Using FS700 18-200 "kit" lens on A7RII, seems OK but anything to look out for?

D

Disambiguous66

Member
Using FS700 18-200 "kit" lens on A7RII, seems OK but anything to look out for?

I got the Sony A7RII last week, and I've been playing around with it and my current lens stock. Along with the camera I also got the Sony EF 28mm f2.

I stuck the "kit" lens from the Sony FS700R on the A7RII, which is the 18-200 f3.5-6.3 PZ-OSS, and since it's an E-mount it hooks right up. I was very surprised to discover how well it works. In comparing to the 28mm f2, setting the 18-200 to the same focal length, the sharpness is not all that different but the 28mm has better color and is much contrastier. Of course, the 18-200 will only shoot in APS-C on the A7RII (which was accounted for in the test).

Since the 18-200 isn't a lens that's specifically made for still cameras, and it has that "servo off" feature for the zoom function, are there any potential problems I should be aware of when using it on the A7RII? I'm aware of the extreme zoom creep, and I'm using the servo off switch to hold it when I'm pointed anywhere other than level. -DA66
 
If you have the very bulky powerzoom, you have to know, that its very difficult to use tripod plates.
Benn
 
Disambiguous66 said:
I got the Sony A7RII last week, and I've been playing around with it and my current lens stock. Along with the camera I also got the Sony EF 28mm f2.

I stuck the "kit" lens from the Sony FS700R on the A7RII, which is the 18-200 f3.5-6.3 PZ-OSS, and since it's an E-mount it hooks right up. I was very surprised to discover how well it works. In comparing to the 28mm f2, setting the 18-200 to the same focal length, the sharpness is not all that different but the 28mm has better color and is much contrastier. Of course, the 18-200 will only shoot in APS-C on the A7RII (which was accounted for in the test).

Since the 18-200 isn't a lens that's specifically made for still cameras, and it has that "servo off" feature for the zoom function, are there any potential problems I should be aware of when using it on the A7RII? I'm aware of the extreme zoom creep, and I'm using the servo off switch to hold it when I'm pointed anywhere other than level. -DA66
Click to expand...

I used the 18200PZ lens with my original a7s, I too had it from an FS700R. Combo worked OK for HD video as an all arounder but I was not entirely happy with the IQ for the reasons you mentioned in addition APSC crop is not as usable on the a7s. There is nothing to look out for outside of even lower battery life. In fact most function work well as it is naitive E-mount and are fully supported by the a7 bodies. I was surprised to find the servo zoom feature worked with a Sony RM-VPR1 remote attached and even with the FS700R hand grip with the movcam lanc converter. I had to frankein rig it but it worked well in my tests, the record and picture buttons also work from the handgrip.

I ended up selling my copy as APSC Crop mode was brutal for photos at 5mp on the a7s. I ended up upgrading to the 28-135 and a couple FE primes, where I can stay full frame. It actually looks like it pairs better with the A7rii as the MP count is still usable in APSC mode. Hope this helps.
 
Brothersfan-- Many thanks, that's helpful info. Question-- if the remote was able to work the zoom, does that mean that the zoom servo was powering off the battery of the camera? -DA66
 
Disambiguous66 said:
Brothersfan-- Many thanks, that's helpful info. Question-- if the remote was able to work the zoom, does that mean that the zoom servo was powering off the battery of the camera? -DA66
Click to expand...
Yes, that is correct. The power zoom on the lens is being powered off the camera battery. This works with the 18-105, and the 28-135 Power Zooms as well. It does shorten the battery life but it is useful to get nice slow zooms while on a tripod using a remote. You lose the crash zooms with e-mount Power Zooms, but I feel it is a nice trade off getting the very slow controlled zooms that would be impossible manually.
 
I had the 18-200 power zoom for about a year before selling it just last week. Using it with the a7s, I had a problem with pin-cusion distortion that took me a month to figure out. :cry: Solution: Turn off "Distortion Comp" in the menu. I also bought the Sony remote with tripod and it has two speeds: slow and sometimes stuttering, making it unusable, and really fast but ok. You'll get smoother zooms using the rocker switch on the side. Not sure why, maybe the camera can't handle sharing resources with the power zoom and remote at the same time (?).

Here's a tip that worked for me: Buy a roll of velcro tape at the hardware store, cut a small piece to fit the rocker switch on the side and attach, now put a 2 1/2 inch piece on the top barrel of the zoom, another 2 1/2 inch piece on the bottom of the zoom. Now cut a 2 1/2 inch piece to use as your holder/strap. Have the camera on a tripod. Auto-focus on. Wide focus range worked better than center for me. Shutter speed priority mode is good because this is not a constant aperature zoom. Make sure the final destination shot of the zoom is framed correctly. Set the zoom on manual. Set the speed switch (Low ,Med, or High) Rack all the way tight or wide--whatever you want. Take the strap piece and attach it to the rocker and pull it up or down (depending if wide or tight) and attach it to the barrel piece. Now your zoom is primed to go. Hit record. Now hit the switch from manual to servo and your zoom will begin. Edit out the slight shake at the beginning where you hit the switch. I got smoother zooms this way than with the remote control.


The reason I sold it is because it's too contrasty and video-ish looking. I also can't stand the way APS-C looks. Another reason is that if you're telling a story with the camera (as I am) you have to wait for the zoom to get to the subject or reveal the subject when a cut can accomplish the same thing. There's a little "Oh cool, we're zooming" moment when watching the footage but I just found it gratuitous after a while. I also have no patience for slow, wide pans for this reason. Anyway, because of its super video-ish look, your zooms will not remind anyone of Barry Lyndon, that's for sure. It was ok as a wide angle (27mm equiv.) stabilized lens but the a7s II is out now, so...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top