LANC controller to zoom slow?

Christopher Young · August 16th, 2023, 11:03 PM

A lot of it seems to relate to the servo motor in the lens and how it's designed and how it interfaces with the LANC controller. I found using a Sony X70 or Z90, both of which have very good true variable speed zooms when using their built-in zoom rocker switches, seem to work well with good LANC controllers.

With both the 70 and 90 I can get very progressive control over those two camera's zoom functions without any perceptible stepping. How they achieve that must be down to the control interface between the fixed step LANC protocol and the control interface of the inbuilt lens servo. Which as I said work extremely well on those two little camcorders.

Comparing the control of those two cameras zoom lenses to the control of either the Sony 28-135 mm F4 or the 18-110 mm F4 servo zoom lenses on an FS/PXW series cine-cam using the same LANC controllers is like chalk and cheese. No matter how hard you try, you can get caught out with these two lenses by stepping speed changes.

Chris Young

Barry Lloyd · August 19th, 2023, 07:17 AM

I use one of these for my camcorder cost around £30 for a decent version

https://imgur.com/wgs0ji8

Mark Watson · August 19th, 2023, 05:58 PM

Using a Canon ZR-2000 LANC controller, I can get from 5-21 second zooms. Have to use a couple of adapters to connect it and the ZR-2000 is no longer available new.

Mark

Noa Put · August 20th, 2023, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Using a Canon ZR-2000 LANC controller

Is that one compatible with a Sony ax100?

Mark Watson · August 20th, 2023, 11:08 AM

From a 2014 post:
--------------------------------------------
"Update on the Lanc situation. I picked up the two adapter cables I needed to connect my Canon ZR-2000 to the AX100.
Coming out of the camera's MULTI connector, I plugged in the Sony VMC-AVM1, which is the flat-style MULTI plug on the camera end, and a D-shaped jack on the other end. Next, I connected the second adapter cable, A-3AV. This adapter cable has the D-shaped plug on one end and the 2.5mm jack on the other. Total length is about 12 inches. With these, I was able to use my Canon remote, which has a 2.5mm plug.
Functions of the remote which worked: Record stop/start, Display, Zoom, both variable and stepped modes. In variable mode, some of the end-to-end zoom times I got were 5, 6, 11, 13, 16, 18. There are 16 selectable zoom speeds on the dial and here's how those worked: 1-2 = 21 sec, 3-4 = 15 sec, 5-6 = 11 sec, 7-8 = 8 sec, 9-10= 5.5 sec, 11-16 = 5 sec.

Functions that did not work: Magnify, AE Shift, Iris, Manual A/F switch, Push to Focus, manual focus adjustment dial, Standby, Peaking.

Mark ...."
------------------------------------
So yes, it will work with the AX100. I still have the remote, cables and my two AX100s if you have any other questions.

Mark

August 16th, 2023, 11:03 PM	#16
Christopher Young Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,528	Re: LANC controller to zoom slow? A lot of it seems to relate to the servo motor in the lens and how it's designed and how it interfaces with the LANC controller. I found using a Sony X70 or Z90, both of which have very good true variable speed zooms when using their built-in zoom rocker switches, seem to work well with good LANC controllers. With both the 70 and 90 I can get very progressive control over those two camera's zoom functions without any perceptible stepping. How they achieve that must be down to the control interface between the fixed step LANC protocol and the control interface of the inbuilt lens servo. Which as I said work extremely well on those two little camcorders. Comparing the control of those two cameras zoom lenses to the control of either the Sony 28-135 mm F4 or the 18-110 mm F4 servo zoom lenses on an FS/PXW series cine-cam using the same LANC controllers is like chalk and cheese. No matter how hard you try, you can get caught out with these two lenses by stepping speed changes. Chris Young

August 19th, 2023, 07:17 AM	#17
Barry Lloyd Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Bexhill on sea Posts: 40	Re: LANC controller to zoom slow? I use one of these for my camcorder cost around £30 for a decent version https://imgur.com/wgs0ji8

August 19th, 2023, 05:58 PM	#18
Mark Watson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whidbey Island Posts: 873	Re: LANC controller to zoom slow? Using a Canon ZR-2000 LANC controller, I can get from 5-21 second zooms. Have to use a couple of adapters to connect it and the ZR-2000 is no longer available new. Mark

August 20th, 2023, 11:08 AM	#20
Mark Watson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Whidbey Island Posts: 873	Re: LANC controller to zoom slow? From a 2014 post: -------------------------------------------- "Update on the Lanc situation. I picked up the two adapter cables I needed to connect my Canon ZR-2000 to the AX100. Coming out of the camera's MULTI connector, I plugged in the Sony VMC-AVM1, which is the flat-style MULTI plug on the camera end, and a D-shaped jack on the other end. Next, I connected the second adapter cable, A-3AV. This adapter cable has the D-shaped plug on one end and the 2.5mm jack on the other. Total length is about 12 inches. With these, I was able to use my Canon remote, which has a 2.5mm plug. Functions of the remote which worked: Record stop/start, Display, Zoom, both variable and stepped modes. In variable mode, some of the end-to-end zoom times I got were 5, 6, 11, 13, 16, 18. There are 16 selectable zoom speeds on the dial and here's how those worked: 1-2 = 21 sec, 3-4 = 15 sec, 5-6 = 11 sec, 7-8 = 8 sec, 9-10= 5.5 sec, 11-16 = 5 sec. Functions that did not work: Magnify, AE Shift, Iris, Manual A/F switch, Push to Focus, manual focus adjustment dial, Standby, Peaking. Mark ...." ------------------------------------ So yes, it will work with the AX100. I still have the remote, cables and my two AX100s if you have any other questions. Mark