C100: Conflicting messages about Canon PZ E1 and C100?

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
Hi all:

I find it interesting that with the third iteration of Canon's 18-135 STM IS lens, the newest model with the NANO technology, Canon showed that lens off with the PZ E1 servo unit in the press, at shows, etc. But all of the press kept saying that it was only usable with the new lens (Understood, it needs the multi-pin connector) and with the 80D camera. I found this from several sources, yet I also found an English gentleman demonstrating the same lens and unit on a C100 MKII https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQjJ7v1BX4s It seems, at this time, the PZ E1 unit isn't available anyway, which is curious since it is September and Canon was showing it off at the beginning of the year, but does anyone definitively know of the new 18-135 STM IS NANO lens, when paired with the PZ E1, will work on the EOS C line of cameras? Is fo, this could be an interesting development for those who cannot afford the $6k plus for the 18-80 and servo unit but desire a servo controlled lens. $600.00 for the lens and $150.oo for the PZ E1 is an interesting price point for the ability to power zoom at two speeds.
 
At least I have been told that it will work with the C line. I am waiting to test it with c300 when it is available.
 
The extent the remote control (zoom) would spread over the camera range is not known yet, I thought. It's a simple matter though to re-issue the firmware and WiFi GUI for the Cinema series. Personally, I'm not intrigued at all by this product or the intent of use. I dig servo-zoom in principle but seeing how anyone can couple a motor to the zoom ring on any lens as it is, why constrain yourself to (1) Canon brand glass, (2) just one lens offering (current) and (3) local power (AA batteries? Consumer-grade!)
 
control4userguy said:
The extent the remote control (zoom) would spread over the camera range is not known yet, I thought. It's a simple matter though to re-issue the firmware and WiFi GUI for the Cinema series. Personally, I'm not intrigued at all by this product or the intent of use. I dig servo-zoom in principle but seeing how anyone can couple a motor to the zoom ring on any lens as it is, why constrain yourself to (1) Canon brand glass, (2) just one lens offering (current) and (3) local power (AA batteries? Consumer-grade!)
Click to expand...

Simple, it's cheap. I agree, it's easy to mate any third party servo control and or focus control to any lens, but then you are losing DPAF. Those setups are for operators who have an AC or two pulling focus, not for most medium level production. This 18-135 STM IS Nano and PZ E1 setup isn't intended for filmmakers and cinematographers who have decent budgets, I am thinking it is merely a guerilla/hacked/cheap way to get a servo lens onto a pro camera while keeping DPAF/face tracking, etc. That's it. I would much rather buy the 18-80 CN-E servo lens and be done with it but Canon keeps delaying releasing it and even when they do, it is only T4, which is fine for some of my work and useless for other projects I shoot. The 18-135 STM IS Nano is a lackluster, slow lens, but it does have the latest USM and IS technology in it and there have been subtle hints that Canon is interested in bringing out new versions of other, more interesting, faster STM IS EOS lenses to the market that would also work with this PZ E1 unit. They see the writing on the wall and I predict that within a year or two, we may have a whole line of EOS glass like the 18-80, designed for video, but not at Canon Cine prices. Canon Cine glass is excellent, but the zooms are big, heavy and expensive, not really practical for the doc/event/BTS/EPK shooter.
 
Funny, I have a power-zoom 18-135STM working on a C100/2 with AF/Face Detection in full operation. That's it, done. I too am patiently waiting for the 18-80 like every one else... And, I agree with you, Canon should expand on the lower-cost tier cine servos. This is where we should be, not with some cousin Jeb-caliber camera gear.
 
If there was a firmware upgrade that allowed C-cameras to control the 18-135 servo-zoom with the camera's jog-wheel, like the 18-80 with the C300II, that would be cool.
 
^I don't see that as a good solution. The current "Iris" wheel on a 100 is not step-less. Utilizing only existing controls found on the current grip, I'd say the best control (and this isn't saying much) is the joystick. Again, Canon envisions control only through the camera- not at the camera.
 
Yeah, I meant the joystick. Jog-wheel, Joy stick, joy wheel, jog stick.

Anyway, I've tested the C300II / 18-80 combo at NAB, controlling the servo with the joystick, and it felt really good, like a natural way to shoot. The speed of the servo could be changed from fast to super slow in the menu, which could make it really useful even for people like me who don't like obvious servo shots. The super slow speed can go so slow that you hardly notice it, but it's makes static shots just a little more vibrant, like a slight pan would.

Anyway, would be cool if you could do that with the 18-135, but you can't. Yet.
 
New 70-300 seems to work exactly the same
http://www.canonrumors.com/capture-...ew-canon-ef-70-300mm-f4-5-5-6-is-ii-usm-lens/

It seems another great leans .
Features for the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM lens include:

  • High-speed autofocus for shooting stills and smooth, near-silent autofocus when shooting video is achieved by incorporating NANO USM technology.
  • New Lens Information Display shows focusing distance, focal length and shake amount.
  • One UD Lens helps reduce chromatic aberration and delivers outstanding high resolution and high-contrast results.
  • Image Stabilizer effect at up-to-4* stops of shake correction helps capture sharp images.
  • Circular aperture (9 blades) helps deliver beautiful, soft backgrounds.
  • Full-time manual focus allows manual focus adjustment while in AF Mode.
 
tom1 said:
New 70-300 seems to work exactly the same
http://www.canonrumors.com/capture-...ew-canon-ef-70-300mm-f4-5-5-6-is-ii-usm-lens/

It seems another great leans .
Features for the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM lens include:

  • High-speed autofocus for shooting stills and smooth, near-silent autofocus when shooting video is achieved by incorporating NANO USM technology.
  • New Lens Information Display shows focusing distance, focal length and shake amount.
  • One UD Lens helps reduce chromatic aberration and delivers outstanding high resolution and high-contrast results.
  • Image Stabilizer effect at up-to-4* stops of shake correction helps capture sharp images.
  • Circular aperture (9 blades) helps deliver beautiful, soft backgrounds.
  • Full-time manual focus allows manual focus adjustment while in AF Mode.
Click to expand...

They don't explicitly say this lens is compatible with the PZ E1 but it should be based upon similar tech to the 18-135 STM IS NANO. But it has to have that multi-pin connector.
 
control4userguy said:
Did you try it with the dedicated grip? This is what I plan to use if & when it hits the streets.
Click to expand...

Yeah and it functioned pretty much like any servo zoom rocker. I don't know if you can adjust speed in the menu, though, like you can if you use the joystick to control zoom.
 
^Hard to tell from the brochure photos. No physical buttons for speed change and I don't see a switch for zoom/iris. I don't think that software control alone would be wise but Canon seems to think we all work with a crew. Has anyone else laid hands on this lens? For those who now use motors on still lens, this could be the start of the end of much equipment hanging off the rig.
 
Just received a notice from Adorama that they got in a few PZ E1 units if anyone wants to give it a try? I have other things (lenses, gimbal, new gimbal cam, etc.) to buy at this moment for a shoot next week so it can't be me. If I already had the 18-135 STM IS NANO, I would jump on it but I only have the older version that came with my C100 kit so I would have to buy not only the PZ E1 to just try it out, I would have to buy another 18-135 STM IS lens, just to get the NANO feature and connector. No can do right now.
 
Eesh... I would be up to trying. My current 18-135STM is a good one so I'd hate to get a "tail-end" example of the new one. But, I think the two-speed zoom w/creeper gear I'd use.
 
^Certainly. I would start a new thread but I doubt a majority of pros care two bits about this particular lens. Only rationale for starting a thread here might be that I would be attaching it to a C100. Otherwise, I'd go over to Canonrumors and post.

Incredible! I just learned that my 35 f/1.4 II L lens, that I loaned out last Friday, was stolen on a job site. Now, the 18-135 is a "no can do" for me also.
 
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Reviving an old thread - sorry - wondering if anyone got the PZ-E1 working on a C100 mk II with the new 18-135 USM Nano zoom yet? I already have the 18-135 STM, but have a good home for it, and am interested in this combo. Anyone try it out on a C100 II?
 
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