Sony FE 4/PZ 16-35mm Hands-on with A7IV Cinematic FITNESS VIDEO - Powerzoom
- Thread starter cyvideo
- Start date
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Its a 16-35 just like all other 16-35s a great wide option on FF cameras.
If I were a sony user and dropped my 16-35 id buy this on the insurance.
--
it has power zoom. potentialyl great if there were a way to operate it remotely.
there was this thing called covid.. maybe sony didnt notice.
covid open the door for remote operation
but sony are not seeing what zoom by wire brings.. so they reduce the lens from 'must have' to 'just another lens' that doesnt hve IS and isnt 2.8
If I were a sony user and dropped my 16-35 id buy this on the insurance.
--
it has power zoom. potentialyl great if there were a way to operate it remotely.
there was this thing called covid.. maybe sony didnt notice.
covid open the door for remote operation
but sony are not seeing what zoom by wire brings.. so they reduce the lens from 'must have' to 'just another lens' that doesnt hve IS and isnt 2.8
Bassman2003
Veteran
Pretty sure there are remote operation avenues via Bluetooth and the Imaging edge app. I would like to see a LANC option if there is one. As always, IS is my preference and too bad it does not have it as Sony's IBIS is not its strongest attribute although not bad imho. I have always thought 24mm is wide enough on FF and going wider creates the sink hole in the center of your image. But it does have its place. The guy used crop mode for the video which imho brings the lens into a more useful and flattering range for people. A 24-105mm F4 IS with a powered zoom would be quite nice. I have their current 24-105mm and it is a nice lens. Glad to see Sony supporting the video side of these amazing cameras. Now if they could add shutter angles and waveforms... (they are probably not allowed by the group!)
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
The girl has an admirable belly, nice to look at.. but
if you can zoom via blootooth (or something more grown up) lets see a video about that!
ahalpert
Major Contributor
You can zoom PZ lenses using the Imaging Edge App (wifi connection, I believe). It's not a great interface for that. Probably better for reframing between shots than doing during a shot, but hey anything is possible.
Yes to IS over Sony IBIS, but at this wide a focal length I don't think it's deadly
The 28-135 F4 PZ IS is pretty close to what you're describing... Not a perfect lens, but it's sort of what you're asking for. Personally, I'd like a 24-70 f/2.8 PZ IS but I'm not sure we will and I'm too cheap to replace my Sigma 24-70 anyway
EDIT: Speaking of remote operating, if you put the camera + PZ lens on a gimbal on a stand (at least the little gimbals I have), you can control the camera and zoom remotely using a smartphone app, and you can pan and tilt the gimbal remotely using a separate smartphone app. I don't think you'll get great results doing stuff during a shot, but it's a good option (practically free) for reframing. I've done some with this for wedding ceremony master shots, but without a PZ lens
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
have always thought 24mm is wide enough on FF a
24-70 is pretty much the part of 'the trinity' one uses for portraits.
the 16-35 is when you need that 16 to show the whole arena or make the hotel bathroom look big or see something (at all) because you are 20cm from the subject and another 50 members of the press are standing on you.
No one sane is going to have a 16-35 without a 24-70 and a 70-200.. which begs the purpose of launching and auto zoom version without bringing out the other two.
24-70 is pretty much the part of 'the trinity' one uses for portraits.
the 16-35 is when you need that 16 to show the whole arena or make the hotel bathroom look big or see something (at all) because you are 20cm from the subject and another 50 members of the press are standing on you.
No one sane is going to have a 16-35 without a 24-70 and a 70-200.. which begs the purpose of launching and auto zoom version without bringing out the other two.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
Unfortunately for the 16-35, we now have 12-24's (or even an 11-24 from Canon). One would think that 12 is excessively wide... but I use the 12-15mm range of my 12-24 pretty frequently (when an ultrawide is called for...which is not every shoot). I think I'd only need a PZ on it for remote operating, as discussed. I don't feel like I'm missing it much. PZ seems more useful for longer lenses and zooms with longer ranges
I imagine they will bring out the other 2 lenses you're talking about in due time. but for the top-handle doc r&g crowd, I feel like a 16-35 PZ is pretty fit for purpose
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
the 16 seems indeed fine.
12-24.. Im too old to even have heard of that.
one thing about a 16-35 is that one can very sort of bash in for a sort of 'close up'
I always just had a 14 prime for hotel toilets.. but that probably dates me a bit.
12-24.. Im too old to even have heard of that.
one thing about a 16-35 is that one can very sort of bash in for a sort of 'close up'
I always just had a 14 prime for hotel toilets.. but that probably dates me a bit.
Last edited:
ahalpert
Major Contributor
This is the vaunted $3000 canon L 11-24mm f/4, released in Feb 2015: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1119028-GREY/canon_9520b002_ef_11_24mm_f_4l_usm.html
Before I had the sony g 12-24 f/4, I used the Laowa 12mm zero-d f/2.8. That's a GREAT lens.
These things are useful not just for close combat or tight spaces/architectural, but for 9x16 shooting where you still want a wide horizontal FOV. You need a 13.5mm to get the same horizontal FOV in 9x16 as a 24mm in 16x9. I hate shooting 9x16
Before I had the sony g 12-24 f/4, I used the Laowa 12mm zero-d f/2.8. That's a GREAT lens.
These things are useful not just for close combat or tight spaces/architectural, but for 9x16 shooting where you still want a wide horizontal FOV. You need a 13.5mm to get the same horizontal FOV in 9x16 as a 24mm in 16x9. I hate shooting 9x16
Doug Jensen
Veteran
Wow, this is the answer to my prayers. How did I ever get along without an f/4 2x zoom lens. Amazing technological achievement.
cyvideo
Veteran
There is no LANC option but you can use Sony's own RM-VPR1 which functions with all Sony's Power Zooms to the best of my knowledge. Well at least with the later A7 series III and IV bodies. I've used the RM-VPR1 with the APSC 18-105 the S35 18-110 Cine and the FF 28-135 Cine and it functions quite well. Have even used it on a gimbal for framing and stop-start. It connects to the camera via the Micro USB Multi-terminal. All of the above lenses can have their zoom parameters adjusted in two modes in the camera's zoom menu. Firstly in Standby mode, the speed of zooming for framing and composing is adjustable. When actually recording the second set of zoom speed parameters can be set independently.
Also in the camera menu when using the RM-VPR1 you can select Variable or Fixed for the zoom function along with fixed zoom speeds for both Standby and Record. Mind you the "variable" speed is two speeds. Which can be absolute glacial on light pressure to reasonably quick when the zoom rocker is fully depressed depending on the camera settings. As regards the IBIS with these very wide zooms I think it seems to perform pretty well. Granted it's not the best IBIS in class but I find it more than adequate for most wide lens use.
Chris Young
Bassman2003
Veteran
Thanks. I think I have something like the RM-VPR1 that I used with my RX10II. But this lens probably will not find its way into my bag.
cyvideo
Veteran
ahalpert
Major Contributor
I think it fits a specific purpose, such as top-handle r&g. I see a lot of people doing that, although it's not my cup of tea. For an ultrawide lens with full-frame coverage, it ends up being quite small and inexpensive. I'm not saying it's a game-changer. But for the type of shooting where it will find a home, it's a useful feature to have the incorporated servo as opposed to the 16-35 those shooters were previously using.
ahalpert
Major Contributor
I think Sony is dropping the ball on producing lenses tailored for the FX line. Everything they put out (except for telephotos) seems to assume that if you want stabilization, you'll be relying on IBIS
drboffa
Well-known member
Or maybe they're assuming people are relying on stabilization in post using Catalyst, which—to be honest—kinda sucks. Until stabilization in post is incorporated into an NLE this just isn't a great option.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
I met a man designs cameras for satelites. They have an obsession to minimise moving parts that can get shaken about, and have more mass (1g = $100000 for the ticket or something stupid)
And it is a strong design philosophy.. Ive always felf IS lenses go wonk after a couple of years of knocking about on the car floor with some sandy damp wetsuits and an angle grinder.
What sony forget is in frame motion (streaks as the camera moves during shutter open) is non correctable in post. (?). but yep I could see them moving in a direction where both shake and also lens aberations a dealt with in post. It makes for cheap reliable lens.
The higher the FPS the less the shake streaks. And in sony mind its probbably all about 60fps super sharp vision (tha makes me wretch) but then the 24fps ''cine' crowd dont want IS either. Its just the 24p wedding guys who want a certain look without the budget for a puller and a pee wee.
And it is a strong design philosophy.. Ive always felf IS lenses go wonk after a couple of years of knocking about on the car floor with some sandy damp wetsuits and an angle grinder.
What sony forget is in frame motion (streaks as the camera moves during shutter open) is non correctable in post. (?). but yep I could see them moving in a direction where both shake and also lens aberations a dealt with in post. It makes for cheap reliable lens.
The higher the FPS the less the shake streaks. And in sony mind its probbably all about 60fps super sharp vision (tha makes me wretch) but then the 24fps ''cine' crowd dont want IS either. Its just the 24p wedding guys who want a certain look without the budget for a puller and a pee wee.
Last edited: