Zoom Controls

M

my pink steez

New member
hello. so basically this, we just bought t HVX's for our small television show quilt in a day which airs on pbs. we have made the switch from betacam. our only issue is this, our zoom control (verizoom) is pretty iffy. betacam zooms were great, had a fluid motion, and didnt have a jump into it. now, with the controls we are using now, the zoom starts to sudden and seems to jump into it. even when practicing it doesnt seem to be smooth enough.

what are suggestions? whats the best zoom control handle we can get? any setting adjustments?

- kris
 
there are no tools to help that jump. It is just the zoom motor wich starts at a certain speed. I tried a couple of zoom controls and even the best start with a jump.
Some lenses for the betacam camera's cost as much as the HVX because of its good zoom motor etc.
 
Well the betacam had better lens motors. Also, I had a Zoe for my DVX and hated it. It had a nice build quality but otherwise didn't seem to work right. I tried out the varizoom on my HVX and it was so so. I think this is just the nature of "built in" lenses on the DVX/HVX. These are FANTASTIC cameras for the money, but the lenses need 3 things :

1) Pro quality servo motors that "creep" up like pro lenses.

2) A TRUE manual focus ring with markings.

3) MACRO.

Now don't go attacking me saying these would drive costs WAY up. because thats a bunch of bull. Macro would be easy, even on these cameras, you just have the rear element move with a little lever. The other options may cost a little more but it's not like curing cancer or solving mid-east peace...... Just my 2 pennies worth.
 
Which Varizoom lens controller do you have?

I just received a Varizoom VZ-Rock-PZFI today, and I have no complaints about the smoothness. The only thing that irritates me is that the rocker switch has a large dead zone which produces no response -- in my opinion it should respond sooner. Once it does respond, it is smooth.
 
the zoom controller has nothing to do with the "jump" in zooming, it is the motor in the camera that kicks on and off at that speed, its a small problem dvx/hvx's have. take that my pink steez, snurf snurf. ps we should hook up some time if you know what i mean. :love4:
 
HVX has 4 speeds

HVX has 4 speeds

The HVX has only 4 speeds. There is nothing you can do to improve zoom speed via remote through the existing control port.

Tom

my pink steez said:
hello. so basically this, we just bought t HVX's for our small television show quilt in a day which airs on pbs. we have made the switch from betacam. our only issue is this, our zoom control (verizoom) is pretty iffy. betacam zooms were great, had a fluid motion, and didnt have a jump into it. now, with the controls we are using now, the zoom starts to sudden and seems to jump into it. even when practicing it doesnt seem to be smooth enough.

what are suggestions? whats the best zoom control handle we can get? any setting adjustments?

- kris
Click to expand...
 
I realize the motor is what moves the lenses.

But it only responds to the signals sent to it by the camera in response to input from the built-in zoom switches or an external lens controller that plugs into the appropriate port. A difference in how the switches work or the signal they send could result in different zoom behavior.
 
THoff said:
I realize the motor is what moves the lenses.

But it only responds to the signals sent to it by the camera in response to input from the built-in zoom switches or an external lens controller that plugs into the appropriate port. A difference in how the switches work or the signal they send could result in different zoom behavior.
Click to expand...
Nope. The servo in the HVX is not capable of the variable speeds found in Pro style lenses. It has set speeds that cannot ramp up/down like pro lenses. It comes down to money, and this is an area where Panasonic chose to skimp. Having said that, most feature films/episodics do not "zoom". Your eye does not zoom. This camera was marketed to the indy community so I think having a good servo on the lens was not a priority. I still think Panasonic should address this with something better .
 
Sorry, I'm still not making myself clear.

What I'm trying to say is that the Varizoom behaves no different from the built-in zoom controls. The OP reported problems with the Varizoom, and the results he's getting should be no different than the results he gets from the rocker switch on the camera.

Incidentally, I find manual zooming to produce worse results than the servo zoom controls -- the cam seems to have some slack, or may I just need to practice more.
 
So I'm sitting here reading this and thinking to myself, "I've never experienced that problem." But then again, maybe I just haven't been paying attention?

So, what the heck . . . pulled out my HVX (nothing better to do a 2:30am). Turned it on and plugged in my Libec ZC-3DV zoom control for a quick couple of laps. I also have the BeBob FOXI remote focus/iris control, but went with the LIBEC for zoom (don't ask why cause I can't remember).

Ran a quick test. My results were inconsistant with what you guys are saying here . . . I'll take no issue with all that technical mumbo-jumbo, because I can barely understand it anyway.

But, I'm not seeing any "jump" into the zoom. It is a variable device and I can certainly go full speed ahead and perform a fast zoom (in or out), but also without exercising undue care I am seeing a smooth transition from stop to go, or vice versa at the slowest speeds. No doubt a Betacam might do a better job, but I take certain issue with the "it's an HVX issue."

Not trying to be confrontational here--I have a lot of respect for you folks and don't wish to step on anyones toes (at least on this issue). Might I suggest that someone else who has, or has access to the LIBEC give it a try and see if I'm crazy or if they are able to get the remote zoom to perform as I did?

Peace.
 
tco said:
Nope. The servo in the HVX is not capable of the variable speeds found in Pro style lenses. It has set speeds that cannot ramp up/down like pro lenses. It comes down to money, and this is an area where Panasonic chose to skimp. Having said that, most feature films/episodics do not "zoom". Your eye does not zoom. This camera was marketed to the indy community so I think having a good servo on the lens was not a priority. I still think Panasonic should address this with something better .
Click to expand...

Youre right about the zoom and filmmaking but Panasonic also aims at the ENG market therfore they also made a Newsgamma. So for ENG news or documantary you sometimes need zoom.
 
On the DVX, the jump in the zoom would noticably occur when changing zoom direction. In other words, after just zooming out, engaging the zoom to zoom in would cause a quick but noticeable jump in the servo.

I have been able to perform great variable (at least it seems that way) zooms with a Manfrotto Zoom and S/S controller. Not sure if it's truly variable or just several steps of speed in between creep and full speed.

I haven't tried this on the HVX yet but I imagine it's the same.
 
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