You can get some really nice PL-mount cinema lenses on the used market for reasonable prices. Well, reasonable by professional cinema lens standards, anyway. But then you’ll need an adapter for your camera’s mount and you won’t get autofocus. The Viltrox NexusFocus F1 solves both problems, adapting PL-mount lenses to Sony E-mount cameras and adding native autofocus.
This will only work with Sony camera bodies that have the E-mount for lenses. Luckily, there are some very popular cameras that qualify, such as the Sony a7series and Sony FX3. The Viltrox NexusFocus F1 acts as an adapter between the E-mount on the body and the PL-mount on the lens. But unlike the standard adapters, which you can get for $25-600, this also adds autofocus.
You can control the focusing system through a remote control, through an app, or through the camera’s onboard system. This works with Sony’s PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus), which is very good and doesn’t have the limitations of lidar-based external systems. There also AI-based facial recognition and tracking features, if that is something that interests you.
Setting up the NexusFocus E1 does require that you calibrate the system for the lens you’re using, so it knows how to move the focus ring. And you will need a gear ring to each lens you want to use, with two coming in the kit. You will also need to attach the motor, but you get two of those, too.
But the benefit seems worthwhile, because you can ultimately save money by purchasing top-notch PL-mount lenses. On the used market, those are more affordable than “equivalent” (or as close as you can get) E-mount lenses. Considering we’re talking about lenses that can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to several tens of thousands of dollars, that isn’t anything to scoff at.
The Viltrox NexusFocus F1 Kickstarter campaign will run until February 14th and early birds can get the complete kit for about $808. Rewards should ship in March.