NX5U: how is it with extremely slow zooms? at DVinfo.net

John Vasey · March 17th, 2010, 09:48 PM

Today I was in a showroom playing with the EX1-R and was surprised to learn that its ability to zoom very slowly, at a creep, was not possible using the zoom rocker on the wrist ...there was a stuttering problem and it was surprising to see this as a sporadic known issue with the EX1R and EX3 (confirmed by other internet blogs).

I am hoping that for the NX5U that the user reports are more friendly. When you do a talking head interview, there are those moments where you want to zoom in or out in a barely perceptible way. On the $6,000 EX1R this would not be possible using that wrist rocker if you ended up with one of those affected models.

What are user experiences with the NX5U zoom? Both using the rocker and doing it manually?

Can you get a buttery smooth zoom or does it fall a bit short?

Thanks,

John

Adam Welz · March 18th, 2010, 12:15 AM

John

one man's buttery slow zoom is another's jerky zoom... as in, how do you define the zoom you're after?

The NX5 has a mini zoom rocker on the top handle that can be switched from variable to fixed speed -- and the fixed speed can be preset in the menus. The main zoom rocker on the side does not seem to have a fixed-speed option.

I find the variable rocker switches both a bit hard to control in terms of zoom speed (they don't stutter, though) but when the top one is set to fixed, on speed '1', you can get some even slow zooms.

Your mileage may vary. Try it out.

Adam

Dirk Pel · March 18th, 2010, 06:26 AM

To slow down the zoom I use on my Z5 the shot trans function and set the transitiontime to 90 sec. This gives me a very smooth and slow zoom!
Dirk PEL(NL)

Ron Evans · March 18th, 2010, 07:29 AM

You can also use a LANC controller with fixed speed option to get to the lowest speed.

Ron Evans

Scott Cassie · March 18th, 2010, 09:14 AM

The handle zoom on the NX5 can be set to fixed, and provides a moderately slow zoom which is handy. Not sure if the speed can be customised, not something I've looked at yet.

Scotts

John Vasey · March 29th, 2010, 09:44 AM

I realize that trying to get a zoom with the rocker switch on the NX5U sounds like it is limiting. And people have different definitions of what a smooth zoom is...and what is achievable using third party zoom controllers...though the Libec is getting great reviews.

But back to my point about "manual"....let's say you are shooting an intimate interview...you want to do an extremely slow creep in...can you manually zoom in (not using the rocker switch) and get a feathered zoom? I've been able to do that with the PD150 and can can a smooth transition from beginning to end just using the zoom ring and make it work. Is it possible to do the same with the manual zoom ring on the NX5U?

John

Adam Welz · March 29th, 2010, 10:18 AM

John, why don't you try it? I mean, you seem to be asking a question that no-one but you can really answer! I can't imagine it being worse than a PD-170.

Cheers

Adam

John Vasey · March 29th, 2010, 12:43 PM

Unfortunately no vendor in LA has the camera out for display because they are sold out and they are backordered...so NAB may be my first opportunity to get a hands-on experience!

Benny Ek · March 29th, 2010, 07:47 PM

In my opinion, the best results or slow steady zooms are
1. a third party rocker zoom. I love my varizoom rocker
2. the onboard rocker
3. manual zoom on the lens.

This is my own opinion and someone else may have a more steady hand to get that manual zoom smooth at a slow speed.

March 17th, 2010, 09:48 PM	#1
John Vasey Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 75	NX5U: how is it with extremely slow zooms? Today I was in a showroom playing with the EX1-R and was surprised to learn that its ability to zoom very slowly, at a creep, was not possible using the zoom rocker on the wrist ...there was a stuttering problem and it was surprising to see this as a sporadic known issue with the EX1R and EX3 (confirmed by other internet blogs). I am hoping that for the NX5U that the user reports are more friendly. When you do a talking head interview, there are those moments where you want to zoom in or out in a barely perceptible way. On the $6,000 EX1R this would not be possible using that wrist rocker if you ended up with one of those affected models. What are user experiences with the NX5U zoom? Both using the rocker and doing it manually? Can you get a buttery smooth zoom or does it fall a bit short? Thanks, John

March 29th, 2010, 09:44 AM	#6
John Vasey Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 75	using manual control, can you get a feathered zoom? I realize that trying to get a zoom with the rocker switch on the NX5U sounds like it is limiting. And people have different definitions of what a smooth zoom is...and what is achievable using third party zoom controllers...though the Libec is getting great reviews. But back to my point about "manual"....let's say you are shooting an intimate interview...you want to do an extremely slow creep in...can you manually zoom in (not using the rocker switch) and get a feathered zoom? I've been able to do that with the PD150 and can can a smooth transition from beginning to end just using the zoom ring and make it work. Is it possible to do the same with the manual zoom ring on the NX5U? John

March 29th, 2010, 07:47 PM	#9
Benny Ek Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 140	In my opinion, the best results or slow steady zooms are 1. a third party rocker zoom. I love my varizoom rocker 2. the onboard rocker 3. manual zoom on the lens. This is my own opinion and someone else may have a more steady hand to get that manual zoom smooth at a slow speed. __________________ WWW.BENNYEK.COM Canon C100 ----Sony FX7----Canon HV20----Canon 60D DSLR---Glidecam---Sliders

March 18th, 2010, 12:15 AM	#2
Adam Welz Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York, USA Posts: 111	John one man's buttery slow zoom is another's jerky zoom... as in, how do you define the zoom you're after? The NX5 has a mini zoom rocker on the top handle that can be switched from variable to fixed speed -- and the fixed speed can be preset in the menus. The main zoom rocker on the side does not seem to have a fixed-speed option. I find the variable rocker switches both a bit hard to control in terms of zoom speed (they don't stutter, though) but when the top one is set to fixed, on speed '1', you can get some even slow zooms. Your mileage may vary. Try it out. Adam

March 18th, 2010, 06:26 AM	#3
Dirk Pel Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Karlsruhe Germany Posts: 42	To slow down the zoom I use on my Z5 the shot trans function and set the transitiontime to 90 sec. This gives me a very smooth and slow zoom! Dirk PEL(NL)

March 18th, 2010, 07:29 AM	#4
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,220	You can also use a LANC controller with fixed speed option to get to the lowest speed. Ron Evans

March 18th, 2010, 09:14 AM	#5
Scott Cassie Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Peterhead, Scotland Posts: 35	The handle zoom on the NX5 can be set to fixed, and provides a moderately slow zoom which is handy. Not sure if the speed can be customised, not something I've looked at yet. Scotts

March 29th, 2010, 10:18 AM	#7
Adam Welz Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York, USA Posts: 111	John, why don't you try it? I mean, you seem to be asking a question that no-one but you can really answer! I can't imagine it being worse than a PD-170. Cheers Adam

March 29th, 2010, 12:43 PM	#8
John Vasey Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 75	Unfortunately no vendor in LA has the camera out for display because they are sold out and they are backordered...so NAB may be my first opportunity to get a hands-on experience!