Tariq Gibran wrote:
Roger, just to clarify...you are referring to the specific A7s 12MP model with the Stainless mount that you saw this bent flange issue with? "A7s" as above is not meant as plural - A7's right? The A7s model is the only one with metal flanges I suppose anyway...
Edit. Isn't going to be ironic if it turns out that the more robust Stainless mount/ metal flanges on the A7s ends up being more fragile than the plastic used with the other A7 models.
Another question for Roger...how easy is it to order just the plastic flange or the stainless mount from Sony for the A7(r) or the A7s? Any idea on cost?
I was just talking A7 model cameras in general. Sony parts are sometimes obtainable, but nothing like the ease of Canon USA parts. On the other hand, if you're patient you can eventually get them, which is better than some like Nikon or Tamron.
RCicala wrote:
I was just talking A7 model cameras in general. Sony parts are sometimes obtainable, but nothing like the ease of Canon USA parts. On the other hand, if you're patient you can eventually get them, which is better than some like Nikon or Tamron.
Sony can't even handle parts for their own repair centers! I just sent my A7 in for a failing shutter and whatever parts it requires are back-ordered. Think they'll be calling to offer me a replacement loaner while I wait? :P
I just re-tested the quality of my stock A7r mount with a few different lenses. Its too easy to flex even a smallish lens like the 50/1.4 with an adapter. I also noticed wear on the flanges even though I have used it mostly with an EOS adapter on it (so the adapter see a lot of lens changes, not the body flanges).
I was out shooting the other day with my diminitive Olympus OM 35/2.8 shift lens and I could feel the lens mount flexing as I was raising the front shift position. The resistance to move the shift position it is low. So low in fact it doesn't always like to stay in place (I need to tighten it)! I'm happy to give the new mount a try
Lee Saxon wrote:
Sony can't even handle parts for their own repair centers! I just sent my A7 in for a failing shutter and whatever parts it requires are back-ordered. Think they'll be calling to offer me a replacement loaner while I wait? :P
I doubt they'll call to offer you a loaner, but they might send you one if you ask nicely... They did when I had to send in my NEX-5R last October for a shutter issue. No problems with backordered parts, and they only had the camera for a week but I really appreciated the free loaner.
RCicala wrote:
If I was going to make that video, I'd have loosened the mount's screws just like they did to really make the lens wobble dramatic. Well played, Fotodiox.
Hi there! Bohus here - the guy in the video. I see your grin there at the end of your sentence, but just to be absolutely clear, I didn't loosen anything to exaggerate the wobble effect. That's simply an off the shelf camera that exhibits the lens wobble that lots of E Mount shooters have found. Suggesting that kind of fakery would be unethical, and not something that either Fotodiox - or I - would do.
Still, it's not an awful idea. As long as you trust Fotodiox to make very flat, very accurately machined mounts. I don't, but YMMV.
Fotodiox is a company in transition. Over the past few years they've invested in a lot of new gear to be able to deliver the kinds of tolerances you're talking about. We've actually been enjoying a lot of praise for the precision of the machining throughout the product line.
Don't forget too that you've got a 2 year warranty, and a 14 day no-questions-asked return policy, so if you do ever run into a problem, Fotodiox is there to make it right.
Tariq Gibran wrote:
Yeah, I also got that impression as my A7r mount certainly does not have as much play (I have never noticed play with mine actually) as they show.
It may come from the sheer number of lenses that have been installed and removed from that camera over the time we've had it.
Hi Bohus. It's good to hear that Fotodiox is making a stronger comittment to quality. Most of the adapters I had any issue with were older ones. I looking forward to getting my tough E-mount and will report back here soon. It has already shipped
Yes, great to hear from bohus and Fotodiox directly. I have my digital caliper ready and waiting to test the accuracy of my Tough E Mount when it arrives.
Guess I'm lucky - No wobble in my mount so far on the A7. Then again, I'm very careful with anything heavy and never just carry around a large combo by the body.
I cringe when I see people one-handing the body with like a 70-200/2.8 or other large lens.
pdmphoto wrote:
I can just see the sratched sensors already A little slip while loosening/tightening the screws, or dropping a screw on top of the sensor. Fotodiox needs to supply a body cap with this that has holes in it for access to the screws holes with the body cap on.
I hope Fotodiox does a better job in QA concerning tolerances on this than they do on some of thier adapter products I have bought over the years. Every lens I mount on my A7r would be dependent on it.
Stuff a piece of clean cloth in it, or use a magnetized screw driver.
I don't have lens wobble as such, but a couple of mm of rotational movement when I zoom or manual focus. It's barely noticeable but enough to bug me considering this is a supposedly semi pro camera. Does anyone else have this issue and if the tough e-mount will get rid of this issue?
Sub Zero wrote:
I don't have lens wobble as such, but a couple of mm of rotational movement when I zoom or manual focus. It's barely noticeable but enough to bug me considering this is a supposedly semi pro camera. Does anyone else have this issue and if the tough e-mount will get rid of this issue?
yea i have that slight rotational movement as well. its terrible when i am shooting with a canon adapter and have he whole setup mounted to the tripod off of the adapter so that the camera is freely hanging off the back of the pod and can rotate during long exposures. had that happen a few times.
hopefully the tough e mount will be better in that regard. ive never had rotational play in any camera mount besides the E mount. my canons were pretty darn snug
Just a heads up that my Tough E-Mount arrived today. First thing I did was check the thickness tolerance. It read about 2.86mm's give or take a fraction depending on how much pressure I put on the digital caliper (so it ranged from say 2.84 to 2.87 or so at various points around the mount). The variability was probably not as much due to any issue with the mount but with how I used the Caliper. I'm sure there are much better ways to measure more accurately and consistently using better tools. Nevertheless, I felt reasonably comfortable with the tolerance.
To make sure I did not drop any screws onto the sensor, I ended up using an old lens cap turned upside down, which I was then able to easily slide around with one hand while removing the mount screws with the other. The top metal mount plate came off easily (I held the lens release spring down while doing this) but the plastic flange underneath was stuck down a bit and required a little effort to remove. The new Tough E Mount screwed in easily without issue. I always like to turn the screws back a tiny bit just until they drop in as a precaution to avoid stripping btw (I'm sure most of you guys do this). Of course I also tightened them down bit by bit cross directionally from one another.
I then measured the thickness of the old Sony metal/ plastic sandwich mount. It seemed to actually show a bit more variability in flatness than the replacement mount (2.84 - 2.9). I do believe the new mount might be a fraction thinner than the original mount as installed, perhaps due to the greater variability in flatness with the plastic piece? I don't know (or maybe I just tightened the new one down more). I say this as one of my alt lenses + adapter would just previously barely hit infinity and now it goes ever so slightly past infinity.
Finally, I mounted a number of lenses+adapters on the new mount. At first I was very worried as the first lens I tried would not turn and click into place. I applied a little force and it finally mounted. The second time I mounted the same lens, it went on smoother. I had a similar experience with a few other lenses/ adapters. Some fit snug with no play at all, some have a tiny bit of rotational play. I'm fairly certain that's just due to the different adapters in use. It does appear though that the Tough E-Mount metal mount flange that holds a lens in place may need to be exercised or "broken-in" a bit.
Anyway, if I notice any issues in use, I will certainly let you guys know.
Tariq Gibran wrote:
I'm sure there are much better ways to measure more accurately and consistently using better tools. Nevertheless, I felt reasonably comfortable with the tolerance.
A clamping dial indicator is typically used to measure "run-out", or to measure variance in material thickness.
I'm interested in your observations after you've used the plate for a while. I was initially set to order the product, mainly because one thinks it's logical that metal has to be better than plastic. After reading Roger Cicala's comments, and the lack of "wobble" in my a7r I've used frequently for almost 1 year, I thought I might be "fixing" a problem that didn't exist, or worse, creating a problem.
Mine came today as well but I won't make the switch on the NEX-7 until this weekend when my neighbor finishes shooting his horror short for a class project. As DP, I feel it's best not to mess with the gear mid-shoot.
I only ordered it to eliminate the rotational play. Although not a big deal my previous Canon and Fuji had absolutely none. Do you have any rotational play with native lenses Tariq?
Sub Zero wrote:
I only ordered it to eliminate the rotational play. Although not a big deal my previous Canon and Fuji had absolutely none. Do you have any rotational play with native lenses Tariq?
I have no native lenses to test. Only alts and adapters.
