- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2022 1:27 am
- Real Name: Rick Balentine
The Good News: Most MFT lenses will respond to the focus controller without any issues. I've tried a variety of Panasonic and Olympus lenses and they all work fine. If you use an adapter for other lenses you might not be so lucky, so just stick with MFT lenses if you can.
The Bad News: The zoom controller works with the Studio Camera, but it works much better with the URSA cameras.
There are only 4 lenses that BMD lists as compatible with the zoom controller and the Studio Camera 4K Pro:
- Olympus 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 ED M.Zuiko EZ (not available new)
- Olympus 14-42mm M.Zuiko f/3.5-5.6 Digital ED EZ Lens
- Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4.0-5.6 Zoom OIS Lens
- Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Power O.I.S. Lens
I've tried the two Panasonic lenses, but the lenses all have the same issues. The zoom control works, but the lenses are not the best (they are horrible). I bought one of each of the Panasonic lenses to try before buying another set for the other cameras. The lenses are low cost, so getting one of each to try out first might be a good idea.
Here are my issues with the lenses:
- The zoom speed is slow and the speed control doesn't appear to work (was meant for professional zoom lenses only).
- They are all variable aperture, so when you zoom there will be a jarring change in the image brightness.
- They are not parfocal (stays in focus at all focal lengths), so as you zoom you will also have to focus.
For me the issues are annoying, but not game breaking. I teach a high school AV class and the cameras are in a studio with controlled lighting. With the lenses available I would not use the zoom control in an actual production setting. I find them adequate for training purposes and non-live production.
There are a few posts floating around about some Canon CN-E lenses working with an EF-MFT adapter, but there are also a few posts saying they don't work. Since I don't want to gamble on a $4600 lens I can't verify if it works or not.
It is very disappointing that BMD hasn't addressed the issue of lens compatibility. They chose to make the camera MFT knowing the lens selection for the zoom controller was lacking. I have three of the Studio Cameras (and studio converters...a must have for multicam IMO). My hope is that BMD addresses the issues with firmware or their own adapter.
If you have the budget I would suggest you get the focus wheel, but skip the zoom. Either get a servo zoom lens with a different controller OR get one of the external focus motors (Tilta Nucleus Nano) and use it for zooming.
Good luck!