Canon 24-105L How to control a slow zoom?

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Phalynx

Active member
I have the 24-105 and I have tried numerous methods to try and get a nice slow zoom and just can't seem to get it. What do you use or what would you recommend to control it? I have a follow focus with the zip clamp type gear and it just seems too fast to be able to get a slow zoom. Thoughts?
 
Probably not what you want to hear, but it is a still lens that was never designed or intended to do what you are wanting to do(not hating on the lens, I have one and it's very useful, but...). If you really need to do that move, I'd suggest renting a true (cine) zoom designed for "live zooming" or maybe one of the myriad of still lens modded to a "cine lens" that may be able to accomplish the task.
 
I was holding that in the back of my head as the probable reason... I was hoping it was not the case. I am hoping that using a special gear and such could allow it to be smoother.
 
Put a motor on it, not a follow focus. The Preston Microforce controller is what we use on projects with a real budget, but there might be cheaper solutions.
 
If not a motor, then you could a) get a larger focus ring gear and b) larger gear for the follow focus itself. Not sure if it would be slow enough, though.
 
I was starting to think last night if I could use the follow focus and attach a very long stick to the end, I could pull it down slowly and because I would be covering a long distance, maybe it would slow it down and keep it smooth.
 
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