Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 at DVinfo.net

Tim Cannon · February 22nd, 2017, 01:14 PM

I am a newbie here so please bear with me. Just got a Canon C100 for my non-profit. I noticed it doesn't have an automated zoom control like traditional camcorders so you can ease in and out when shooting. Is there any 3rd party accessories or methods that you can add to get this feature? Thanks in advance.

Pete Cofrancesco · February 22nd, 2017, 10:59 PM

I have good and bad news for you. First the good, yes Canon sells a servo lens for the c100. Now for the bad... it costs $31,000 . https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ine_servo.html

The Cinema line is intended for static shots like interviews where there is no zooming. The Sony Fs7 with the kit lens would be a more appropriate choice. On a tight budget you'll need to do without zooming.

Seth Bloombaum · February 22nd, 2017, 11:41 PM

There is also the very new Canon 18-80mm that is getting some good reviews from early users, at a mere $5,200:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...act_servo.html
I think it's only fully compatible with the C100 MkII.

Mark Dobson · February 23rd, 2017, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Cannon

I am a newbie here so please bear with me. Just got a Canon C100 for my non-profit. I noticed it doesn't have an automated zoom control like traditional camcorders so you can ease in and out when shooting. Is there any 3rd party accessories or methods that you can add to get this feature? Thanks in advance.

Yes you can buy the very reasonably priced Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens ( about £400 here in the UK ). This has a zoom servo attachment, the Canon PZ1, which attaches underneath and is powered by batteries. Not used it myself bit have seen examples on line and it seems a very smooth zoom. Again not very expensive.

The next step up from this as pointed out by Seth Bloombaum is the Canon 18-80mm.

Josh Bass · February 23rd, 2017, 05:30 PM

isnt there a standalone zoom mechanism you could mount on rails like a follow focus or something, that would work with any lens, with a rocker control that mounts on a tripod arm? there has to be.

Jim Andrada · February 23rd, 2017, 10:51 PM

It isn't as automated as I would like, but I think the autofocus on my C100 is good enough that I use my manual follow focus to operate the zoom and let the camera take care of the focusing. Works just fine for what I do, Might not work for everybody but I think it's a step up from rotating the zoom ring directly by hand. It gives me reasonably smooth zooms when the camera is on a tripod or monopod, which for me is almost always.

Josh Bass · February 24th, 2017, 06:13 AM

I did think of that too. havent tried it yet with mine.

Vince Baker · March 3rd, 2017, 09:39 AM

Fully agree with Jim, works really well in this configuration. I have had some great results with the follow focus used as a zoom control. The 55-250 STM is much smoother zooming than the 18-135 STM, however works for both (I have a few of each and found the same stickiness on all the 18-135s, but you can live with it).

Jim Andrada · March 9th, 2017, 02:15 AM

Next challenge will be trying the FF as zoom control on my 150-600 Sigma lens (with 2X extender). I've been playing with the lens on my C100 (well, maybe it's a case of having the C100 on the lens rather than the lens on the C100!) and now just have to work out a secure way of putting the rails on the lens's mounting foo..

Josh Bass · March 9th, 2017, 05:08 PM

Many folks get a base plate that mounts on the bottom of the cam that can accommodate rails. Then you leave those on all the time, don't mess with the lens mounting feet at all (take the collar off, even), use a rails-based lens support for the heavier lenses instead. Makes it easier to switch out lenses and you can always mount stuff on the rails no matter what lens.

Jim Andrada · March 10th, 2017, 12:40 AM

I'd thought about that but was concerned about side to side support for the lens while carrying it. I looked at this one

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...C&A=details&Q=

and it seems to have a provision for securing the lens to the support.

Jim Andrada · March 10th, 2017, 06:12 PM

FInally settled on this one - it would give me the option of using it either fastened to the bottom of the lens foot or without the foot. Should have it to try next week.

February 22nd, 2017, 01:14 PM	#1
Tim Cannon Tourist Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 1	Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 I am a newbie here so please bear with me. Just got a Canon C100 for my non-profit. I noticed it doesn't have an automated zoom control like traditional camcorders so you can ease in and out when shooting. Is there any 3rd party accessories or methods that you can add to get this feature? Thanks in advance.

February 22nd, 2017, 10:59 PM	#2
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 I have good and bad news for you. First the good, yes Canon sells a servo lens for the c100. Now for the bad... it costs $31,000 . https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ine_servo.html The Cinema line is intended for static shots like interviews where there is no zooming. The Sony Fs7 with the kit lens would be a more appropriate choice. On a tight budget you'll need to do without zooming. Last edited by Pete Cofrancesco; February 23rd, 2017 at 06:51 PM.

February 22nd, 2017, 11:41 PM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 There is also the very new Canon 18-80mm that is getting some good reviews from early users, at a mere $5,200: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...act_servo.html I think it's only fully compatible with the C100 MkII. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

February 23rd, 2017, 05:30 PM	#5
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 isnt there a standalone zoom mechanism you could mount on rails like a follow focus or something, that would work with any lens, with a rocker control that mounts on a tripod arm? there has to be. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

February 23rd, 2017, 10:51 PM	#6
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 It isn't as automated as I would like, but I think the autofocus on my C100 is good enough that I use my manual follow focus to operate the zoom and let the camera take care of the focusing. Works just fine for what I do, Might not work for everybody but I think it's a step up from rotating the zoom ring directly by hand. It gives me reasonably smooth zooms when the camera is on a tripod or monopod, which for me is almost always.

February 24th, 2017, 06:13 AM	#7
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 I did think of that too. havent tried it yet with mine. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

March 3rd, 2017, 09:39 AM	#8
Vince Baker Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 118	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 Fully agree with Jim, works really well in this configuration. I have had some great results with the follow focus used as a zoom control. The 55-250 STM is much smoother zooming than the 18-135 STM, however works for both (I have a few of each and found the same stickiness on all the 18-135s, but you can live with it). __________________ capture it as it happens...with motion and sound. http://www.creative-films.net

March 9th, 2017, 02:15 AM	#9
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 Next challenge will be trying the FF as zoom control on my 150-600 Sigma lens (with 2X extender). I've been playing with the lens on my C100 (well, maybe it's a case of having the C100 on the lens rather than the lens on the C100!) and now just have to work out a secure way of putting the rails on the lens's mounting foo..

March 9th, 2017, 05:08 PM	#10
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 Many folks get a base plate that mounts on the bottom of the cam that can accommodate rails. Then you leave those on all the time, don't mess with the lens mounting feet at all (take the collar off, even), use a rails-based lens support for the heavier lenses instead. Makes it easier to switch out lenses and you can always mount stuff on the rails no matter what lens. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

March 10th, 2017, 12:40 AM	#11
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 I'd thought about that but was concerned about side to side support for the lens while carrying it. I looked at this one https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...C&A=details&Q= and it seems to have a provision for securing the lens to the support.

March 10th, 2017, 06:12 PM	#12
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Re: Automated Zoom Controls for Canon C100 FInally settled on this one - it would give me the option of using it either fastened to the bottom of the lens foot or without the foot. Should have it to try next week.