manual iris problem

[0boolean1]

I'm coming to the XDCAM EX from still photography, so some of the not-quite-manual features of prosumer video cameras are a bit foreign to me.

that said, I love my new camera. I went ahead and set the iris and focus knobs on body of the camera to their manual settings. when I try to open and close the iris though, I get a bit of resistance as if there is a motor still trying to power the thing. it basically feels the same as trying to manually focus an auto-focus SLR lens.

is there a setting I'm missing here?

thanks very much,
aemilia

[matthew77]

Make sure the IRIS switch on the side of the lens is set to manual.

Amd make sure that the FULL AUTO button on the side of the camera is NOT lit (green light off).

[rainermann]

Hi
I have the same problem here. All settungs full manual but sometimes the iris doesn't want to be moved... Also an iris problem at my EX: In iris auto mode, it perfectly opens the iris, but closing is so slow, sometimes the automatic needs minutes (!) to close it to the right position. Mostly it stops at a too much open aperture.

[0boolean1]

nope, everything on the lens is set manually.
iris at manual
focus at manual
zoom at manual

I don't know if it makes sense the kind of resistance I'm talking about. anyone who has tried to manually focus a lens set to auto knows what I'm talking about. I'm worried that if I keep manhandling the iris, I'll burn out its little gears or whatnot.

cheers,
aemilia

[matthew77]

Sounds like you both have problems with your cameras.

Full Auto button is definitely off?

The iris ring turns very smoothly in manual. There is no active motor resistance and it doesn't even feel like you are "backdriving" a motor/gearbox. Feels like a full manual motion picture lens (if a bit cheaper feeling).

[basspig]

If I recall accurately, you almost can't turn the iris ring when it's in auto--the resistance is great enough to trigger the "this might break if I force it" thought.
You will notice it takes about an ounce of force to turn the iris ring in manual mode and there was, as I recall, a slight gear detent resistance to the rotation of the ring. It was definately NOT smooth like the focus or zoom rings in manual.

[matthew77]

Here's something that may help:

My iris feels identical in manual as it does when the camera is completely powered off. Try comparing them - if they feel different then something's up with your camera.

Probably something software related.

[0boolean1]

Thanks for everyone's prompt advice. I really appreciate it.

The answer is that the lens feels the same when the camera is powered off as it does when in manual. and, as matthew and basspig said, there is a certain amount of resistance that is less than when the iris is in auto mode.

so I guess I should get used to that feeling, right? that said, when I rotate the iris quickly, I get a sound that makes me feel like there is gear resistance. I suppose it won't damage the ring in the long term.

aemilia

[basspig]

That sounds normal, though it's more of a sensation you feel with your fingers than an audible sound (unless you're turning the ring rapidly). It's definately not a smooth rotational action, but it's normal.

[Adam Forgione]

i had a moment where my iris was locked in full manual, i freaked out cause i had to start filming. i closed the lens cap and put it to auto forcing it to close, them swirtched it to manual, then it worked. this only happened once, but im concerned

[Carl Marxx]

I'm coming to the XDCAM EX from still photography, so some of the not-quite-manual features of prosumer video cameras are a bit foreign to me.

that said, I love my new camera. I went ahead and set the iris and focus knobs on body of the camera to their manual settings. when I try to open and close the iris though, I get a bit of resistance as if there is a motor still trying to power the thing. it basically feels the same as trying to manually focus an auto-focus SLR lens.

is there a setting I'm missing here?

thanks very much,
aemilia

Turn off your auto iris switch in manual mode, It turn like butter!

[Carl Marxx]

Turn off your Iris switch in Manual Mode, the iris ring will turn like butter!