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70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:50 pm
by Dave Watterson
At the Consumer Electronics Show in the USA Panasonic announced three new camcorders which will have 70x optical zooms.

My heart sank.

Can you imagine what will happen?!?! They have not said how much of the range will be at the wide end but you can bet the telephoto end will be powerful. Yes, they have image stabilisation, but think of the shots we will see of distant mountain peaks, small birds feeding, personalities shooting by in their cars ... all at the full extent of the zoom and wobbling enough to make audiences seasick!

Are you scared? Are you very, very afraid?

Dave

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:04 pm
by daveswan
Aaagh! is there nothing the great unwashed won't swallow :x
There's going to be a lot of sea-sick viewers of dodgy home movies with this cam

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:06 am
by leif
In the pro-world I've seen zoom ratios of 100+.
It's just a question of a Very stable tripod.

All video takes will gain from a good tripod!

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:31 pm
by daveswan
Yes, and have you seen how much they cost :shock: ?
Trying to put that ratio on a consumer priced cam is asking for trouble, even with a micro-sized sensor.
I'm sorry but it belongs with the megapixel-itis that afflicts so many consumer compact digicams, and even low-end DSLRs. It really saddens me to see Pannasonic going down that road, and hope nobody else will follow, but they will, just mark my words, :cry: So many sheep, or lemmings for that matter.
Dave

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:24 pm
by Brian Saberton
It's always the same isn't it? The manufacturers sell us cameras with very long zooms when what we really need is a decent wide angle.

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 11:41 am
by Michael Slowe
Well, I have to admit that much of my footage over the years, on both film and tape (now S X S cards) has been shot with the tele end of a zoom lens! I specialise in documentaries, as some of you will know, and I rely on the ability to observe without drawing attention to the camera, besides I like the narrow DOF you get at the tele end, especially if you use ND filters to ensure a wide aperture.

I don't recall any adverse comments from judges or audiences regarding camera shake but it goes without saying that a firm tripod is essential when operating at long focal lengths. I remember many years ago having to use a special long attachment for a film about bowls (that is old men on a green!) and I couldn't have done it without the lens. Don't forget also the wonderful film made by the Scottish schoolteacher about a Dipper bird on a river that did so well at BIAFF (last year?). He used a long Nikon lens on his Canon video camera and got wonderful pictures. MInd you he had focus issues but still managed a stunning film. If the unskilled punters that you are worried about can't use the long tele advise them to learn and join the IAC!

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:00 am
by Dave Watterson
This is the beast in question:
Image
I think it looks great, but it is clearly aimed at the relatively casual user. Someone like Michael Slowe can - and does - make good use of long lenses. But he is almost always to be found with a large, heavy tripod when out and about filming.

As for the range of the lens ... neither the Panasonic website nor the press-kit gives details. Clearly journalists are not supposed to be interested in such esoteric things. By extension, presumably the customers are also supposed to just wonder at the "70x" and not ask much more. The price seems likely to be highly affordable.

Dave

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:44 pm
by stingman
I think it looks sexy and in my favorite colour as well! It looks like an underwater camera..... but don`t get it wet!

be good

Stingman

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:02 pm
by fraught
Bloomin 'eck!!! That's the equivalent of having a 3500mm Lens on my Canon SLR!!!!

You're certainly going to get the moon full frame!!

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:59 pm
by stingman
Cool for looking at all the tallent down the street ;-)

Anyone else think of another one ;-)

Be good....

Stingman

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 3:33 pm
by daveswan
As I said it's designed to appeal to the moron majority, the types who are seduced by ludicrous "digital zoom" figures :x
I'm sorry, but I really hoped manufactures would get byond such fripperies, but I guess not. Since such people are not the type to put said cam on a big Vinten, Sachtler or O'Conner (Even if they could afford one) we'll see an awful lot of seasick home-movie viewers :twisted:

Sorry, the thought of one of those on an O'Conner :lol:
Dave

Re: 70x optical zoom ... aaaargh!

Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:48 pm
by Brian Saberton
Twas ever thus. I remember going to a local camera shop (remember those?) back in the late 60's to look at a film camera and the first thing the sales person did was to demonstrate the "power" of the zoom lens. I have to say it was about 3X; nothing in todays terms.