Good news from sony at NAB.
There is a new firmware upgrade for the 18 105 stock lens that fixes it badly losing focus.
Go to the Sony consumer,put in the lens model,go to software upgrades,hook up camera to computer and follow instructions.
I talked to the Sony engineer about this

Support for SELP18105G | Sony (http://www.sony.co.uk/support/en/product/SELP18105G)

HD Warrior » Blog Archiv » New lens FW from Sony…Firmware update Ver.03 for SELP18105G (Mac) (http://www.hdwarrior.co.uk/2016/04/19/new-fw-from-sony-firmware-update-ver-03-for-selp18105g-mac/)

I just installed it. I think it has well and truly solved the problem! I seem to be able to pull focus smoothly now, and it feels quite natural. Definitely not as good as a completely manual lens, but at least usable.

I just installed it too. Mine was version 01 until this. Off filming up in North Norfolk so will test it out. It can't be any worse than it was before!

Listen? Is that the sound of people who said a) Sony would never fix this and b) you can't expect consistent focussing from this lens having to eat humble pie? :-)

Is it me or is the focus ring less "laggy" now? Feels more precise.

It feels a lot more precise. I'll be using this lens a lot more now.

I concur. After the update the focus does seem more precise. The zoom seems to be improved if you use the zoom lever on the lens. The FS5 handle zoom not so much. Of course all of that about the zoom may be my imagination.

I'm curious: is pulling focus now repeatable?
Or does rotation speed still change the amount of rotation you need?

I need more time with it but I was able to repeat pulling focus last night. It seemed much more predictable and less laggy in the 5 minutes I had.

Taking the FS5 out for a gig tomorrow so that will be the best test.

I'm curious: is pulling focus now repeatable?
Or does rotation speed still change the amount of rotation you need?

I've only spent about 10 minutes playing with it, but pulling focus seems to be easily achievable now. I can pull focus back and forth, and hit the mark pretty closely every time.

The new firmware has transformed this lens...shot with it for several hours this morning (on the FS5) whilst filming in North Norfolk. Sure, it is still far from perfect but I feel a LOT more in control of it. It's SO MUCH BETTER....really pleased with this result.

Maybe they can implement a similar firmware improvement on some of their other lenses???

Nice job Sony :-)

Listen? Is that the sound of people who said a) Sony would never fix this and b) you can't expect consistent focussing from this lens having to eat humble pie? :-)

I think anyone who said that speaks from experience that Sony never did this kind of thing before, no matter how many users complained, but apparently they have their mind set on making the fs5 a success and react much quicker on any legitimate complaint. The fs5 will probably be their biggest cashcow when it comes to sales and anything related to that camera, like the stocklens will be improved if needed. Not so sure though if this kind fo approach will be for all camera's in their range.

It feels a lot more precise. I'll be using this lens a lot more now.

After the upgrade it's even better on the FS700 now. For the price of this lens it's a pretty reasonable performer in spite of its manual focusing issues. All the same I'm sure that feels improved somewhat.

In conjunction with a machined down Canon WD-H72 0.8 zoom thru wide angle its become a very useful crisp 14.4mm - 84mm zoom. A poor man's Cabrio we call it :))

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney

hey chris,
so now, with the lens fix, on a long zoom, can u go in focus, and as u pull out, it stays in focus, like it should?
that was one of my main issues for not buying]

Jim ~

Never had the loss of focus issue with the 18-105 on the FS700, FS7 or A7S Mk I & II. it's only the FS5 that gave us these issues, thankfully now fixed. We were thinking the problem lay in the FS5 firmware but this v3 lens firmware has fixed the problem when the lens is now used with the FS5. So yes, zoom in, focus and pull back and yes it stays in focus like it is supposed to. Because the 18-105 is actually parfocal believe it or not.

Incidentally even the old clunker SELP 18-200mm stayed in parfocal focus with the FS5 without any issuses.

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney