Slow CREEPING zoom on 5D Mark II?
 

One thing that I will miss is the ability to do very slow creeping zooms on interviews with my camcorder...

Anybody have a suggestion on how to do this with the 5D Mark II?

You can lock the camera down on a staple tripod, and attempt to turn the zoom ring as smoothly as you can.

SLR zoom lenses were never design for smooth zoom motion. They don't need to be.

One approach is to move the camera. Not always practical though...

I'm thinking that I'm going to have to use a dolly...

MAN it would be nice if Canon could make a real camcorder with 5D2 specs...

I think it can be don by motorizing a FF device attached to the zoom ring of the lens.
The anfle of FF should be the "O" gear and on the DC motor should be the "." gear to reduce the ratio. Add in a potentiometer and you could get a pretty decent creep zooms. Instead of gears you can use rubber band for the DC motor to FF handle transmission.

Something like this: http://www.miniscience.com/projects/..._Car_Kit_L.jpg

Cheers,
T

If I really wanted to do a sooth zoom on a slr lens, I would attach a 3"-4" long arm to the zoom ring, this would make it easier to do a smooth zoom, on sticks of course. Some cinematic zooms work this way. You may also be able to rig a geared follow focus to zoom ring.

This would only work on ring zooms not push-pull types. Those would probably require more effort than it is worth.

If you only use two of the legs on your tripod (collapse front leg), you can tilt camera back and forth (you need a smooth fluid head and a steady hand) for a nice jib type move, with an assistant to put something under leg when not moving you could do a pretty good job on an interview push pull session if you practice a bit first.