Any way to order Z7 or S270 without lens?

[Zack Birlew]

I've been doing some research and with 35mm adapter makers soon to be coming up with relay lenses to replace stock lenses on the JVC HD100/200 series and Canon XL series cameras for use with their respective 35mm adapters without a magnification factor and with straight up native Nikon lens mounts like the Zork or MTF adapters, it is looking like it would make more sense to buy Nikon or other 35mm lenses instead of using the stock lenses on any of these cameras. For me, the Z7 looks to be the best all around buy as it will be small and it already comes with a CF recorder for tapeless shooting. However, the S270 has HD-SDI and has some extra perks as well, so it's interesting too.

I realize the cameras are new but it would save a good $800-$1,000 buying without a lens, I'm sure. Obviously, having 35mm optics instead of an 1/3" HD lens would be better for anyone in the filmmaking community and I couldn't see any reason to go back to the stock lens unless I needed AF or AE features.

So, does anybody know anything or have any idea how long it should take for no lens option to become available?

[Brian Standing]

I'm not sure how you would ever shoot in wide angle, if all you have are 35mm optics on a 1/3" CMOS chip.

I'm not sure what kind of shooting you're doing, so maybe it's not an issue, but I'd find it pretty challenging to only have a field of view equivalent to a telephoto and higher focal length.

[Zack Birlew]

Well, that would be the case with the Zork and MTF adapters, but 35mm adapter makers, like Cinevate and Letus, are making relay lenses for their 35mm adapters to get rid of the magnification factor. The idea is that you would use the relay lens instead of the stock lens and then put the respective 35mm adapter on the front of that and then use whatever 35mm lens mount you want, PL, Nikon, or otherwise. I just mentioned the Zork and MTF adapters as examples.

[Zach Love]

It would be nice for them to sell it w/o the lens, like Canon's XL series.

But I think there needs to be more 1/3" lens out there for sale, 12x on the Z7/S270 is nice, but it would be great to see a better selection of ENG type lens out there.

Canon, JVC & now Sony, come on Panasonic join the group in 1/3" interchangable lens HDV camera & maybe we'll create a sizable market for great 1/3" glass.

Although if attach a 35mm lens straight up you'll have some freakin' strong telephoto glass on your camera.

[Barry Wilkinson]

I already bought my 270 but would have preferred to buy without the Zeiss lens. I had a canon YJ 12 before on my DSR 570 but it doesnt fit this camera so sold it with the camera. I used it all the time and it was lovely. the only W/A I can see for sale is by Fuji and about £4000 or $8000 so would prefer something cheaper. The Zeiss made lens coming out for the Sony is only 8:1 and is not very wide anyway.
Come on Canon there is a market for 1/3 inch lenses!!
Does anyone know how much light is lost by using relay lenses and where I could get one from in the UK?

[Brian Standing]

With all the trouble people are reporting on this lens, selling them together may be the only way Sony can get rid of their current stock.

I'd love to get a Z7 with the Fujinon 1/3" 13x3.5mm lens, but can't figure out how to swing it. I'm not sure I could resell the Zeiss stock lens...

[Arnaud Keil]

Originally Posted by Brian Standing

With all the trouble people are reporting on this lens, selling them together may be the only way Sony can get rid of their current stock.

I'd love to get a Z7 with the Fujinon 1/3" 13x3.5mm lens, but can't figure out how to swing it. I'm not sure I could resell the Zeiss stock lens...

Sure not... and don't forget that you wouldn't have no more steadyshot.
The Z7 is a little handy cam, I don't know if it's a good choice to work with a non stabilized lens.