Sony's PL Lenses at DVinfo.net

Scott Lovejoy · May 26th, 2011, 10:45 AM

Hi all,

I know there have been some threads comparing/contrasting these lenses, but I wanted to give them their own place to be loved/hated/ignored.

The school I work for just got an F3 kit in with a set of Sony's lenses. We had been using a rented F3 with CP.2s and the physical difference couldn't be more apparent.

What do people who have used them think? My biggest concern right now is how they hold up over time. The kids who will be using the F3 are coming up from DSLR courses where the lenses are reasonably small/solid. I live in fear of these lenses falling apart or being dropped, though I imagine this fear would be no different if it were S4s or CP.2s.

Also, is there anybody out there that wants to see any specific tests (that haven't already been done). I have the camera and lenses at my fingertips, and enough hours in the day to play, for anybody curious.

Aaron Newsome · May 26th, 2011, 10:52 AM

I have the kit lenses with my F3. They look good enough. They feel cheap and flimsy. I don't think my comments are new though. Pretty sure someone has said this already.

Robert Turchick · May 26th, 2011, 11:48 AM

Pro gear should last long enough when cared for but in a school situation, it's not "if"...it's "when" is something going to happen.

I taught audio production at a college for a few years and we had a pair of beautiful Neumann U87's that were at least 15-20 years old and had been exposed to not just vocals but brass instruments, drums and all sorts of stuff. One of my students (a senior) got a little excited and anxious to try one on her vocals track and didn't clip it into the shock mount properly....THUD! And with that the mesh windscreen pushed in far enough to crack the capsule. Vintage mic toast! Yay insurance! The capsule was replaced.

And yeah...schools might be a bit more prone but pro's aren't immune either!
Buddy of mine dropped his Canon 16-35 L recently...$500 fix!

Scott Lovejoy · May 26th, 2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Turchick

Pro gear should last long enough when cared for but in a school situation, it's not "if"...it's "when" is something going to happen.

I concur. I've seen a lot of gear break in ways that I would never believe possible. The right combination of ignorance and apathy.

I believe that since the F3 is going out to the highest level of students, that they will treat it with a certain amount of care, but I'm still curious.

In this case it may just be that enough months haven't elapsed for anyone to have any bad situations with the lenses yet. I'm sure come next year I'll have a lot to write about.

Leonard Levy · May 26th, 2011, 02:25 PM

Id be curious abut the results of tests comparing them to the CP2's.

Doug Jensen · May 26th, 2011, 04:54 PM

I do compare the Sony lenses to the CP lenses in my F3 training DVD, and optically they are on the same level. Although I'd agree that the Sony's don't appear to have the same build-quality, prefer to shoot with the Sony lenses and at 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. I just like the feel of the focusing and aperture ring better. Just a personal choice. But I rank both of them behind my Cine-Xenars. I love those lenses and they are always my first choice.

May 26th, 2011, 10:45 AM	#1
Scott Lovejoy Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 73	Sony's PL Lenses Hi all, I know there have been some threads comparing/contrasting these lenses, but I wanted to give them their own place to be loved/hated/ignored. The school I work for just got an F3 kit in with a set of Sony's lenses. We had been using a rented F3 with CP.2s and the physical difference couldn't be more apparent. What do people who have used them think? My biggest concern right now is how they hold up over time. The kids who will be using the F3 are coming up from DSLR courses where the lenses are reasonably small/solid. I live in fear of these lenses falling apart or being dropped, though I imagine this fear would be no different if it were S4s or CP.2s. Also, is there anybody out there that wants to see any specific tests (that haven't already been done). I have the camera and lenses at my fingertips, and enough hours in the day to play, for anybody curious.

May 26th, 2011, 10:52 AM	#2
Aaron Newsome Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 590	Re: Sony's PL Lenses I have the kit lenses with my F3. They look good enough. They feel cheap and flimsy. I don't think my comments are new though. Pretty sure someone has said this already.

May 26th, 2011, 11:48 AM	#3
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Re: Sony's PL Lenses Pro gear should last long enough when cared for but in a school situation, it's not "if"...it's "when" is something going to happen. I taught audio production at a college for a few years and we had a pair of beautiful Neumann U87's that were at least 15-20 years old and had been exposed to not just vocals but brass instruments, drums and all sorts of stuff. One of my students (a senior) got a little excited and anxious to try one on her vocals track and didn't clip it into the shock mount properly....THUD! And with that the mesh windscreen pushed in far enough to crack the capsule. Vintage mic toast! Yay insurance! The capsule was replaced. And yeah...schools might be a bit more prone but pro's aren't immune either! Buddy of mine dropped his Canon 16-35 L recently...$500 fix! __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

May 26th, 2011, 02:25 PM	#5
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Re: Sony's PL Lenses Id be curious abut the results of tests comparing them to the CP2's.

May 26th, 2011, 04:54 PM	#6
Doug Jensen Vortex Media Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 3,442	Re: Sony's PL Lenses I do compare the Sony lenses to the CP lenses in my F3 training DVD, and optically they are on the same level. Although I'd agree that the Sony's don't appear to have the same build-quality, prefer to shoot with the Sony lenses and at 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. I just like the feel of the focusing and aperture ring better. Just a personal choice. But I rank both of them behind my Cine-Xenars. I love those lenses and they are always my first choice. __________________ Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/ Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools