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Sony E PZ 18-110mm f/4 G OSS Lens Review

Martin Lisius

The ENG Maker

Made for Sony Super 35mm and APS-C E-mount systems, the Sony E PZ 18-110mm f/4 G OSS (SELP18110G) lens works best with the PXW-FS7 (Mark I and II), and the PXW-FS5 cameras. It can also be used with several Sony stills cameras. The Sony E PZ 18-110mm f/4 is a game changer in that it represents the first quality ENG lens option for the ubiquitous FS7, transforming it instantly into an ENG-style camera.

ENG stands for “Electronic News Gathering” which is a quick, ergonomically practical style of shooting employed by news and sports videographers, and non-fiction shooters for years. Throw a camera on your shoulder and go. In my opinion, it is the purist form of shooting. A good ENG photographer becomes one with his camera. When it happens, it’s fun.

In short, the Sony E PZ 18-110mm lens is what the Sony FS7 has been waiting for.

Pros

  • Turns your FS7 into an ENG camera

  • Useful 27-167mm full frame equivalent range

  • Parfocal

  • Smooth servo zoom function

  • Quick-snap auto to manual focus ring

  • Inexpensive and lightweight for a professional cine zoom ($3498)

  • Nifty lens hood includes a protective door

Cons

  • Expensive and heavy for a stills lens

  • There is some axial shift present on my copy of the lens

  • Minimum focus distance is rather long at 3.12 ft in manual focus

Features

  • 6.1x zoom ratio and a very useable 27-167mm full frame equivalent focal length

  • High resolution suited to professional 4K movie production

  • Smooth Motion Optics (SMO) design and construction to minimize unwanted focus and image shifts while focusing or zooming

  • Advanced operability including three separate focus, iris and zoom rings for professional operation

  • Optical SteadyShot™ in-lens image stabilization

  • Compact, lightweight design with dust and moisture resistance

  • One Aspherical & Two ED Elements

  • Switchable Manual and Servo Zoom

  • Teleconverter Support

Complete camera compatibility information

Specifications

  • Sony E-mount for Super 35mm and APS-C

  • f/4-22

  • 7 circular aperture blades

  • Filter: 95mm

  • Stabilization: Yes

  • Zoom: Both manual and powered

  • Length: 167.5 mm

  • Weight: 39 oz. (1105g) without tripod mount

  • MFD: 1.31 (W) –3.12 (T) ft (AF/MF); 3.12 ft (Full MF) (0.4 (W)–0.95 (T) m (AF/MF); 0.95 m (Full MF)

My Observations

I tested the 18-110mm on my FS7, which is really the best camera for the lens just because of the size/weight match. It’s the primary camera that Sony uses to market the lens. 

Manual Focus

Manual focus works well. Simply pull the focus ring back to enter manual focus or grab it in autofocus mode to take control. There is a 0.8 pitch gear built in for follow focus systems.

Autofocus

The autofocus feature works remarkably well on the FS7 given it’s a cine camera. Naturally, autofocus is faster and more refined on stills systems like Sony’s a6300 and a6500. I rarely use auto focus when shooting video, but I can envision a scenario when it could be helpful. I have tested the tiny Sony PZ 16–50 mm F3.5 – 5.6 OSS stills zoom on the FS7 and it is actually a bit faster, although not nearly as sexy as the 18-110mm. 

Zooming

You can zoom manually or by using the servo motor. The latter is one of the main reasons you should buy this lens. The motor is smooth and can be operated by the T/W power switch on the left side of the lens. On the FS7, zoom can be operated by the small T/W switch on the handle, or by the larger T/W switch on the remote grip. The grip rocker offers the best control over the lens. However, I would like to see Sony develop a “Pro ENG” style grip with a larger, more sensitive zoom rocker switch that would fit onto an existing FS7 for better control. For manual zoom, switch from servo to manual on the lower left side of the lens.

The zoom rocker on the Sony FS7 grip provides the smoothest control of the zoom servo.

Aperture

The aperture ring is located at the rear and ranges from f/4 to f/22. It can be operated manually, or from the camera’s iris controls when the ring is placed in the “A” position.

The aperture on the Sony 18-110 f/4 zoom lens can be controlled from the FS7 when set to the "A" position.

Auto Iris

The auto iris feature works well on the 18-110mm, however, on the FS7 it works only in Custom Mode, not in the much beloved Cine EI mode. For run and gun shooting, change your FS7 to Custom Mode anduse auto iris, auto white balance, etc. There are actually some nice gamma settings in the FS7’s Custom Mode, but that’s for another article.

Parfocal

Yes, it is parfocal. All professional cine zooms are. Zoom in, set focus, zoom out and everything in between remains in focus. This is how ENG shooters set up focus and is the beauty of a parfocal zoom lens.

Focus Breathing

There is very little focus breathing.

Axial Shift

There is some axial shift on my copy of the lens even though Sony’s promo video says, “There is no axial shift while zooming.” With cross hairs activated on the FS7, it is easy to see. However, when the marker is turned off, it’s very difficult to detect.

Bokeh

Yes, there is bokeh. Bokeh is Japanese for “haze.” It has become a trendy term used to describe the area of an image purposely placed out of focus, usually behind the main subject, which is (hopefully) in focus.

Sharpness

Sharpness is solid. I cannot find any sharpness issues on my copy, even wide open at f/4.

Ergonomics

The ergonomics are very good. The lens rings have a nice, silky feel to them. The focus ring at the front snaps back and forth between auto and manual focus. There is an iris lock switch and a click on/off switch on the right side of the lens, and a tripod mount under the rear of the lens which is detachable. There are ¼” – 20 threads beneath the front of the lens for support use. The square plastic lens hood features a clever open/close door to help protect the front element. It essentially acts as a hood and cap.

Filters

You can use a matte box or 95mm round filters. I’m a big fan of protecting my lenses with a screw on filter, either clear or UV. For the Sony 18-110mm, I selected a 95mm Firecrest Superslim UV MC by Formatt-Hitech in the United Kingdom. The filter came in a beautiful, high-end box, wrapped in paper with a handwritten seal and stamped inspection date. The filter arrived clean and is noticeably well made. Very impressive. Bravo, Formatt-Hitech for your commitment to quality!

The Formatt-Hitech 95mm Firecrest Superslim UV MC filter is a beautiful addition to the Sony 18-110mm lens. It arrived professionally wrapped, date stamped, clean and clear.

Suggestions for Sony

Develop a “Pro ENG” style grip with a larger, more sensitive zoom rocker that can fit onto an existing FS7 for better control with servo zooms like the 18-110mm. Allow the auto iris feature to work in Cine EI mode on the FS7. Presently, it will work only in Custom Mode.

Summary

The Sony E PZ 18-110mm f/4 G OSS is a “must have” for any FS7 user, either as a purchase or a rental. If shooting ENG style is important to you, then this is the best option currently available. Overall, I think this bordering on an amazing lens considering how much it improves the FS7, and possibly even the FS5. You can do a lot with the Sony E PZ 18-110mm f/4, especially if you add a couple fast primes to your bag to compliment it.

Gear mentioned in this review:

Suggested prime lenses to compliment the Sony E PZ 18-110mm f/4 G OSS zoom lens:

Suggested zoom to compliment the Sony E PZ 18-110mm f/4 G OSS

About the Author

Martin Lisius is a producer, director, cinematographer and president of Prairie Pictures, an award-winning media production company based in Texas. He is also founder of StormStock, one of the longest established stock footage brands in the world.

Martin at LinkedIn and at IMDb.

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Cameras I have shot with, in chronological order, starting when I was 12 years old: