F55: How to Calibrate Canon 17-120?

Run&Gun

Run&Gun

Veteran
While not really a specific F55 question, I figured this was a good place to ask it. For those of you that own or have used the Canon Cine Servo 17-120, how do you "calibrate" the zoom servos after you have removed the grip and then reattached it? I have one as a demo and of course it doesn't have a manual with it. Canon says that you shouldn't need to calibrate it after reattaching the grip, but one review I read, the reviewer said he had the exact same issue- the lens would not zoom past 50mm with the servos after removing then reattaching the grip. He also said there is a simple procedure laid out in the manual on how to calibrate it with the menu system in the grip. BUT, of course, he doesn't tell you how and I have not been able to find a copy of the manual on-line from the Canon sites and Google hasn't turned up anything except the sales brochures. I did find an "auto adjust" setting in the Canon menu, but it doesn't appear to do anything. I select it, choose Y and then it asks me to check SERVO/MANUAL and that's it. No other choices. If you push the joystick in, it just exits and pushing any other function buttons don't appear to have any effect, either. One other thing, every time the lens is powered up(since I received it) the screen on the grip displays an error message to the effect of there's an error between the grip and lens, but it seemed to work fine(it zoomed through the whole range and i could trigger record start/stop from the grip).

Canon CN7x17 with IBE UMS PL mount (passes data and power)
Sony F55 with PL mount
Lens interface set to "C"

Thanks

*UPDATE*

Spoke to Canon Cinema(forgot they have 24/7 support) and got it straightened out. I was on the right track with the ADJUST menu item, BUT you have to have the ZOOM and FOCUS set to SERVO and IRIS set to AUTO(I only had the zoom set to servo). Then choose Y on auto adjust and it will run through and calibrate.
 
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I am jealous of the focal range and servo but not the weight!

Lovely getting to shoot with a real zoom lens, isn't it? I shot with a rented Cabrio a while back and it was a joy compared to the EF nonsense. Same lens, all day long. One lens that fulfills your every need. Zoom celibacy. Imagine that. Or, if you have been around long enough, recall that.
 
JP, it is nice having a real zoom lens again and YES, it is heavy(I always thought my Fuji W/A's were heavy, but they're feathers in comparison). And the weight distribution makes it worse. The bulk of the lens weight is at the front of the lens. So you have a front heavy, heavy lens on a relatively light weight camera(F55), so you're fighting it by having to push up and try to have the camera as far back on your shoulder as possible(which puts your arm/hand in a bad spot. My hand started going numb very quickly). Even though the overall weight is less than my VariCam, it's still a lot more fatiguing to shoot with because of the balance. BUT still much better(for the most part) than dealing with a still lens if you need a zoom.

Overall, I like the lens... But do I like it $33K worth...?

Ryman, thank you for the link. I saved the PDF on my iPad.
 
Best way I have found to balance the 17x120 on my 55 is with the Arri Broadcast plate and Ergocine handles. With the Arri plate, it is the lightest plate available, without being a huge block of aluminum and you can move the camera very far back if needed. Then I add my Ergocine grips where it's comfortable. Sits perfectly balanced on shoulder no numb hands.
 
My solution was to buy an easy rig.. ! or without the rig I how have a 5.5 tv logic hanging off the back.. helps to balance ..yes I switch it on too :) I think the zacuto universal plate is the best for getting the camera way back
 
Jason Davenport said:
Best way I have found to balance the 17x120 on my 55 is with the Arri Broadcast plate and Ergocine handles. With the Arri plate, it is the lightest plate available, without being a huge block of aluminum and you can move the camera very far back if needed. Then I add my Ergocine grips where it's comfortable. Sits perfectly balanced on shoulder no numb hands.
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That was something I tried too, and it did help a lot. I just wish David made a grip that was a little bigger and had a zoom rocker. Wonder if he could…?

I played around with it on my 55 a little more today before I had to ship it back and pulled out one of my VariCams for the heck of it. It was crazy how good my big 'ole Vari felt on my shoulder. It just sat there. The best way I can describe it was like being on the road and sleeping in hotel beds and then coming home and and crashing in YOUR bed.

Now comes the hard part: Deciding to buy one or not...
 
Run&Gun said:
That was something I tried too, and it did help a lot. I just wish David made a grip that was a little bigger and had a zoom rocker. Wonder if he could…?

I played around with it on my 55 a little more today before I had to ship it back and pulled out one of my VariCams for the heck of it. It was crazy how good my big 'ole Vari felt on my shoulder. It just sat there. The best way I can describe it was like being on the road and sleeping in hotel beds and then coming home and and crashing in YOUR bed.

Now comes the hard part: Deciding to buy one or not...
Click to expand...

That dream is over.....:0 We must now accessorize and put cinder blocks with glass on our shoulders...

I think is a good investment, Super 35 sensors will be here for a while and that lens will hold value over time. The biggest thing is, no more still lens BS. Plus it's a more lucrative. That added rental rate will up your package value. :D

P.S. I bet if you ask he could easily size up the hand grip a bit for you. It's mostly a CNC set-up that can probably be scaled up.
 
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