1/2" ENG lens to PMW-300 - is it possible?

[David Cleverly]

Hi all,

Looking at putting a Canon KH21ex5.7 IRSE on a PMW-300, but was wondering what I needed to do so.

I did a search on good ol' Google and nothing obvious showed, so...here I am!

Thanks!

DC

[Paul Mailath]

Hi Dave,

pretty sure is, depends what the mount is - B3 or B4 is fine

there's a facebook page that will give you plenty of info - B4 on M4/3

[David Cleverly]

Ha ha! Just found the Canon adaptor so the lens is powered from the camera:

The Canon LCV20E Lens Mount Converter $1785 US

A little too expensive for my tastes so it looks like a cable powering the lens from a DTAP connector will be the compromise.

[Leslie Wand]

interesting to know how many people are using 1/2" or 2/3" lenses on ex3 / 300 or any interchangeable lens system from sony.

i originally looked at the z7 years ago with the idea of changing lens out but couldn't find anyone who'd got it to work correctly (be it power, iris, back focus, etc.,). ditto when i went ex1 rather than 3

i can certainly understand the use of primes, but for general work i would want a powered zoom...

any response most welcome

[Bill Ward]

I believe Fuji makes a powered adapter that would fit on the PMW-300. Something like the ACM-21, if I recall. But only for Fuji lenses, of course.

[Mick Jenner]

If you wish to retain the the electrical connections you need a fujinon ACM 18 for 1/2" lenses that can be picked up relatively cheaply on ebay or for 2/3" lenses the AMC 21 which are a little like hens teeth to find and therefore much more expensive. The ACM 18 will only operate lenses electrically if they have electrical connections on the lens mount its self. The 21 on the other hand has a a connector built in that allows the lens electrics cable to be connected to it.

[Paul Anderegg]

The 2/3" B4 lenses do not work that well on the Sony 1/2" cameras, according to past posts, especially SD 2/3" lenses. The KH21 is the best 1/2" ENG lens ever made, 21x and has a 2x extender. They have been seen on eBay for as low as $1600 recently, due to Wexler rentals letting their inventory go. You can also find some sweet KH10 wide angle 1/2" ENG lenses with extender for as low as $1000.

Before putting out $5000 for a KH21, remember, there were more then half a dozen between $1600-1800 on eBay just a couple of months ago.

Paul

[Christopher Young]

Originally Posted by Leslie Wand

interesting to know how many people are using 1/2" or 2/3" lenses on ex3 / 300 or any interchangeable lens system from sony.

Mr. W. ~

I have shot countless hours of sport and entertainment for TV in the past and still do occasionally on an EX3 using the Fujinon ACM-21 2/3" to 1/2" adapter. As previously mentioned it has the 12 pin Hirose connector to enable any 2/3" lens, Canon or Fujinon to function correctly and fully as one would expect a 2/3" lens to work. Also works very well on the PMW-300 in the same manner.

There are 2/3" lenses and then there are 2/3" lenses. Use a good high quality HD B4 and you get very usable results. Never had a client corporate or broadcast complain about the images. In fact quite the contrary, many saying love the pics.

One thing to remember is that if you use a 2/3" lens on the EX series cameras there is a crop factor of 1.375. In other words an 18 x lens becomes 24.75 x. Very handy on certain sports shoots.

Another thing we discovered is if you use a 2/3" lens with an aspect ratio converter, such as the 16:9 to 4:3 cross-over models, something else happens. The cross-over lenses were designed so that if you had to shoot 4:3 on an 16:9 chip camera you could engage the 4:3 converter and maintain the width of the lens. Otherwise when you shot 4:3 on a 16:9 sensor you lost 12.5% of your image width from either side of the 16:9 sensor for a total of 25% image width loss. The 4:3 cross-over unit is in actual fact a focal reducer. It recovers just on 20% of the width and like a Metabones Speed Booster actually creates a smaller image circle. When used on a 1/2" camera this 2/3" lens smaller 4:3 image circle of 9mm diameter as opposed to 11mm for a 16:9 sensor covers the 1/2" sensor 16:9 8mm diagonal. Like a FF lens on APSC/S35 with a Speed Booster this recovers most of the lost lens width. it recovers 20% in fact. Additionally like a Speed Booster there is a gain in light transmission of around 2/3rd of a stop. Making the EX / PMW-300 series cameras about 2/3rds of a stop faster. On top of which the focal reduction of the image results in a sharper image.

The example I used of a 2/3" 18 x 7.6 lens used on a 1/2" chip camera ends up becoming a 10.45 x 18 lens because of the 1.375 crop factor of a 2/3" lens on a 1/2" sensor. Now engage the 4:3 cross-over and you will recover 20% of its width. In other words 2.09. 10.45 - 2.09mm equals 8.36 x 18. This lens is now effectively a 19.8 x lens on the long end.

How did I get to this? Take 18 multiplied by the crop of 1.375 = 24.7. Multiply that by the minus 20% reduction of the 4:3 converter and that = 4.95. 24.75mm minus 4.95mm = 19.8.

These top end 'V Format" lenses as Fujinon called them were the highest quality glass they made and sold for around $25-30K. They are still good glass and on an EX 3 or PMW-300 work perfectly well. I'm not saying this is the ultimate solution it's not but it is in day to day TV work a very viable solution and I now know numerous cameramen doing this now since we first started using this 2/3" V Format solution. Goes without saying just be careful to make sure your back focus is 100% accurate.

For a clearer idea of what I am saying have a look at the bottom of page #2 of:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWo...CameraAccy.pdf

More here bottom of this page:

makingmymovie - photo stories

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney.

[Leslie Wand]

hi chris,

thanks for a great explanation - very helpful and clearly put - much appreciated indeed.

owe you a coffee next time i'm in your neighbourhood,

all the best

leslie

[Paul Anderegg]

One of the more common cross-over HD lenses is the Canon HJ18x7.6. It is a big lens with a big barrel, but it is old enough that certain versions were made with the 4:3 function in addition to the 2x converter. You can find them as low as $2000USD. I used to use the cross-over feature on my Canon J22 and J11 lenses as wide angle converters on my 2/3" cameras.......there would be a bit of black corners, but if shooting at night for ENG, there were many instances where this would be undetectable. :-D

Paul

[Dan Gunn]

I have three DSR300 ( 1/2" chips SD) cameras. Two have the longer Canon lenses and one has the shorter Fuji lens. Anyone have a use for any of these lenses? I don't use any of these cameras now because of the 4/3 format.

[Paul Anderegg]

What type of lenses? The DSR lens mount is the same as the PDWF355/PMW320 also.

Paul

[Christopher Young]

This is correct. The Sony "hot-shoe" half inch lenses will work with the PMW-300 as long as you have an ACM-18 adapter. This used to be supplied as standard with EX3s but was no longer supplied a standard item on the release of the PMW-300.

Chris Young
CYV Productions
Sydney