canon hd 6x zoom lense at DVinfo.net

Stan Nugent · June 8th, 2007, 05:08 AM

I have recently acquired a canon hd 6x zoom xl 3.4-20.4 L lens for my xl h1 camcorder. I can't get the macro side of it working. It won't focus close up to a subject. What am I doing wrong. Any ideas?

A. J. deLange · June 8th, 2007, 10:47 AM

There is a switch on the lens barrel that when set won't permit focus at closer than 1m in auto focus mode. This is to prevent it locking onto dust specks on the front element, water droplets on a UV filter etc. So make sure that switch is set to full focus range or be sure the lens is in manual focus mode. That's about all I can think of.

Stan Nugent · June 8th, 2007, 11:05 AM

A.J.

Have you used one of these lenses for macro work and if so what are the results like?

That switch you mention is the one that allows you to select from macro right through to infinity? I've set it at macro and put the camcorder into manual mode but it didn't focus up close.

Is there another switch I've missed? I am at work right now so I don't have the lense to hand at the minute.

Thanks for the help.
Stan

A. J. deLange · June 8th, 2007, 01:20 PM

Stan,

I'm also at work so can't go check anything but yes, that's the switch and yes, I did take one macro shot but have not done anything extensive in this mode. I'll play around with it some more this evening and see what I can find out.

A.J.

A. J. deLange · June 8th, 2007, 05:10 PM

OK. Here's the most important part. The minumum focus distance depends on the focal length setting. At widest focal length I can apparently focus down to a few centimeters. The EVF display minimum indication is 0.1 m (10 cm) and I am able to focus that close. At longer focal lengths the minumum indicated setting goes up to about .3 m. According to the sheet that came with the lens the minimum focal distance at the wide setting is 2 cm (.02 m) and I can do that (though the display says 0.1m. At the maximum focal length the sheet says 50 cm and that appears to be about the best I can do.

Stan Nugent · June 9th, 2007, 04:00 PM

A.J.

Thanks. I'll have another go at it.

Stan

Yeo Wee Han · June 9th, 2007, 08:24 PM

The focus limiter will also allow faster AF as the lens has a shorter "distance" to travel to acquire focus. And yes, the shorter focal lengths will allow a closer focusing distance.

Cheers

WeeHan

June 8th, 2007, 05:08 AM	#1
Stan Nugent New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13	canon hd 6x zoom lense I have recently acquired a canon hd 6x zoom xl 3.4-20.4 L lens for my xl h1 camcorder. I can't get the macro side of it working. It won't focus close up to a subject. What am I doing wrong. Any ideas?

June 8th, 2007, 10:47 AM	#2
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	There is a switch on the lens barrel that when set won't permit focus at closer than 1m in auto focus mode. This is to prevent it locking onto dust specks on the front element, water droplets on a UV filter etc. So make sure that switch is set to full focus range or be sure the lens is in manual focus mode. That's about all I can think of. Last edited by A. J. deLange; June 8th, 2007 at 10:49 AM. Reason: Improve awkward wording

June 8th, 2007, 11:05 AM	#3
Stan Nugent New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13	canon hd 6x A.J. Have you used one of these lenses for macro work and if so what are the results like? That switch you mention is the one that allows you to select from macro right through to infinity? I've set it at macro and put the camcorder into manual mode but it didn't focus up close. Is there another switch I've missed? I am at work right now so I don't have the lense to hand at the minute. Thanks for the help. Stan

June 8th, 2007, 01:20 PM	#4
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	Stan, I'm also at work so can't go check anything but yes, that's the switch and yes, I did take one macro shot but have not done anything extensive in this mode. I'll play around with it some more this evening and see what I can find out. A.J.

June 8th, 2007, 05:10 PM	#5
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	OK. Here's the most important part. The minumum focus distance depends on the focal length setting. At widest focal length I can apparently focus down to a few centimeters. The EVF display minimum indication is 0.1 m (10 cm) and I am able to focus that close. At longer focal lengths the minumum indicated setting goes up to about .3 m. According to the sheet that came with the lens the minimum focal distance at the wide setting is 2 cm (.02 m) and I can do that (though the display says 0.1m. At the maximum focal length the sheet says 50 cm and that appears to be about the best I can do.

June 9th, 2007, 04:00 PM	#6
Stan Nugent New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 13	A.J. Thanks. I'll have another go at it. Stan

June 9th, 2007, 08:24 PM	#7
Yeo Wee Han Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 155	The focus limiter will also allow faster AF as the lens has a shorter "distance" to travel to acquire focus. And yes, the shorter focal lengths will allow a closer focusing distance. Cheers WeeHan