Remote focus control?

RieniO

RieniO

Well-known member
Do remote focus controllers like for example the Varizoom VZ Rock PZFI work with the AF100 with Panasonic MFT lens on it?
 
Nope- as M4/3 lenses don't have power zoom motors there wouldn't be any point. You can create a mechanically actuated remote follow focus for many manual lens types though.

Noah
 
Actually they do - I've got a Bebob Foxi which works fine with Panasonic and Olympus M43 lenses, plus controls aperture on standard 4/3. Obviously no zoom control though, and to be honest UI stopped using the bebob after a couple of days as it's a bit of a waste of time - you may as well just operate the lens manually
 
Ok, I will go the mechanical way then. At least the focus distance feedback displayed in the LCD screen is very accurate and reliable so that helps.
 
electronic follow focus on AF100

electronic follow focus on AF100

I've used both the Bebob FOXI and the Manfrotto 521PFI to control focus and aperture on the AF100, generally with success. The lenses I've used are the 14-140, 100-300, 45, and 20mm Lumix lenses. The main issues so far are focus to infinity not working on the telephoto end of the 14-140 and buggy focus on the 20mm (very sensitive and sometimes going in the opposite direction on very tiny adjustments). Both of these might be fixed by better calibration, but I haven't been able to manage it yet. I also tried a 25mm Olympus standard 4/3 lens (with Olympus adapter) and, though able to control both focus and iris, I wasn't pleased with the amount of noise generated by the motor.

Whether you actually need one of these devices depends on your shooting situation, of course. I've found them helpful when operating a Fig Rig. Also, they are handy if you want an AC pulling focus.

I'm curious to see what Birger brings to the table with their Canon EF mount and remote focus option.
 
Thanks Bob I will look this up. I would like to try this for operating the cam when mounted on a tripod, either a mechanical or electronic control would improve operating for me. I am now turning the focus ring of the lens directly and that doesn't work perfectly always, I've even put a finger in front of lens during important shots a few times already :-) . Controlling iris on the camera directly isn't easy either since knob is on the front side, would love to have this near my side of the cam.
 
The FoXi can be used to control focus and iris; it has adjustable potentiometers you can use to adjust it to where it will reach infinity and full iris.

I wouldn't necessarily trust an HVX/HPX controller to reach infinity with all lenses. VariZoom is making one specifically for the AF100, which adds records start/stop capability and should presumably guarantee infinity/max telephoto with all lenses.
 
The remote is silent. The lens itself may or may not make noise when focusing; the 7-14 and 14-140 are silent when focusing.

The remotes are useful for focus on something like a steadicam or when the camera is mounted on a jib arm or something like that.
 
alimala said:
100-300, 45, and 20mm lumix lenses are also all silent. 25mm Olympus 4/3 with Olympus adapter was noisy.
Click to expand...

Really? I've got the 20mm pancake & and the 14-45 Lumix lenses & they both make a noticeable buzzing sound when they focus using the Foxi. It's something that definitely gets picked up on the internal mics, but could maybe be avoided if using a seperate boom mic, depending on how close the mic is to the lens. It's not outrageously loud, but i've noticed it in a recording using the internal mics when i tested it.

And I agree with Barry that something like this is better used for a Steadicam or Jib, where you simply don't have the option to use a normal follow focus. This is the only reason i've kept mine & didn't sell it along with my HVX. I don't know how much better they peform with the more expensive Lumix lenses, but I was disappointed with it on the 20mm & 14-45mm.
 
what about the noise in these lenses: PANA 14mm f2.5 & leica 45mm f2.8, oly 17mm f2.8? have any any one tried it with bebob or manfrotto? how noisy? and how easy to focus? would be great if some one could post a clip with sound while using bebob or manfrotto..... thanks in advance!
 
I have the Manfrotto PFI521 and a range of lumix lenses, the 20mm / 14-140mm / 45-200mm. I love the manfrotto its my main focusing method ...noise wise ..there is none... silent operation.
The one thing I have noticed i focus using peaking i have the EVF setup as Barry's book suggested (B&W with red edging for focus), sometimes the peaking does not agree with the focus distance readout on the LCD with respect to the distance to the object I'm filming.
I follow the peaking reasoning the distance indication for these mapped lenses is only a courtesy indication.
 
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