zoom not smooth at DVinfo.net

Max Bettelle · August 4th, 2011, 04:46 PM

Anyone of you noticed that the zoom motor on the sony camcorders is not smooth (at least at very low speed) ? In comparison with a Canon XF300 really sucks!! I prefer the sony image, especially on EX models, but why they don't put a better motor in their lens? We should complain to Sony! ... pls ... learn from Canon regarding that!!

Chris Medico · August 5th, 2011, 07:30 AM

That is one of the dead horse subjects here. Do a quick search and you will find a lot of lively debate about it.

Right or wrong Sony isn't going to do anything about it.

Mitchell Lewis · August 7th, 2011, 10:31 AM

I've noticed that most of the time it's due to gear slop. If you zoom out and stop, then when you need to zoom back in it will initially jerk and then zoom smoothly. As a result I always blip the zoom in the direction I wanna zoom, before I actually do the zoom.

The lens still jerks sometimes in the middle of a long zoom, but not often.

Galen Rath · August 7th, 2011, 02:05 PM

However many times this has been mentioned, thanks for the alert. I was considering this camera primarily just to have an up to date camera that zooms like I want. Since this camera can't do a zoom (like a Canon), then I won't need to buy one.

Keith Dobie · August 7th, 2011, 07:17 PM

EX1R here: I agree, getting consistent smooth slow zooms is difficult. Tends to be chunky and rough when trying very slow zooms. I'm using a Libec zoom controller but I don't think it's the problem. I'm comparing it to my previous camera which had a Canon YH16x7 KRS with Canon zoom controller. I could get super smooth slow zooms with it and trusted it totally during important shoots. Have read here on the forum that Sony doesn't consider this to be a fault and it is not worth trying to return it. Anyone have an opinion on this?

Max Bettelle · August 8th, 2011, 03:34 AM

Even with a Liebec or similar remote control, things don't improve. Put the Liebec on a Canon and you' ll be amazed how smooth is the zoom. Maybe they don't wanna be too professional and similar to their hi-end shoulder camcorder? Eventough Canon is about 1 stop less sensitive than a sony 1/3" camera (and more pricey) and about 2 stops less sensitive than an EX, if Sony does not improve their zoom motors my next purchase will be Canon. Super-slow-smooth zooming is one of the main differences between a consumer and a professional shot, and Sony is lacking too much on it. Let's try all to complain here, i just did it:

Sony | Services and Programs

Bart Walczak · August 8th, 2011, 05:33 AM

Perhaps steadycam is getting in the way? It might interpret slow zooms as unwanted camera motion. Try turning it off, and see the results. Also, using zoom ring is pretty smooth in my experience. Unlike Canon that has quite noticeable lag, which totally turned me away from this camera.

Robert Bobson · August 8th, 2011, 06:03 AM

If I had known the EX1R had such a lousy zoom, I wouldn't have bought mine. It has other great features, but having a zoom is what persuaded me to buy it over a DSLR. For non-HD projects, I can add the slow zoom in post - but for HD I'm screwed. :(

Sony - FIX THIS!

Alister Chapman · August 8th, 2011, 08:29 AM

If you think it's broken send it back to Sony.

Perhaps it's not the smoothest zoom on the planet at slow speeds, but then it is the cheapest 1/2" three chip full HD camera on the market. The Canon is considerably more expensive and has issues of it's own. None of these cameras are perfect.

Just look at the price of a typical broadcast zoom lens then compare that to the price of an EX1R, a decent HD zoom will often cost a lot lot more than an EX1. You get what you pay for at the end of the day. Do you expect a budget car to be as smooth as a more expensive model?

Robert Bobson · August 8th, 2011, 08:40 AM

I don't think it's "broken" - I just don't think it can do a creeping zoom.

But my previous camera, the Panasonic DVX 100b, does a nice slow zoom.

Don't know what it would take to increase the torque on EX1R lens - but I don't think it would cost thousands of dollars...

Just my 2 cents....

Les Wilson · August 8th, 2011, 04:16 PM

@robert: Somewhere in the beating of this dead horse, there is an informative post (by Alister I think) that explains some of the physics involved with HD cameras that make this harder/expensive over the smaller chipped SD cameras. This is how my camera performs. YMMV:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...ml#post1587826

If you want to read the whole thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...ly-normal.html

August 4th, 2011, 04:46 PM	#1
Max Bettelle New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Venice ITALY Posts: 22	zoom not smooth Anyone of you noticed that the zoom motor on the sony camcorders is not smooth (at least at very low speed) ? In comparison with a Canon XF300 really sucks!! I prefer the sony image, especially on EX models, but why they don't put a better motor in their lens? We should complain to Sony! ... pls ... learn from Canon regarding that!! Last edited by Max Bettelle; August 5th, 2011 at 03:03 AM.

August 5th, 2011, 07:30 AM	#2
Chris Medico Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Efland NC, USA Posts: 2,322	Re: zoom not smooth That is one of the dead horse subjects here. Do a quick search and you will find a lot of lively debate about it. Right or wrong Sony isn't going to do anything about it. __________________ http://www.LandYachtMedia.com

August 7th, 2011, 10:31 AM	#3
Mitchell Lewis Trustee Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 1,124	Re: zoom not smooth I've noticed that most of the time it's due to gear slop. If you zoom out and stop, then when you need to zoom back in it will initially jerk and then zoom smoothly. As a result I always blip the zoom in the direction I wanna zoom, before I actually do the zoom. The lens still jerks sometimes in the middle of a long zoom, but not often. __________________ Sony EX3, Canon 5D MkII, Chrosziel Matte Box, Sachtler tripod, Steadicam Flyer, Mac Pro, Apple/Adobe software - 20 years as a local videographer/editor

August 7th, 2011, 02:05 PM	#4
Galen Rath Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 323	Re: zoom not smooth However many times this has been mentioned, thanks for the alert. I was considering this camera primarily just to have an up to date camera that zooms like I want. Since this camera can't do a zoom (like a Canon), then I won't need to buy one.

August 7th, 2011, 07:17 PM	#5
Keith Dobie Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 172	Re: zoom not smooth EX1R here: I agree, getting consistent smooth slow zooms is difficult. Tends to be chunky and rough when trying very slow zooms. I'm using a Libec zoom controller but I don't think it's the problem. I'm comparing it to my previous camera which had a Canon YH16x7 KRS with Canon zoom controller. I could get super smooth slow zooms with it and trusted it totally during important shoots. Have read here on the forum that Sony doesn't consider this to be a fault and it is not worth trying to return it. Anyone have an opinion on this?

August 8th, 2011, 03:34 AM	#6
Max Bettelle New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Venice ITALY Posts: 22	Re: zoom not smooth Even with a Liebec or similar remote control, things don't improve. Put the Liebec on a Canon and you' ll be amazed how smooth is the zoom. Maybe they don't wanna be too professional and similar to their hi-end shoulder camcorder? Eventough Canon is about 1 stop less sensitive than a sony 1/3" camera (and more pricey) and about 2 stops less sensitive than an EX, if Sony does not improve their zoom motors my next purchase will be Canon. Super-slow-smooth zooming is one of the main differences between a consumer and a professional shot, and Sony is lacking too much on it. Let's try all to complain here, i just did it: Sony \| Services and Programs Last edited by Max Bettelle; August 8th, 2011 at 08:58 AM.

August 8th, 2011, 05:33 AM	#7
Bart Walczak Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warsaw/Poland Posts: 716	Re: zoom not smooth Perhaps steadycam is getting in the way? It might interpret slow zooms as unwanted camera motion. Try turning it off, and see the results. Also, using zoom ring is pretty smooth in my experience. Unlike Canon that has quite noticeable lag, which totally turned me away from this camera. __________________ Creative Impatience - The Solace of Simple Solutions. A few useful plugins for Adobe users, and my remarks on the tools and the craft in general.

August 8th, 2011, 06:03 AM	#8
Robert Bobson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 585	Re: zoom not smooth If I had known the EX1R had such a lousy zoom, I wouldn't have bought mine. It has other great features, but having a zoom is what persuaded me to buy it over a DSLR. For non-HD projects, I can add the slow zoom in post - but for HD I'm screwed. :( Sony - FIX THIS!

August 8th, 2011, 08:29 AM	#9
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: zoom not smooth If you think it's broken send it back to Sony. Perhaps it's not the smoothest zoom on the planet at slow speeds, but then it is the cheapest 1/2" three chip full HD camera on the market. The Canon is considerably more expensive and has issues of it's own. None of these cameras are perfect. Just look at the price of a typical broadcast zoom lens then compare that to the price of an EX1R, a decent HD zoom will often cost a lot lot more than an EX1. You get what you pay for at the end of the day. Do you expect a budget car to be as smooth as a more expensive model? __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

August 8th, 2011, 08:40 AM	#10
Robert Bobson Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bay City, Michigan Posts: 585	Re: zoom not smooth I don't think it's "broken" - I just don't think it can do a creeping zoom. But my previous camera, the Panasonic DVX 100b, does a nice slow zoom. Don't know what it would take to increase the torque on EX1R lens - but I don't think it would cost thousands of dollars... Just my 2 cents....

August 8th, 2011, 04:16 PM	#11
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: zoom not smooth @robert: Somewhere in the beating of this dead horse, there is an informative post (by Alister I think) that explains some of the physics involved with HD cameras that make this harder/expensive over the smaller chipped SD cameras. This is how my camera performs. YMMV: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...ml#post1587826 If you want to read the whole thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...ly-normal.html