Sony SCL-Z18X140 and Sony PMW-F3 dilemma

[Doug Jensen]

Thanks for the education. I think you should spend just a little more time reading and less time just hitting reply to buzz words Doug. I’ve read your replies for a long time, All your posts seem to have a history of you not being able to HEAR what someone else is saying.

I read what you wrote and replied accordingly with my own viewpoint. I am not a mind reader, so I have no idea what you had intended to say, but didn't say. Please don't blame others if you are not able to express yourself in a way that others will understand whatever point it is that you are trying to make.

Care to wipe the slate clean and try again fresh? I promise to read very, very carefully before replying.

 

[basil_555]

I bought the lens. Because I really, really wanted to have it. The manual describes a procedure of flange focal length adjustment. Do I really need to perform it? I thought that all such lenses were calibrated at a factory. Another question is does the flange focal length adjustment matter if I’m using the lens in AF mode? Thanks!

 

[cyvideo]

I bought the lens. Because I really, really wanted to have it. The manual describes a procedure of flange focal length adjustment. Do I really need to perform it? I thought that all such lenses were calibrated at a factory. Another question is does the flange focal length adjustment matter if I’m using the lens in AF mode? Thanks!

My suggestion? Yes, definitely. Sure, they are all factory-calibrated, but that does not take into consideration differences in manufacturing tolerances. No two lenses of the same model are identical, nor are any two camera bodies identical in spec. You can quite often swap the same model lenses between two same model bodies and find back focus irregularities. This goes for manual prime lenses, manual zoom lenses and all electronic lenses. Especially modern photo lenses where back focus is not as critical as AF corrects any BF issues. At the BBC, we used to be issued with matched kits. The blue kit would have a blue-marked body and blue-marked lenses, All colour kits had colour-matched bodies and lenses. All lenses in any colour kit had been shimmed to match its corresponding colour camera body.

When lenses came out with back focus capability, that simplified life, as you could use the back focus adjustment to correct for flange back distance. BF adjustment is just a variable alternative to individual shimming. Much quicker and simpler, especially when moving lenses between bodies. AF will compensate for back focus issues, but it is best to follow the back focus procedure outlined in the manual to minimize the AF having to compensate for any back focus issues constantly. Sony put that back focus capability in the lenses for that precise reason. To match a lens to a specific body.

Chris Young

 

[IronFilm]

The FZ Mount was always intended to be an intermediate mount, It's like saying why isn't there any native lens for the ARRI Alexa mount or the Red Epic?

There are lenses now for ARRI LPL

One could argue the Fujinon MK Zoom with the Duclos FZ adapter is also a FZ Native Mount lens so there are some other options out there. I think there is a way to make the F3 zoom a Fujinon with the really pricey Chrosziel box.

At least those you can revert back to a MFT mount if you end up selling the FZ camera!

 

[IronFilm]

I also think many forget just how expensive PL mount lenses were when the F3 was released, being able to offer Nikon and Canon EF was a big deal to make the F3 affordable. Also FZ mount is a much sturdier mount than the wobbly e mount's they put on the FS100, FS700, FS7 and FS5.

I guess I don't understand the argument about staying away from FZ mount?? You would have preferred the F5/F55 was locked to PL only like the F35 F65??? FZ mount offered options but also a solid connection. E mount took a long time to become solid.

Even the Sony PL lenses which came out with the F3 itself, were "cheap" for its time for PL lenses! (but of course seem "expensive" today) I have one myself :-D And got the F3 I've had for years.

And I agree, having FZ mount was a genius move in the era before the locking E Mount (which in the end, proved to be the better idea, and is what VENICE/FX9/etc do).