FS7: Which Fast Wide Angle

Has anyone got any experience of the Sony 16-70mm F4 Zeiss lens? I've read some surprisingly good reviews and it covers a most useful focal range. I make no apologies for being a hack and would use this lens as a variable prime and focus with push autofocus.

If anyone has got anything bad to say about this lens then please give it to me with both barrels and don't hold back I can take it.

Cheers

n
 
Just picked up my final holy grail lens - a modded Zeiss Contax/Yashica 21mm f2.8 in Canon mount so I can also use it with a focal reducer.

It's so sexy :)
 
markfpv said:
Robert - regarding the Tilta matte box... I also tried the lightweight, cheaper carbon fiber one to use with my Tokina 16-28mm cinema lens - but got vignetting when used with metabones SB ultra. Also, I didn't like that I couldn't just take off the swing-arm easily and clamp directly to lens. So - my question - the Tamron 15 doesn't vignette with the SB ultra using the 4x5.65 version of the carbon matte box? And is the only way to remove the swing arm on it - is to remove the two screws on the back? (the photos I've seen make it look much like the cheaper version).
Thanks in advance...
Click to expand...

Hello,

So mine is the 4x5.65 version, model MB-T04. Tilta and Ikan are owned by the same man who also owns Microsearch which has a retail store here in Houston. I bought mine in the store and before I put down the card we mounted it on my Westside AV rig and checked at 15mm on the Tamron SP 15-30 with the MB Ultra. We saw no vignetting. I checked again after bringing it home and I can see no vignetting.

So far I am pleasantly surprised at the quality of the image from the Tamron SP 15-30. Maybe I got a good sample but so far it appears the edges hold up well even at 15mm wide open. I do support the MB Ultra with the lens support from Westside AV. As you folks my know, the Tamron is not light.

And I have not found an easy way to remove the swing arm but sliding the matte box off the rails is easy.


Hope that helps,
Robert
 
Yes - that helps. Thanks. The Tokina 16-28 Cinema lens is a whopper. And while I love the images - I'm having to re-route my support rails, etc trying to make room for it.
 
Nirv said:
Has anyone got any experience of the Sony 16-70mm F4 Zeiss lens? I've read some surprisingly good reviews and it covers a most useful focal range. I make no apologies for being a hack and would use this lens as a variable prime and focus with push autofocus.

If anyone has got anything bad to say about this lens then please give it to me with both barrels and don't hold back I can take it.

Cheers

n
Click to expand...



I'm just finishing a 2 week project with this lens. I'm traveling with the 16-70 and the 28-135 kit lens. The 16-70 is on the camera about 85% of the time. I looked around and, aside from some stills lenses used with a speedbooster, I really didn't see anything comparable. As far as I can tell, the zoom range is as good as it gets for a (reasonably priced) 4K s35 compatible lens.

Pros - Good zoom range, light weight, good auto focus and steady shot, flares are well controlled, no vignetting, acceptable build quality, not that expensive.

Cons - Not particularly fast, nowhere near par focal, chunky zoom action, doesn't focus very close, it is at heart a stills lens with all that entails.

I haven't done real tests on the sharpness at different focal lengths, but the Editor and Producer seemed very happy with a project I did in April. You're right to consider it a variable prime. No live zooming with this lens.

If and when Sony comes out with a wider companion to the 28-135 I will probably be first in line to buy it. Until then the 16-70 will have to do.


Cheers,

Peter
 
@BlindDog

Thanks, you've confirmed what I thought. This focal range is difficult for S35 and I haven't been sold on Canon or Nikkor options as they inevitable mean a speedster or two lenses to complete the range.

Are there any issues with distortion like the 18-105? I haven't read that there is so I suspect it's within acceptable bounds.

Cheers
 
BlindDog said:
No distortion. I should have put that on the "pro" list.

Peter
Click to expand...

I think this lens will make an ideal "kit" lens.

To add back to the thread, my wide angle choice is the Voigtlander Color Skopar 20mm F3.5 which I picked up cheaply, one of my best lens buys.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top