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EX1r zoom control not smooth.
Whether I’m using my Beebob controller on the pan/tilt arm or going direct with the zoom control on the side hand grip, the zoom does not perform as I’ve always expected on sony gear. There is a hesitation before it proceeds on super slow touches. If I completely engage the control device to zoom from the start and not try to feather it, there is no hesitation or distortion in movement. BUT Ive always been able to feather the zooms to suit the shot.
Feedback please!
Thanks,
Hal -
23 Replies
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If you google it, you’ll find a lot of people having the same problem. I called and talked with a rep from Sony just about a week ago on this very same issue. We’ve been so frustrated with our 2 ex-1s and an ex-3. All have the stuttering zoom. I was told that they put so much effort in the lens that they had to compromise on the zoom control to keep it affordable. It was designed to be this way. We are considering whether to sell them and move over to JVC. The Sony ex1/ex3 are great cameras but if I can’t smoothly zoom, it’s almost useless in our type of work.
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I’m puzzled by what you say because only yesterday I was on a shoot and filming a musician playing a cello and I could pull out very slowly indeed from a tight c/u. There was no stutter at all but I did have to be careful to apply the lightest of touches to the large zoom lever on the right side of the camera. Maybe the problem is not on all EX cameras, mine is an early EX 1, with firmware updated two weeks ago.
Michael Slowe
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I have six EX-1 and have not noticed this problem on any of them. I use a tripod handle remote zoom most of the time but also shoot without it. I tested the NX70U NXCAM and absolutely had problems with the zoom. It did not work correctly. I have not had the same problem with any EX1r. I REALLY find it hard to believe that anyone from Sony would tell you that the product was designed that way.
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Just to clarify, I have the 2 of the ex-1r cameras and 1 ex-3. The reps name at Sony is Lou that I talked with in the professional video division. I still have his phone # and extension if someone wants to check me on it. I also asked him about trading up to the 350 to get a better zoom rocker, he said it was made with the same zoom mechanisms as the ex1r/ex3. I’m glad you guys haven’t had the same issues, if any of you are interested in trading cameras, talk to me..:) Like I said, I love a lot of things about the ex1r/ex3, but the non-ability to do a crawl in/out has been tough.
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This was all hashed out 2.5 years ago on this very forum. It’s now generally accepted that any zoom speed of 10 or less is not considered a fixable problem by Sony. This goes for the EX1, EX1R and EX3 today. This was not the case when the first EX1’s started shipping at the very end of 2007. Back then Sony was fixing the lenses under warranty. Some lucky EX owners initially had cameras without the stuttering zoom below 10 and some were not so fortunate.
More in the thread below:
https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/142/866663#866706
– Don
Don Greening
A Vancouver Video Production Company
Reeltime Videoworks
http://www.reeltimevideoworks.com -
Just to clarify, I have this problem with the rocker control on the EX1 lens, not the button on the top of the camera handle. The zoom stutters when trying to do a slow push. I have an external control from my Canon pro lens, but I need to purchase an adapter to use it. BTW, this can happen on very expensive lenses too.
Bob
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Thanks to ALL.
WTF!!!!
Hal
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I just ordered an adapter cable for my Canon lens zoom controller. I hope that will let me control the lens much better when on a tripod.
Bob
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Hi Bob,
Please let us know what your results are. I ordered 2 different zoom controllers but neither fixed it for us. Best of luck! -
Hello Alan. I got the adapter cable today and it works great!
First, let me say that I have the VariZoom pro Canon zoom controller that I used on my Betacam.
I bought a JonyJib adapter cable to use it with the EX1. Here is what I have:
https://www.varizoom.com/product.aspx?productID=VZPROC&category=Canon%20Broadcast%20Lens (mine is an older model).
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/612232-REG/Jony_A_EX8C_ADAPTER_A_EX8C_Canon_8_Pin_Zoom.html
The cable has a right angle bend that I thought would run downward, but it runs upward.
Anyway, now I can do smooth creep zooms, I can control the maximum zoom speed, I can do smooth variable speed zooms, I can start and stop record and I can play back the last clip! As the Brits say, “it works a treat!”
Varizoom makes an EX1 zoom control, but I have not tried it.
https://www.varizoom.com/products.aspx?category=Sony%20EX&subcategory=Lens%20Controls&sort=0Good luck.
Bob
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