion. You are tight on the vehicles and the explosion takes place. You need to snap zoom out in order to catch the fireball.

* reality tv shooting. You are tight on a person's face who is across the room from you and then something takes place close to you. Maybe someone falls or someone close to you says something shocking. You need to snap zoom out to capture the tail-end of the fall or at least the reaction from the people in the room.

If you ever used a traditional B4 mount zoom you become used to a zoom action that is as fast as you can move the zoom ring. A zoom with any sort of delay is annoying after using zoom lenses with a super-fast zoom action. Before the only limitation on the zoom speed was your own ability. With many new generation lenses the ability of the lens becomes the limitation. It doesn't matter how skilled you are as an operator, the lens is only going to zoom so fast. Maddening at times.
Click to expand...

For those situations use a B4 lens or even better an ENG cam. I would use a ½" or ⅔" imager camera with ENG lens for those type of shoots. Right tool for the right job. I really think of zooms on large imager cams as variable primes. I use an EX3 for those type of shoots.
 
BeeHop said:
Its a rubbish lens. Distortion at 18 is terrible and its too soft. Well for $500 what would u expect.
Click to expand...

Yes the lens has distortion (even after electronic correction) and vignetting, look at a scope it is very obvious. It has focus hiccup on zooming out (clear zoom). And manual focus is very inaccurate and has a sloppy feel.

So it is not my favorite lens, but for a light constant f4 18-210 (HD) and with stabilization and decent instant auto focus it is very usable when just grabbing quick B-roll, I think a good and affordable grab and shoot lens that fits perfectly with the mission of grab and shoot.

It certainly is not the only lens I would bring on most shoots, but for some it is. Just for the convenience, there is a lot to be said for getting the shot, not changing lenses when the action happens.

And the price is less than a Metabones adapter...
 
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