Zoom ring is sticking... Help!

THX1138

THX1138

Well-known member
Hi everyone.

I'm running around South America in the jungle and the mountains shooting a bunch of stuff and have come across a problem in the past 3 days.
Suddenly my zoom ring is "sticking". It's almost as though something got inside and it's getting hung up like it's hitting sticky spots.
I can still shoot, of course, but it's a real pain in the ass. Happens on manual and servo.

Any thoughts on what I can do? Can I disassemble that part of the camera myself and have a look inside to try to fix it?

Otherwise, the camera's been a workhorse! It has never failed me for a second in the coldest or most humid conditions.

thanks for any help,
travis
 
Sounds like a contamination problem. I don't know that I would recommend attempting a field repair while running around the "jungle" (must be a pretty cool jungle with Internet connectivity):grin: .

You could attempt using a compressed air stream to see if you can dislodge the obstruction, but I doubt that it will help (and could in fact make it worse). If you can still shoot, then I wouldn't do anything. Besides, you shouldn't be using the zoom when shooting (bad technique) anyway!
 
Thanks for your advice, khmuse.

You'd be surprised about internet in some places, but it is limited for sure. But, yes, some lodges deep in the amazon jungles have connectivity for researchers.

I have to disagree about zooms being bad technique. Not at all, in my opinion. Some of my favorite work in older films uses zooms. And look at the great stuff Raimi does with them!
The zoom has definitely come back into fashion in recent years, mostly as a throwback to the '70's. I dig it!

travis
 
Travis the best way to field strip the DVX and remove an obstruction is here:

(I DO NOT recommend doing this if at all possible, this is a last resort)

Earlier post: "For some reason, that has been a very common damage to the DVX. IF you are mechanically inclined like Barry suggested, the procedure is simple, but I would still have him walk you through it. I did it for free several times for some of my customers who were off-warranty / broke / unable to part with their camera. At first, 2 hrs., now it takes me 15 minutes. I remove the front matte plate screws with a small philips screw driver, then the focus assembly's 4 screws with a longer screw driver. Then I carefully remove the assembly, paying CLOSE attention to the delicate focus data cable inside. I remove 4 screws inside, and place them aside. Then I remove the zoom ring. Once that is off, I can see if there is a piece of dirt or grime there. I clean it with a non-linting swab, and then put the zoom ring back on. Then I dust off the whole thing with CO2, replace the screws, then the matte plate, and done. Again, I stress that it is a risk to do this, because you may damage the lens glass, focus cable, focus gear teeth, etc... So I encourage to send it in for repair. Digitron has done it in the past for customers for a couple hundred dollars. Good luck."

And when you get back to the states give these guys a call, have them do a cleaning and a lens alignment:

Digitron Electronics
7801 E. Telegraph Rd.
Montebello, Ca. 90640
323-887-0777
(Attn. Simon)
 
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