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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

New "inexpensive" PL primes from Sony !?

I don't know.

I find it very strange that these have been out now for quite a while and yet there doesn't seem to be a single review or hands on comparison on the internet. There has to be great interest in this new set. Why no reviews?

Seems weird to me.
 
Some questions with Dragon around the corner.
Will these lenses work with Scarlet Dragon 5K footprint ? I figure they will not with Epic 6K Dragon.....but given the new Dragon 5K's "circle of confusion" being close to current 4K footprint we should be sweet ....right?

Plus was there ever any resolution on the fact that Sony PL mount will not mount well on other PL mount systems ?

Thanx in advance
Mike.
 
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I'm testing them this week on F55 and Epic against RPPs and report back.
 
Sorry to keep you waiting, but the last few days were very busy.
In short: Yes, they are pretty good and even if you folks probably wouldn't ditch your Epic for a F55, the Sony lenses should be considered as a replacement for the disappearing RPPs. Modern glass with good mechanics and the optical quality in general very similar to RPPs, some even a bit better. Detailed descriptions to follow over the next few days.
 
Uli, thanks for keeping us updated. I'm curious to see some faces and skin tones as well as a flare test. The thing about these lenses is that there're no useful images on the web right now. I hope you can change that! :) (no pressure)
 
Mechanical quality

After all the (quite deserved) criticism for the first series, this time they did it right. The new ones have metal housings and fit all PL-mounts or adapters without a problem. When we tested the old ones, they did not fit our PL-Mount adapters from Poland, for example, which adapt any other PL lens to µFT with good precision. They have marks on both sides like RPPs (metric in our case) and their weight is between 2 and 2.4 kilograms. Size is similar to RPPs, but they are shorter. Focus throw is 240 degrees, all have the same position of gears and the same length, with the exception of the 135mm (longer). The front diameter is 114mm and they don't change length when focusing. All start at T 2.0 and the aperture has 9 blades, so we may expect pretty round OOF highlights and nice 18 point sunstars. The focus ring turns a tad easier than RPPs and resistance is quite constant. They have no electronic contact, but a Sony F55 seems to recognize then by the small indents on the latches in the mount. We have tested them against RPPs on an EPIC, since the F55 has less resolution.


Optical quality

They 20mm has no direct counterpart, so we compared it to the 18mm. For it's slightly tighter angle the Sony has far less distortion. WO the center is a tad softer than the RPP 18mm, but OTOH it's harper in the corners, i.e. more balanced. Also has next to no CA, while the RPP has a bit. As soon as you stop down, they get very close in resolution and absence of CA. We also found that it doesn't show the colored circles when the sun is in the frame like the RPP does. But when the RPP is stopped down just a bit, these are gone too. Both show still good contrast when the sun hits the front lens but is out of the frame – flare is controlled pretty well on a similar level. The same is true for the next two.

The RPP 25mm is a bit narrower than the Sony, both show some barrel distortion, but good resolution in the center WO. The Sony is a tad softer in the corners, but as soon as you stop down they get very close, the Epic is fully resolved at 5K. Both show relatively low breathing between infinity and 0.35m, the Sony breathes a little bit more.

The 35mm RPP has more barrel distortion, the Sony close to none. OTOH the RPP has very good corner sharpness even WO, the Sony is softer in the corners. Both are very sharp in the center. Even when stopping down the Sony stays a bit softer in the corners. Both 35s show quite some breathing when moving between infinity and 0.5m.

The 50mm Sony is a gem: close to no CA, very good sharpness in the center even WO and it stays ahead when closing down. The RPP has a bit more corner sharpness WO, but also some CA. At 2.8 and above the corners are equally sharp on both. Strange for a 50mm: the RPP has some barrel distortion, the Sony has none. Both breathe quite a bit between infinity and 0.5m.

Both 85s are at a similar, very good level for their price point. Free of distortion (you did expect this, right?) and if there's a difference at all the RPP is a bit softer in the corners WO and has a hint of CA. Beyond 2.8 the RPP get's a tiny little bit ahead in sharpness and loses the CA, but the Sony has less breathing.

The 135mm from Sony has a bit more center sharpness WO than the 100mm RPP, but stopped down just one step they are equal. Both free of distortion and hardly any CA.

Both series show pretty good bokeh and have very low levels of coma or deformation of OOF highlights even in the corners when tested with strong point lights like LEDs. Due to the higher number of blades the highlights of the Sonys are a bit rounder when stopping down. All in all, these series of lenses are pretty close in performance, sometimes the Sony is a bit ahead and sometimes the RPP. These are good lenses in the medium price level and since the RPPs are not made any more the Sonys are worth a consideration when you go shopping in this range. If anything, being modern lenses with no obvious weaknesses, these are a bit boring compared to vintage glass.

I'm not authorized yet to publish all the test pictures, since this is a test for "Digital Production" (Munich). But if you'd like to see something in particular, I can always ask.
 
Great comparison and write up, Uli! Thank you for doing this!
 
We're you able to see beyond the super 35 image circle? And if so did you make note of the coverage areas?
 
No vignetting on 5K Mysterium-X.

We don't have a projector, so I couldn't seriously check the image circle.
 
I recently had a chance to shoot a quick test with the new Sony lenses and I'm quite impressed. I only had an hour with them so refer to Uli's great post above. I tend to agree with his comments. I was pleasantly surprised though at the little to no breathing on most of the lenses, except the 20mm, which displays the most breathing of all the lenses in the set. They are a bit on the heavy side, although I think the RPP's are bigger and maybe heavier overall. The focus gear is in the same position for each lens so swapping lenses is a breeze. An added bonus for me was that the front diameter being 114mm on all the lenses, they each fit perfectly in the rear bellows of my Oconnor mattebox so no donut was required. I will definitely be using them on projects in the future and am even considering purchasing a set.

Here's a little video I put together of my non-scientific, quick-and-dirty test. I especially like the look with an 1/8BPM.

https://vimeo.com/73048520
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY2bpI2o-kY
 
Thanks for the test!

Ryan Skeete said:
I recently had a chance to shoot a quick test with the new Sony lenses and I'm quite impressed. I only had an hour with them so refer to Uli's great post above. I tend to agree with his comments. I was pleasantly surprised though at the little to no breathing on most of the lenses, except the 20mm, which displays the most breathing of all the lenses in the set. They are a bit on the heavy side, although I think the RPP's are bigger and maybe heavier overall. The focus gear is in the same position for each lens so swapping lenses is a breeze. An added bonus for me was that the front diameter being 114mm on all the lenses, they each fit perfectly in the rear bellows of my Oconnor mattebox so no donut was required. I will definitely be using them on projects in the future and am even considering purchasing a set.

Here's a little video I put together of my non-scientific, quick-and-dirty test. I especially like the look with an 1/8BPM.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for mentioning the breathing of the 20mm, I overlooked that.
 
Call me crazy, but I am actually considering these based on the lease deal at abelcine...
 
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