Optics made for movies

Although not normally a problem for stills, optical issues such as focus breathing, focus shift, and axial shift when zooming can make moving images unattractive or even unusable. E-mount lenses inherited technology from our professional camcorders to ensure that these problems don’t occur.

Smooth, quiet iris control

Smooth, quiet equipment operation is essential for high-quality movie making. A noisy lens iris (aperture) can be troublesome, so E-mount lenses are built with iris actuators and mechanisms that have been painstakingly designed for quiet, precise operation. Constant-aperture zoom lenses are an advantage too, eliminating the need for iris or ISO changes when zooming.

Silent, precise focus

Focusing, whether manual or automatic, is another function that can degrade movie quality if not quiet and smooth. Sony carefully selects and implements advanced actuators to ideally match individual functions. Contactless linear actuators with no noisy gears or couplings, for example, can achieve smooth, quiet, precise focus.

Superb balance and handling

Some full-frame E-mount lenses with electronic focus control feature carefully designed control systems that provide responsive, lag-free manual focusing. Many E-mount lenses also employ inner focus and inner zoom mechanisms that keep the physical length of the lens constant while focusing or zooming, for consistent balance and handling that contribute to easier, more stable operation in any shooting situation.