Sony reveals new FE C 16-35mm T3.1 G E-mount cine lens at IBC

With high optical performance and reliability, this new lens offers greater creative flexibility for video content creation, with servo zoom and autofocus/autoexposure system.

Sony has presented in IBC 2019 a new goal of Full Frame E-Mount y 16-35 mm (FE C 16-35 mm T3.1 G) to accompany the newly announced PXW-FX9 full-frame camcorder, which offers high optical performance, reliable usability and intelligent capture features for professional video creation.

Compatible with a wide range of E-mount cameras, from the Venice camera to Alpha interchangeable lens cameras, as well as the new flagship FX9 model, the addition of this new lens optimized for professional video shooting brings unprecedented creative flexibility to content creators. Sony will continue to improve its range of cinema optic lenses in the future.

Norbert Paquet, Head of Product Management at Sony Solutions Europe, highlights that "in our ongoing conversations with partners and customers, we have determined that there is a clear need for versatile tools that improve efficiency and drive greater return on investment. Together with the new 'single mount' solution based on the Alpha series, the flexibility of our new series of E-mount cinema optic lenses offers content creators greater creative freedom and helps them focus on their artistic vision."

The new lens supports the smart recording functions of the E-mount system, enabling and enhancing large format sensor (LFS) recording. Paired with the new FX9 full-frame camcorder, the new lens enables fast and accurate autofocus, making it possible to track fast-moving subjects while maintaining a shallow depth of field.

Soft bokeh effect

The two elements XA (extreme aspherical) with an extreme surface accuracy of 0.01 microns, along with the 11-slat circular aperture, offer attractive and soft bokeh effect in each frame. The two XA elements and three aspherical objectives are positioned to effectively reduce field curvature, astigmatism and, in combination with two ED (extra-low dispersion) glass, color distortion. Furthermore, the floating focus offers amazing resolution at all zoom positions. AR (anti-reflective) nano coating dramatically reduces glare and double image phenomenon.

Additionally, the new E-mount lens offers precise usability thanks to three independent focus, zoom and iris rings that content creators can manipulate to achieve the exact results they want. The linear response manual focus (MF) function offers precise manual focus operation. The focus ring with wider rotation includes a distance scale that allows you to quickly and easily set the same focus position during scenes that need to be recorded multiple times.

With the use of compatible cameras such as the FX9, remote controllers and compatible smartphone apps, you can enjoy full control of zoom/iris and focus from the camera. This greatly simplifies the use of the lens and offers more opportunities to capture the critical moment.

The new range is also compatible with a variety of lens accessories facilitating a variety of different shooting styles. The industry-standard 0.8mm spot size of each lens ring allows the use of a continuous focus. Likewise,
Compatibility with a wide variety of matte box and 115mm diameter lenses can be leveraged to facilitate accurate and reliable usability. Additional features include a fixed iris which prevents unintentional iris shifting during recording, the option to reserve the direction of rotation of the zoom ring according to user preferences and a detachable servozoom that offers smooth zoom use.