Libec ZFC-5HD remote/lanc

[Matt Bigwood]

Just bought this controller today for my HC X1, and it's really nicely made and I can do very slow and smooth zooms with it: Libec | ZFC-5HD

BUT, when the focus control is plugged in the camera defaults to auto iris control, which isn't ideal. It's a shame as the focus control is really nice.

Is there by any chance a workaround, allowing manual iris and remote focus control?

[Daniel James]

Originally Posted by Matt Bigwood

Just bought this controller today for my HC X1, and it's really nicely made and I can do very slow and smooth zooms with it: Libec | ZFC-5HD

BUT, when the focus control is plugged in the camera defaults to auto iris control, which isn't ideal. It's a shame as the focus control is really nice.

Is there by any chance a workaround, allowing manual iris and remote focus control?

From their webpage:

"When the remote terminal Ø3.5 (focus for Panasonic) is connected to the Panasonic cameras released after August 2009, manual mode is not available as the iris is fixed to the auto mode. To use the iris in the manual mode, please operate the focus on the camera without connecting the remote terminal Ø3.5. "

The only workaround with that controller is not to use it for focus /iris. The camera is setup to take the remote as the override device.

The workarounds I can think of are...
1, Use this for focus and iris and the other one for zoom..
VariZoom VZPFI | Panasonic Focus / Iris Control | Lens Control
2, Build a separate iris controller, and plug it into the camera (This is relatively simple to do for Panasonic cameras as it simply uses variable resistors for the control of focus and iris). If you are handy with a soldering iron this is quite simple to do..
3, Buy a different controller, I use this one VariZoom VZROCKPZFI | Panasonic Zoom / Focus / Iris Control it works with Panasonics (it only works with Panasonics :-))

[Matt Bigwood]

Thanks for the information.

[Matt Bigwood]

Originally Posted by Matt Bigwood

Thanks for the information.

Just received the Varizoom PZFI and it works really well.... focus and aperture control as well as zoom.