I've got a HC1, and to be honest, it doesn't bother me. You can zoom with the focus ring aswell.

I too have an HC1 and yes the zoom is fast - BUT - I don't like to use the zoom if I can avoid it. I am looking for a LANC controller for a new tripod and I'm hoping that I will have more control over the speed to slow it way down. And, I guess for now I will use the manal focus ring to accomplish these.

I just took my first video in September and WOW the zoom shots I accidently put in there made my feel sick. LOL. So, I edited them out! phil

You know, I don't have all my equipment in one place where I can test it now, but I have a feeling that my Z1's slowest zoom speed is faster than my PDX-10. I'm using a Varizoom Pro-L controller which lets you dial in the slowest speed the camera can handle. When shooting performances last week with the Z1 it seemed to zoom faster than I'm accustomed to with the PDX-10. Will try to time this next week.

Just want to report that I am using a Manfrotto 523 pro controller and the zoom speed with this on the A1 (and Z1) is sloooooooooooooow, and smooooooth. This is a very nice controller - and yes it does one touch autofocus even though there is no button or control for this on the camera - very impressive. One other thing - it integrates into the handle of all Manfrotto heads and the speeds are selectable and programmable. This is one very nice controller. You can even switch the camera on and off from it!

Graeme,

The slowest speed reported from full wide to full zoom using a LANC controller on the HC1 and A1 is 24 seconds.

Would you please use a watch and report back to us what is the slowest zoom speed you can accomplish using your Manfrotto 523 with the A1?

Anthony,
Please do the same with your Libec ZC-3DV.

Thanks!

Using a watch is a bit iffy. A much better way is simply to connect up the camera to your NLE, engage the slowest zoom and then inch along the timeline looking for the start and end of the zoom. Then it's a simple matter to ask the computer to tell you the length of the shot.

tom.

Todd,

I used the watch because it was easiest - and I don't think that a few frames will make a great deal of difference. Just for the record I made it 25 seconds - which I guess allowing for error is much in line with other best efforts.

Hope this helps.

I have noticed some irregularity using the Canon z1000 on the FX1 - its not as slow as on the pdx10 - dont ask me why. However using the FX1 zoom rocker I can easily achieve a full zoom from wide to tele or vice versa lasting 100 secs.

Anyone tried making a DIY LANC controller?

I too achieved 105 secs with the FX1 zoom rocker - somehow that rocker can goes very slow but it's a little tricky to maintain, though possible with practice. This is what I would love to be able to reproduce with a LANC controller.

Using the Top Handle zoom (on the FX1) you can get 22 secs if you sec the zoom speed to "1" in the menu - and this is very close to the 24 sec and 25 sec LANC controllers in previous posts.

I also bought the cheapo $33 Sony RM-VD1 LANC controller (here at B&H) and you can get 12 secs zooming with that one.

My 'dream' LANC controller would be one that can ramp up at the start and ramp down at the finish to correct the lack of a smooth zoom on the FX1, go as slow as the Zoom Rocker, and incorporate button for the Rack Focus feature of the FX1.

Here are some more timings and comments on LANC zoom speeds with my 3 cameras: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?p=387652

Hi Anthony

Can you let me know where you got your Libec controller in the UK please and how much it was ? and also a rough idea of how slow it will go please?

thanks in advance