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  1. Member
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    Jul 2014
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    Purcellville, VA
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    When I am videoing with my DSLR, I thought that being able to smoothly zoom in and out would be a great feature. I tried this with my kit lens (only lens I have) and all that I get is jerky results. What tool would you guys recommend? With my old camcorder, there was just a zoom "slider" that would produce great results if that gives you an idea on what I would like to do.

    Thanks,

    Mark
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  2. Practice, practice, practice. Seriously.

    You can also get a zoom motor and controller, you will need to add rails to your rig to mount it.
    (Example, not necessarily recommendation: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxgz3r_zoom-controller-for-dslr-cameras_tech)

    A pro zoom lens will set you back thousands, and you'll need an adapter.
    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1043631-REG/canon_9785b002_cn7x17_kas_s_cine_servo.html, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/986013-REG/canon_kj20x8_2b_krsd_8_2_164mm_f_1_9_..._7_hd_eng.html
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  3. Member Cornucopia's Avatar
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    My thoughts exactly, smrpix.

    Scott
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  4. Add this to the list of advantages of using a video camera as a video camera.

    FWIW, when I shoot DSLR video (pretty regularly,) I just presume a manual zoom aesthetic -- because that's what I'm going to end up with.
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  5. Member Cornucopia's Avatar
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    Me too. When doing DSLR video, I usually work with primes anyway, to get better resolution & light gathering.

    Though I would say there's a world of difference between the zoom capability of a pro video/ecine lens and a consumer cam's lens. So, most consumer cams I wouldn't put much above a dslr+zoom addon.

    Scott
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  6. Or instead of a full DSLR rig, you can buy/adapt/build something like this:
    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ns=p_PRICE_2|0&ci=18499&setNs=p_PRICE_2|0&N=40287...74&srtclk=sort
    YouŽll still need to practice a lot...
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  7. Originally Posted by Cornucopia View Post
    I would say there's a world of difference between the zoom capability of a pro video/ecine lens and a consumer cam's lens.
    Completely agree Scott. Of course we're talking about a lens that costs 6-80x the price of a good consumer camcorder.
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  8. Member
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    Jul 2014
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    Purcellville, VA
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    Alright, thanks guys. I'll look into building my own "zoom" ring to attach to the dslr, and if I get no luck with that then maybe I will switch back to my camcorder for those zoom shots. I'm too cheap to buy one of those rigs

    Mark
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