Zoom Lenses for F3

[Peter G. Johnson]

They came quicker than many thought.... Sony have released two new lenses for the PMW-F3. As expected they're very expensive! In hind sight, I reckon I'd trade my 35mm, 50mm and 85mm for even one of these lenses.

SCL-P11X15 wide-angle zoom 1.5-times 11-16mm T3.0 lens. £4500.00
SCL-Z18X140 14x high-power zoom lens from 18mm-252mm at T3.8 (Wide) £6900.00

[Jonathan Shaw]

I wonder if the 11-16 is related to the Tokin / Duclos version?

[Alister Chapman]

The lenses are not available just yet. You'll have to wait until December for the 18x14 and January for the 11-16.

[Ron Aerts]

We met at the IBC and played with the prototype of the zoomlens (remembered the iris jump through steps instead of smooth control) and the 3,5 kg scared met a bit, although the lens is packed with great stuff and possibilities. This makes me still a potentional buyer...
Alister, you mentioned an alternative in using 2/3 lenses with adapters or something. I am not familiar with all the broadcast stuff but could you give an F3 advise which easily could be integrated with standard (remote) zoom and focus.
cheers, Ron

[Alister Chapman]

Hi Ron. Yes I remember. I chatted with the lens specialist from Japan and he told me the production lens iris should not step. The lens at IBC was a development lens.

I am trying to bring to market an adapter that will allow the use of conventional 2/3" B4 broadcast zoom lenses on the F3. CineAble and Abakus already produce adapters but these are very expensive. I'm looking at a street price of less than £1000 GBP. We should have a cable that will operate the zoom and record start button initially, but we think we can also make use of the hot shoe connectors to provide auto iris etc. This would be an upgrade option that can be retro fitted to the standard adapter.

The range of broadcast zooms available is massive, everything from super wides to super long, 20x zoom ratios are common. The adapter would have a 2.5 stop light loss and 2.5x focal length increase, so a 8mm f1.8 16x zoom would become a 20mm to 320mm f4 lens. A HD broadcast zoom would provide full resolution on the F3.

[Ron Aerts]

An adapter like that sounds very interesting, specially while there's so much choice in broadcast. One has to decide wanting to loose the stops though.
I'd like to hear from a less expensive adapter if you found one
Thanks for the reply, appreciate it.

[Alister Chapman]

A fast, parfocal wide ratio zoom will always be a compromise on a super 35mm sensor. You can have a fast lens, but it will be huge and very heavy, just look at the Optimo 24-290mm and the size of the front element along with the weight. Very nice lens, but no good for handheld!

Reduce the zoom range and you can get a lighter lens, something like a Canon 70 to 200 f2.8 but then that's only a 2.8x zoom. Getting all three together is both hard and very very expensive due to the big sensor.

[Michael Power]

Hi Alister

It's terrific you're pursuing your adapter and I'm sure there are lots of eager customers, like myself, who'd love to use the F3 as an ENG camera with a good range 2/3" zoom. I've already mentioned this to a few local Sydney users.

How heavy will the adapter be? Do I understand correctly that it will fit directly into the Sony F3 mount? If a f1.8 lens becomes f4 cos of 2 stop light loss, operating the F3 at +6db should bring it back to 2.8 minimum, right?

Any approximate idea on its availability?

[Alister Chapman]

I have a meeting with the manufacturer to be this week. We are looking at various mount options including F3, Canon and E-Mount (FS100) and PL. What we really want is the adapter with interchangeable mounts. The prototype weighs about 500 grams.

[Hornady Setiawan]

I have 4 Fujinons Cine Primes 8, 16, 34, 54mm and a 2/3" zoom 7.6 x17 x2 ... was wondering to sell them... but if Allister's adapter is very good, then...hmm...any suggestion? Should I keep them?

[Alister Chapman]

My adapter will require a lens with a built in 2x extender to work, so your primes won't work with my adapter. There is an adapter from Abakas that would work for primes:

http://www.abakus-scientific.com/Format_Converters.htm the 260.

There is also the Abel Cine adapter:

HDx35 B4/PL Optical Adapter :: Optical Adapters :: Lens Adapters :: Lenses & Lens Accessories :: Equipment Sales :: AbelCine

Both of these are PL only and a lot more than ours should be.

[Hornady Setiawan]

Hmm those two are quite expensive. I'm already broke when I bought the Fuji Primes :)
Hmm...have to think this over again... I don't have the $3,000 ++ right now... guess have to sell 'em then...

Thanks, Alister!