PD170 zoom ring at DVinfo.net

Abby Djin · March 15th, 2004, 02:23 AM

Hi. I just bought a PD170 from B&H and the zoom ring doesn't seem to work. I move it very slow but alas. Is there a setting adjustment that must be made before the zoom ring works. Thank you.

Boyd Ostroff · March 15th, 2004, 07:57 AM

Of course something might be broken so you should investigate further, but on my VX-2000 and PDX-10, if you move the zoom ring "very slowly" nothing happens at all. There is some threshold speed (or maybe it has more to do with acceleration?) at which the zoom ring starts to respond. That's one of the problems with this servo motor type system.

Mike Rehmus · March 15th, 2004, 10:29 AM

The zoom ring on my 150 will respond to the faintest motion with a change in the field of view. Very slow motion results in almost imperceptible changes in the FOV.

Dave Largent · March 17th, 2004, 02:11 PM

Noticed that myself, Abby. If you move it very slow,
nothing happens.

Mike Rehmus · March 17th, 2004, 04:27 PM

'Dead' slow might not make an apparent change for a while. I imagine that there is some slop in the lens and zoom drive mechanics that will take a few degrees of motion to take up.

I can change the field of view on my 2 PD150's with a minor push with just one finger on the ring while I am recording. Almost imperceptable change in the view over a period of time.

I have not taken the camera out and seen how slowly I can turn the ring and see a reaction. Just that when I'm taping, I can get the zoom to do exactly what I want and at the rate I want.

Abby Djin · March 18th, 2004, 01:19 AM

Thanks for your responses. I've tried moving the zoom ring from dead slow to fast, but nothing works. I guess it was broken before I got it.

Thanks again, though.

March 15th, 2004, 02:23 AM	#1
Abby Djin New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Accra, Ghana Posts: 15	PD170 zoom ring Hi. I just bought a PD170 from B&H and the zoom ring doesn't seem to work. I move it very slow but alas. Is there a setting adjustment that must be made before the zoom ring works. Thank you.

March 15th, 2004, 10:29 AM	#3
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The zoom ring on my 150 will respond to the faintest motion with a change in the field of view. Very slow motion results in almost imperceptible changes in the FOV. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

March 17th, 2004, 04:27 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	'Dead' slow might not make an apparent change for a while. I imagine that there is some slop in the lens and zoom drive mechanics that will take a few degrees of motion to take up. I can change the field of view on my 2 PD150's with a minor push with just one finger on the ring while I am recording. Almost imperceptable change in the view over a period of time. I have not taken the camera out and seen how slowly I can turn the ring and see a reaction. Just that when I'm taping, I can get the zoom to do exactly what I want and at the rate I want. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

March 15th, 2004, 07:57 AM	#2
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,798	Of course something might be broken so you should investigate further, but on my VX-2000 and PDX-10, if you move the zoom ring "very slowly" nothing happens at all. There is some threshold speed (or maybe it has more to do with acceleration?) at which the zoom ring starts to respond. That's one of the problems with this servo motor type system.

March 17th, 2004, 02:11 PM	#4
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Noticed that myself, Abby. If you move it very slow, nothing happens.

March 18th, 2004, 01:19 AM	#6
Abby Djin New Boot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Accra, Ghana Posts: 15	Thanks for your responses. I've tried moving the zoom ring from dead slow to fast, but nothing works. I guess it was broken before I got it. Thanks again, though.