Remote Lens Control on the PDW-EX1

Paul Chiu · June 3rd, 2008, 10:27 AM

bob,

you saying this one has a variable zoom speed function?
http://www.amazon.com/VariZoom-VZ-PR...510390&sr=1-34

thanks

paul

John Gilmore · June 3rd, 2008, 02:59 PM

I think he's saying that you can set the zoom speed on the EX1 itself when using the on-handle zoom button.

Sean Seah · June 4th, 2008, 09:21 AM

is it possible to have a very slow starting speed with the Libec model? I had bad experience with the FX1 controller. The start could never be smooth no matter how light a touch i tried.

Leonard Levy · June 4th, 2008, 12:14 PM

I am interested in the same question. Can you get a "professional" smooth start and start as one would get with any 2/3" lens with any of these these controllers. Still haven't gotten a straight answer.

Piotr Wozniacki · June 4th, 2008, 12:29 PM

I feel uneasy to write about the Manfrotto 521ex as I really can't answer questions about its availability, but my pre-production unit does really smooth stars and stops, and can go from Z00 to Z99 (or vice versa) in almost two minutes (more than a second per zoom display "unit", in the 00-99 scale). Also, the fastest possible zooms for fast re-framing are always readily available under 2 dedicated buttons - regardless of the current speed setting.

Leonard Levy · June 4th, 2008, 01:01 PM

Piotr,

Thanks, If the manorotto is good I don't mind waiting.

Can you adjust the speed with the remote or do you need to go into the menus?
I'm not at all interested in whether it can do a 2 min zoom, but rather can you do smooth feathered stops and starts with it set on a reasonably normal speed?
As I've asked before - can it function like a professional remote for a Fuji or a Canon zoom lens.

Lenny levy

Piotr Wozniacki · June 5th, 2008, 06:16 AM

Lenny,

I'm afraid I don't quite get your question - are you talking about adjusting zoom speed with the remote (infrared) on the camera itself, or the Manfrotto zoom controller? The latter is of course impossible; the former only allows to access items displayed on the LCD (the functionality of the IR commander being the same as the Direct Menu joystick).

So yes, in any case - in order to change the camera's zoom speed settings (NOT those of a zoom controller), you need to dig into the menu, I'm afraid.

John Peterson · June 10th, 2008, 04:41 PM

This looks like it would be easy to try:

http://www.dvinfo.net//conf/showthread.php?t=94890

Scroll down and look at the toslink cable attached to the tripod and aimed at infared pickup sensor on the HV20 camera and the other end of the toslink cable attached to the tripod arm aimed at the camera remote attached where a zoom controller would go.

John

Paul Chiu · June 10th, 2008, 07:23 PM

what a creative use of the light cable!

but while that makes focusing remotely possible, the zooming mechanism via the sony remote for the EX1 is not that smooth. in fact, it can jump on you. so, you still need either a varizoom or the bebob zoe-ex for smooth zooming.

that toslink triggered remote will be there for focusing!

Keith Moreau · July 7th, 2008, 12:24 PM

Any info on the soon to be released Manfrotto 521-ex? Seems like it might be a cool item, but can't seem to find it listed anywhere.

Dave McCallister · July 7th, 2008, 02:43 PM

To all seeking silky smooth starts and stops and ultra smooth creeping zooms on the EX1: you may need to look elsewhere.

Having bought the Zoe remote I find that the limitation lies in the somewhat coarse servo mechanism in the lens. It's OK for many uses, but not for the subtle pushes and pulls you can get from a real 2/3" lens. It simply will not start and stop with the smooth ramping all of us really want. For me the Zoe actually works better in the middle of its range than at the slowest setting, where the tendency for the lens to jump seems enhanced.

At its slowest (handle zoom speed 1) many EX1's exhibit an unpleasant pulsing effect when pushing in, forcing users to use speed 2 and above. I had this bug bite me recently overseas. Fortunately pulling out was better, allowing a dramatic reveal of a landscape.

I think the answer lies in the EX3 with a serious lens attached that costs at least as much as the camera and probably more.

Of course, YMMV.

Dave McCallister

Jason Bodnar · July 16th, 2008, 03:35 PM

Revived the old thread.....Still no word on the Manfrotto???? I would like to order that one but have a shoot coming up next month that will require remote zoom and will have to go with one of the others if it does not show up...It has been months now...what is the hold up?? Are the early adapters of the EX1 going to be left behind by 3rd parties as they work on new EX3 accessories...I know most just be able to be used by both but thought I read somewhere the Lens control for the EX3 was more thought out and you can get more control... Maybe I am wrong on that.

Robert C. Fisher · August 17th, 2008, 01:01 PM

Well no update from me but some info. I have found that the on lens rockers that controll the speed for the most part suck, even on most 2/3" lenses. I have a Fuji lens controller I found when I bought my DV500 years ago and it works really well. I have had to repair it a few times but overall it works really well. I can do really really slow creeps and as fast as the lens will go with the controller. It is huge but worth the effert when I need it. Mine is the 8pin fuji controller handle.

Cheers
Robert C. Fisher
Cinematography

Swen Goebbels · August 17th, 2008, 01:33 PM

http://www.dvinfo.net//conf/showthread.php?t=94890

Wow, that was a smart no-budget idea!
Looks like that this guy watched MacGyver very often.

Jurgen Taghon · September 27th, 2008, 09:25 PM

anybody has the pin layout for the fujinonlens on the
EX1?

June 4th, 2008, 12:29 PM	#140
Piotr Wozniacki Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 4,086	I feel uneasy to write about the Manfrotto 521ex as I really can't answer questions about its availability, but my pre-production unit does really smooth stars and stops, and can go from Z00 to Z99 (or vice versa) in almost two minutes (more than a second per zoom display "unit", in the 00-99 scale). Also, the fastest possible zooms for fast re-framing are always readily available under 2 dedicated buttons - regardless of the current speed setting. __________________ Sony PXW-FS7 \| DaVinci Resolve Studio; Magix Vegas Pro; i7-5960X CPU; 64 GB RAM; 2x GTX 1080 8GB GPU; Decklink 4K Extreme 12G; 4x 3TB WD Black in RAID 0; 1TB M.2 NVMe cache drive

June 5th, 2008, 06:16 AM	#142
Piotr Wozniacki Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Poland Posts: 4,086	Lenny, I'm afraid I don't quite get your question - are you talking about adjusting zoom speed with the remote (infrared) on the camera itself, or the Manfrotto zoom controller? The latter is of course impossible; the former only allows to access items displayed on the LCD (the functionality of the IR commander being the same as the Direct Menu joystick). So yes, in any case - in order to change the camera's zoom speed settings (NOT those of a zoom controller), you need to dig into the menu, I'm afraid. __________________ Sony PXW-FS7 \| DaVinci Resolve Studio; Magix Vegas Pro; i7-5960X CPU; 64 GB RAM; 2x GTX 1080 8GB GPU; Decklink 4K Extreme 12G; 4x 3TB WD Black in RAID 0; 1TB M.2 NVMe cache drive

June 10th, 2008, 07:23 PM	#144
Paul Chiu Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: new york Posts: 231	toslink is ingenious what a creative use of the light cable! but while that makes focusing remotely possible, the zooming mechanism via the sony remote for the EX1 is not that smooth. in fact, it can jump on you. so, you still need either a varizoom or the bebob zoe-ex for smooth zooming. that toslink triggered remote will be there for focusing!

June 3rd, 2008, 10:27 AM	#136
Paul Chiu Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: new york Posts: 231	bob, you saying this one has a variable zoom speed function? http://www.amazon.com/VariZoom-VZ-PR...510390&sr=1-34 thanks paul

June 3rd, 2008, 02:59 PM	#137
John Gilmore Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 103	I think he's saying that you can set the zoom speed on the EX1 itself when using the on-handle zoom button.

June 4th, 2008, 09:21 AM	#138
Sean Seah Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,498	is it possible to have a very slow starting speed with the Libec model? I had bad experience with the FX1 controller. The start could never be smooth no matter how light a touch i tried.

June 4th, 2008, 12:14 PM	#139
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	I am interested in the same question. Can you get a "professional" smooth start and start as one would get with any 2/3" lens with any of these these controllers. Still haven't gotten a straight answer.

June 4th, 2008, 01:01 PM	#141
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Piotr, Thanks, If the manorotto is good I don't mind waiting. Can you adjust the speed with the remote or do you need to go into the menus? I'm not at all interested in whether it can do a 2 min zoom, but rather can you do smooth feathered stops and starts with it set on a reasonably normal speed? As I've asked before - can it function like a professional remote for a Fuji or a Canon zoom lens. Lenny levy

June 10th, 2008, 04:41 PM	#143
John Peterson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 703	This looks like it would be easy to try: http://www.dvinfo.net//conf/showthread.php?t=94890 Scroll down and look at the toslink cable attached to the tripod and aimed at infared pickup sensor on the HV20 camera and the other end of the toslink cable attached to the tripod arm aimed at the camera remote attached where a zoom controller would go. John

July 7th, 2008, 12:24 PM	#145
Keith Moreau Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane, California Posts: 530	Any info on the soon to be released Manfrotto 521-ex? Seems like it might be a cool item, but can't seem to find it listed anywhere.

July 7th, 2008, 02:43 PM	#146
Dave McCallister Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 29	To all seeking silky smooth starts and stops and ultra smooth creeping zooms on the EX1: you may need to look elsewhere. Having bought the Zoe remote I find that the limitation lies in the somewhat coarse servo mechanism in the lens. It's OK for many uses, but not for the subtle pushes and pulls you can get from a real 2/3" lens. It simply will not start and stop with the smooth ramping all of us really want. For me the Zoe actually works better in the middle of its range than at the slowest setting, where the tendency for the lens to jump seems enhanced. At its slowest (handle zoom speed 1) many EX1's exhibit an unpleasant pulsing effect when pushing in, forcing users to use speed 2 and above. I had this bug bite me recently overseas. Fortunately pulling out was better, allowing a dramatic reveal of a landscape. I think the answer lies in the EX3 with a serious lens attached that costs at least as much as the camera and probably more. Of course, YMMV. Dave McCallister

July 16th, 2008, 03:35 PM	#147
Jason Bodnar Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 376	Revived the old thread.....Still no word on the Manfrotto???? I would like to order that one but have a shoot coming up next month that will require remote zoom and will have to go with one of the others if it does not show up...It has been months now...what is the hold up?? Are the early adapters of the EX1 going to be left behind by 3rd parties as they work on new EX3 accessories...I know most just be able to be used by both but thought I read somewhere the Lens control for the EX3 was more thought out and you can get more control... Maybe I am wrong on that.

August 17th, 2008, 01:01 PM	#148
Robert C. Fisher Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 55	Well no update from me but some info. I have found that the on lens rockers that controll the speed for the most part suck, even on most 2/3" lenses. I have a Fuji lens controller I found when I bought my DV500 years ago and it works really well. I have had to repair it a few times but overall it works really well. I can do really really slow creeps and as fast as the lens will go with the controller. It is huge but worth the effert when I need it. Mine is the 8pin fuji controller handle. Cheers Robert C. Fisher Cinematography

August 17th, 2008, 01:33 PM	#149
Swen Goebbels Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Aachen, Germany and Las Vegas NV Posts: 107	http://www.dvinfo.net//conf/showthread.php?t=94890 Wow, that was a smart no-budget idea! Looks like that this guy watched MacGyver very often.

September 27th, 2008, 09:25 PM	#150
Jurgen Taghon Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Quito Ecuador Posts: 37	anybody has the pin layout for the fujinonlens on the EX1?