Sony G Master (GM) Lenses - Rehousing Possible?

[Zack Birlew]

Hey, everybody, I've been looking over my lens wishlist and doing inventory on my collection which I plan to start selling in sets and kits in the near future as a side project (not sure whether to go Etsy or eBay or both) and I know I've been eyeing some newer lenses like Sigma Art and such but I keep reading amazing things about the Sony G Master series of lenses. While I currently have an A7S and love the whole adaptable E mount system, I know the next camera will most likely have another mount unless Sony shocks the world with something game changing and I'll be looking at new adapters and more than likely a PL/LPL path moving forward. My question is, is there any possibility for the Sony GM lenses to be adapted to another mount if not PL or LPL? While I don't think it would hurt to go with Sigma Art to cover what I'm looking for in newer spherical lenses, I certainly wouldn't mind if Sony GM lenses were a more universal option!

 

[James Darren]

Is it possible for PL/LPL mount? Yes, but not really for practical purposes.
On top of the complexity/difficulty in changing to PL with a complete rehousing to achieve the correct focus depth, they have electronic iris control so a manual iris diaphragm would have to be custom made for each lens plus the addition of an iris ring.

The real world answer is no this can't be done.

 

[Phil Holland]

I've had a few "weird lenses" rehoused in the last few years. With mirrorless glass the real issue is how difficult the rear element or element group is to rehouse and does any of that protrude into the PL mount itself. Zhongyi did a nice job to what I would say is one of the more extreme situations with the 50mm T1 I had them make a while back.

Proper rehousing places like Zero Optik and TLS can evaulate the glass. Generally for any rehoused stills you are getting new transport and mechanics as well as a new iris.

From my experience, with the hero GM primes I don't think they would be difficult to rehouse. Likely a $3500-$10000 a lens effort depending on difficulty level.

 

[James Darren]

It's very unlikely that either TLS or Zero Optik would take this on for a set of Sony lenses given their workload. Zero Optik have an 18 month wait on their standard work which they've already figured out the designs for. It would take a looong time for them to do this (many years), if they even wanted to do it.

And it definitely won't be anywhere close to $3500 per lens. A lot more, much much more (if anyone would even want to do it)

So I still stand by my answer of no this can't be done in the real world.

If by chance you can find someone who is willing to take this on and you're willing to spend the high cost to do so, please let us know so my post can be corrected.

 

[Phil Holland]

answer of no this can't be done in the real world.

It doesn't take "years" to figure any of this out. I know Alex well and I personally have been rehousing glass for 20 years through various companies and optical engineers. Even have a host of old CPO one offs.

If backlog is keeping anything from being done sure, but generally we know what the rehousing situation is within a week of R&D. It's a very, very straightforward process. Then it's a matter of making components as needed. The primes aren't super complicated designs.

Both TLS and Zero Optik use specific models for their rehousing for exactly this. That's outside of anything super exotic, which these are far from.

I'll stand by my general cost range as that's what I've been quoted for similar work, i.e. modern mirrorless. I'm actually waiting for two focal lengths to do exactly that, but they aren't here yet. In this case the real difficulty, if it is difficult, is the rear of the lens.

Without a workload or backlog, most people who do this professionally can have it done in 2-6 weeks depending on complexity of the rehousing. I'd lean here on the 4-6 week side because of what would need to be done. It takes about 1 day to find out if it's "possible". It's very literally all measurements.

 

[James Darren]

It doesn't take "years" to figure any of this out. I

You're only speaking theoretically. The reality it does take a long time, because they all have a HUGE backlog of work. Sure many things are "possible" theoretically but we don't live in a theoretical world. You make it sound like this is easy & quick to figure out, which it is not. We live in the real world.

For the record and so that misinformation is not spread, TLS have told me they have no interest in doing anything like this for the Sony lenses and they will NOT do this.

Zero Optik haven't even got back to me with another enquiry I had for rehousing some wide still lenses, but others have told me they have a long backlog of work which is understandable.