what's a 'servo'? (HMC150)

[iFilm7]

what is it?
EX1 has true manual and hmc150 has servo? huh?
i tried looking the word up but im not sure exactly what it does for the camcorder....

[koolpenguin89]

A servo is pretty much any object that turns an electrical signal into mechanical motion (thanks mythbusters!). In the sense of a camcorder, the servo is controlling the zoom or focus of the lens. When you turn the rings, it sends an electrical signal to a servo, that then moves the physical elements (the glass) inside the lens. This is as opposed to a non-servo lens, where the focus and zoom rings themselves move the lens elements, probably through gears or something, but I'm not positive, i've never taken one apart. The reason a non-servo lens is more desirable is because at the begnning and end of the zoom range/focus range, the ring will stop, allowing you to make marks on the lens barrel for pre-determined stop points. The rings on a servo lens will move perpetually, they have no stop points. Hope this helped.

Dylan

[cgbier]

Three words: Fly by wire

[iFilm7]

lol i still dont understand... in particularly the hmc150, it only has a servo or w/e..... ay nakoo.. im so confused sorry.
how can i make them stop or w/e if they have servo

[koolpenguin89]

You don't, the ring simply keeps turning once you get to the beginning/end of th focus/zoom range. I really don't think I can explain it any more than I have.

Dylan

[Zacatac]

And the HMC150 has a full manual zoom ring, or you can switch it to Servo mode and use the zoom toggle, like what the HV20/30 has.

the XH-A1 has only a servo zoom, so you really can't do whip zooms like on the HMC

[Rikki]

A1s apparently has manual zoom tho.

HMC150 has both rocker zoom and twist and grab ring tho the iris and focus are fly by wire unfortunately.

[fishops]

the XH-A1 has only a servo zoom, so you really can't do whip zooms like on the HMC

Well, you can do snap zooms with the A1 but they aren't as fast or nice looking. The servo mechanism in the A1 is very fast for what it is.

The HMC does have a fully manual zoom though, you can disengage the servo with a switch in the front like any other Panasonic I've used. I shot an event with a friend's HMC the other day, and if I could afford to trade up I would replace my A1 tomorrow. It's a fantastic camera.

[koolpenguin89]

Just for the record, I was just explaining what a servo was in general, not on any specific camera.

Dylan

[iFilm7]

ohh, okay, thanks Dylan. (:
ummm what do you mean by fly by wire for the focus? i cant do whip focus shots?

[PeterC]

On the HMC150, you can switch between manual zoom and servo zoom. Servo zoom functions just like the rocker zoom on the HV20. The only difference is that the zoom ring will also turn as you press the rocker button. So when you switch to manual zoom, it just disengages the servo motor and you can whip zoom as fast as you can turn the lens, like an SLR lens.

[iFilm7]

oooh, i get it now! lol thanks!
but as for focus 'ummm what do you mean by fly by wire for the focus? i cant do whip focus shots?'

[cgbier]

Fly by wire means you don't have a mechanical connection, but any touch on the focus ring/wheel/rocker gives an electrical signal to a servo which then does the focusing.
(general description of "fly by wire", not camera specific)

[iFilm7]

so i can do whip focusing like how i can whip zoom?

[PeterC]

so i can do whip focusing like how i can whip zoom?

Yes