EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM & Power Zoom Adaptor Images

[cpreston]

preprogram the power zoom, or use it remotely.

If the lens is 3.5-5.6, you just lock the aperture at 5.6 at 18mm. Not hard. Not every video lens has a constant aperture either.

I very much doubt that this will have a preprogramming function, but I could be wrong. I also doubt you could use it remotely. Possibly on new cameras designed to operate the power zoom through wifi, but I doubt they would add wifi to the remote as it would make it too expensive for the intended audience and I personally can't think of a reason for remote for zoom unless I'm using the head on a crane or drone with a motorized head.

As for the aperture, if you just lock it, it won't stay at a constant 5.6 while zooming. In order to maintain transmission, the physical aperture has to change while zooming. Even Canon's L zooms that say they have a constant aperture do not actually maintain transmission while zooming if stopped down. The 18-135STM has been very useful to me for video since it will adjust the aperture while zooming to maintain a constant transmission, but you can still see the steps. The STM also maintains the focus while zooming, but you can see it struggling to keep up if you zoom quickly.

I'm wondering if this new zoom will have a continuously variable aperture while zooming and if it is truly parfocal. If it is, then I have an 18-135 STM for sale.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Interesting. That physical design looks a LOT like recent Tamron consumer zooms:

 

[mrsfotografie]

Nothing new; been there, done that...

http://www.canon.com/c-museum/en/product/ef288.html

 

[Bennymiata]

I also have a 70d and an 18-135 and use it mainly for video.
The zoom ring on my lens is still notchy and it's difficult to zoom smoothly, so I bought a handle that clips on the zoom ring, and now I can do nice smooth zooms.
Certainly cheaper than a motor.

 

[scottgoh]

interesting about the zoom adaptor.

great innovation to canon

 

[Tugela]

Power zoom? As a video guy, I'm intrigued. But what the heck is it? If it's just a motorized cradle for the lens, it's nearly useless. The aperture/transmission needs to be nearly constant for a power zoom to be useful.

After looking at it some more, it looks like the power zoom actually clips to the lens and has an electrical communication to the lens. If Canon has created a parfocal, continuous aperture, 18-135 with smooth motoried zoom, I'm impressed.

It looks like an external motorized cradle. You can see an extra set of geared rings just in front of the contacts on the lens. That is probably what drives it.

 

[Tugela]

Interesting. That physical design looks a LOT like recent Tamron consumer zooms:

Other than the fact that they don't look alike?