manual zooming
 

for those of you who use non-power lenses, have you been able to learn to get a smooth zoom manually?
or do you just not zoom in and out in your work?

I'm considering the af100 camera which doesn't have the power zoom, and I'm trying to figure out how to deal with that...

thanks

Like most other things it takes practice. Lot of it. Gotta learn how to grab the zoom ring on the lens with a gentle touch (I always use my thumb and fore finger) and turn as smoothly as possible. Now the problem is, how much of a zoom you can do with your fingers in a comfortabkle position. Sometimes you have to be a bit uncomfortable to be able to make a big enough turn with your fingers to do a long zoom.

Just have to practice and practice and practice. Then it'll become 2nd nature.

You can use a fluid zoom drive, they were often used on Super 16mm zoom lenses.

http://www.chrosziel.com/data/chrosz...omdrives_E.pdf

They're very effective.

practice is the best solution, however this;

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/open-dv-...g-vg-10-a.html

has helped a great deal.

Sweet! thanks for the tip - I'm gonna try it!

Or do a dolly move rather than a zoom.