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Power Zoom versus Manual Zoom in stills pgotography

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eques

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Power zooming, coming from P&S and from video has finally reached mFT.
So I think it should be discussed here or were there earlier threads?

Personally I have made experiences with PZ only with my late P&S Canon. Perhaps the feature was badly implemented there, but with my Panasonic zoom lens I now enjoy the difference:

Finally zooming is accurate and fast, and it is MZ! For me as a stills photographer, PZ is like a plague finally reaching the, as I thought, safe harbour.

IMO PZ cannot be compared with AF, because in roughly 80% of my (!) photographs I have to adjust the zoom. When it comes to AF, I still have the choice to switch to MF or cange the AF mode.

I know, PZ and MF switches help reducing sizes, so if this is tantamount for you, the new Panasonic standard zoom makes sense; the tele lens makes sense only for video people - if switches and zooming motor don't make any sounds.

My verdict is, PZ for the whole of stills photography is like AF for macro photography: useless or even annoying.
 
eques said:
Power zooming, coming from P&S and from video has finally reached mFT.
So I think it should be discussed here or were there earlier threads?

Personally I have made experiences with PZ only with my late P&S Canon. Perhaps the feature was badly implemented there, but with my Panasonic zoom lens I now enjoy the difference:

Finally zooming is accurate and fast, and it is MZ! For me as a stills photographer, PZ is like a plague finally reaching the, as I thought, safe harbour.

IMO PZ cannot be compared with AF, because in roughly 80% of my (!) photographs I have to adjust the zoom. When it comes to AF, I still have the choice to switch to MF or cange the AF mode.

I know, PZ and MF switches help reducing sizes, so if this is tantamount for you, the new Panasonic standard zoom makes sense; the tele lens makes sense only for video people - if switches and zooming motor don't make any sounds.

My verdict is, PZ for the whole of stills photography is like AF for macro photography: useless or even annoying.
Click to expand...
But I like to keep an open mind on these things as we do not know how good/bad it has been implemented. For still photography I can't see a use for it and can only see it being a hindrance. I'm sure some will take the compromise of the smaller form factor of the lenses but that's not an issue to me personally. I find it kind of ironic how people regularly complain about micro seconds of difference in AF speed (as in the 20mm F1.7) and then state they'll be happy with a lens with slower zoom capability lol.
--
It's a known fact that where there's tea there's hope.
Tony
http://the-random-photographer.blogspot.com/
 
eques said:
Personally I have made experiences with PZ only with my late P&S Canon. Perhaps the feature was badly implemented there, but with my Panasonic zoom lens I now enjoy the difference:
Click to expand...
Bear in mind that the power zoom on compacts is often stepped whereas the PZ on the new Panasonic is continuous. I'm sure this makes a significant difference to the feel of the feature.

Nevertheless PZ is clearly aimed at video use where I'm sure it is valuable. For still photography it is compromise that we might have to accept if we want the compact lens possible.

Mark
 
Mark Thornton said:
Bear in mind that the power zoom on compacts is often stepped whereas the PZ on the new Panasonic is continuous.
Click to expand...
Mark Thornton said:
Nevertheless PZ is clearly aimed at video use where I'm sure it is valuable. For still photography it is compromise that we might have to accept if we want the compact lens possible.
Click to expand...
I think I read somewhere, maybe here, that these new lenses have a 'step zoom' option -enabled from the camera I guess- so maybe that can help with stills (it's a much loved function in cameras like the LX5). I'll try to confirm this.

BTW, the GF2 with the 14-42 X is nothing but a LX5 clone, almost same width and height and just a bit deeper (of course a GF3 is even smaller, but lacks hot-shoe, EVF port or stereo mics so no quite a match). The LX6 has to come with really big improvements or be way cheaper to justify its existence... :)

EDIT --

I found this in a press release:

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/pressrelease/x_lens.html
Mark Thornton said:
Mark Thornton said:
The following functions will be available with the new firmware:
  • Display of the local length
When you zoom, the focal distance is displayed and you can confirm the zoom position.
  • Step zoom
When you operate the zoom, the zoom will stop at positions corresponding to predetermined distances.
  • Zoom resume
When you switch the power switch [ON], the zoom positions when you last switched [OFF] are automatically restored.
  • Selectable zoom speed
Users can select the speed of electric-powered zooming._
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
http://antonio.rojilla.com
 
Possibly stepped zoom is loved/hated in equal measure --- I hated it in the (Canon) compact that I had.
 
Well we do know that there are two speeds for zooming so that might be an appeal, a step zoom (that can be turned on or off in the menus) would be a welcome addition for me on the 14-42. On the 45-175 I don't think a step zoom makes any sense.

--
terry
http://www.terrybanet.com
 
eques said:
My verdict is, PZ for the whole of stills photography is like AF for macro photography: useless or even annoying.
Click to expand...
My everyday outdoors camera is the Canon G11, and I don't find power zoom to be useless or annoying.

I can understand that having the option for non-stepped zoom on the newer m4/3 lenses would be a nice option for people.

Regarding AF for macro, well, my Panasonic-Leica 45mm f/2.8 AF is very accurate, and I've gotten quick shots of insects that way. So, that's not useless for me either. It's just another tool, and need not be a formula. I find both AF and MF to be useful depending on the situation.

Regards,

Richard

--
"Careful photographers run their own tests." - Fred Picker
 
I am more than willing to embrace power zoom for the pancake size of the new lens. I honestly am a bit surprised by the passionate objections to power zoom that I have read, not in this thread in particular, but in general since the lens was announced.
--
jed
 
It seems obvious to me power zoom is being introduced with one thing in mind....video, and I can see the advantages it offers. For that very reason, it's nothing I need or want. It's just another way to suck the camera battery dry faster.
 
Jed Perkins said:
I am more than willing to embrace power zoom for the pancake size of the new lens. I honestly am a bit surprised by the passionate objections to power zoom that I have read, not in this thread in particular, but in general since the lens was announced.
--
jed
Click to expand...
I think the main concerns are the speed of operation and the impact on battery life. Those are concerns I have anyway. I'm openminded to it and hope these concerns are unfounded, it will be interesting to see how these lenses perform.
--
It's a known fact that where there's tea there's hope.
Tony
http://the-random-photographer.blogspot.com/
 
Dicking around with a power zoom lever is such a waste of time. How anyone could even consider such inefficiencies is beyond me.
--
'Don't sneak up on it - surround it'
 
Robert Hoffman said:
Dicking around with a power zoom lever is such a waste of time. How anyone could even consider such inefficiencies is beyond me.
Click to expand...
Dicking around with a barrel zoom design is such a waste of space. How anyone could even consider such bulkiness is beyond me.

Playing devils advocate here, I prefer barrels myself.

One thing I do like about the power zooms is that with HDMI live view and switches for zoom and focus the possibilities for pole photography are greatly expanded.
--
Ken W
See plan in profile for equipment list
 
Robert Hoffman said:
Dicking around with a power zoom lever is such a waste of time. How anyone could even consider such inefficiencies is beyond me.
Click to expand...
How is turning a ring, or pushing a barrel, more efficient than pulling a lever?

This, like ergonomics, is such a subjective criteria that it's silly, in a way, to be critical. A hand grip is perfect for one person, and too small for another.

And so it goes...

Regards,

Richard

--
"Careful photographers run their own tests." - Fred Picker
 
Because there is immediate, real-time tactile feedback. When I turn a ring I can tell how far I'm turning it. When I'm pushing a button or lever, there's no feedback at all.

Turning a ring also offers infinitely variable zoom speed. I can turn it quickly to get from one end of the range to the other almost instantly. Or I can turn it very slowly, to get exactly the framing I want. Power zooms seem to have at most 2 speeds, and in my (admittedly limited) experience tend to overshoot on the faster speed, requiring multiple back and forth attempts to find just the right spot.
 
Bob Meyer said:
Because there is immediate, real-time tactile feedback. When I turn a ring I can tell how far I'm turning it. When I'm pushing a button or lever, there's no feedback at all.
Click to expand...
Understood. But on my Canon G11, I've pretty much learned to tell how far it zooms with each quick flick of the lever.
Bob Meyer said:
Power zooms seem to have at most 2 speeds, and in my (admittedly limited) experience tend to overshoot on the faster speed, requiring multiple back and forth attempts to find just the right spot.
Click to expand...
I can see the problem if you are zooming/shooting quickly, as in action. I don't use the G11 for that type of shooting, so it hasn't been a concern for me.

I'm waiting for feedback on the Panasonic 40-175mm lens when it arrives, because I'm considering replacing my DSLR + 70-200mm f/4L with it.

A description here:

Panasonic Introduces new Power Zoom Lenses

http://www.mu-43.com/f92/panasonic-introduces-new-power-zoom-lenses-first-carry-lumix-x-designation-15700/
  • With the new lenses, Panasonic is releasing two power zoom lenses, lenses which incorporate rocker controls which control variable speed powered optical zooming, a feature seen on most fixed-lens, small sensor cameras. This allows for smooth zooming during video.
We'll have to see how smooth it is!

Regards,

Richard

--
"Careful photographers run their own tests." - Fred Picker
 
I truly fail to see any advantage in power zoom for stills.

-- gary ray
--

Semi-professional in early 1970s; just a putzer since then. interests: historical sites, virginia, motorcycle racing. A nikon user more by habit than choice; still, nikon seems to work well for me.
 
i am not a luddite for all intents and purposes-- I am for video on DSLRs, AF, automatic metering, matrix, centered, spot etc..and other stuff..art filters...you name i embrace it..

..but for zooming? I want that manual control! no power zooming for me-- as much i like the pancake 14-42 that panny announced-- it turned me off from it when i read that it is a power zoom... i feel i will have more control in the speed of teh zoom than relying on "power zooming"...

i even hate the power zooming from my point and shoots (canon G12--and cameras before that..) i was even wishing that the high end point and shoot should have a manual zoom capability-- if i am not mistaken a Fuji broidge cam has manual zooming i am just not sure which model it is..

--
http://www.johnparas11.zenfolio.com
 
Bob Meyer said:
Because there is immediate, real-time tactile feedback. When I turn a ring I can tell how far I'm turning it. When I'm pushing a button or lever, there's no feedback at all.

Turning a ring also offers infinitely variable zoom speed. I can turn it quickly to get from one end of the range to the other almost instantly. Or I can turn it very slowly, to get exactly the framing I want. Power zooms seem to have at most 2 speeds, and in my (admittedly limited) experience tend to overshoot on the faster speed, requiring multiple back and forth attempts to find just the right spot.
Click to expand...
Yes, I fully agree!
 
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