Pentax Power Zoom Explained

Pentax Power Zoom Explained · **2 Likes**

Pentax DSLR's which support SDM autofocus also supports power zoom to some extent as explained in the link below.

Pentax Power Zoom

flyer · 01-31-2009, 05:36 PM

Most modes don't actually work on Pentax digital cameras. Just the motorized zoom works with those.

Bophoto · 03-26-2009, 01:25 AM

But that should work with a firmeware update.
But we don´t have that

falconeye · 07-25-2009, 03:34 AM

Originally posted by Ole:

Pentax DSLR's which support SDM autofocus also supports power zoom to some extent as explained in the link below.

This information needs clarification as it is not correct.

I checked various manuals to derive that the following bodies sporting SDM do or do not support powerzoom:

K100D Super: no
K110D: no
K10D: yes
K10D GP: yes
K20D: yes
K200D: no
K2000: no
K-m: no
K-7: yes
K-x: no

I just purchased a powerzoom only to find out it doesn't work on a K-m... (and yes, I found out later on that it is specified powerzoom doesn't work with K-m; Pentax dropped the feature!)

It is important to note that powerzoom is avaliable with movie recording (K-7). BTW, for dSLR video this may only be possible in Pentax mount ...

Last edited by falconeye; 10-12-2009 at 06:39 PM.

knoxploration · 12-27-2010, 07:02 PM

Apologies for bumping a rather old thread, but it seems very relevant, and so makes rather more sense than creating a new one.

I'm curious to learn more about how power zoom operates, and its compatibility with Pentax's flagships. I presume from Falk's list that it's likely supported by the K-5 too, given that all previous K-series flagships have supported it.

The mosphotos page suggests you can use the zoom ring to power zoom on compatible bodies, but that it will still work as a manual zoom ring on other bodies -- am I correct in that belief? Is the switch between power and manual modes automatic, or do you make some manual adjustment to support manual zooming? And is there any way to zoom manually with a power zoom lens on a power zoom body, or are you then restricted solely to power zooming, without a way to fall back to manual zoom if you prefer?

Also, am I correct in thinking the mosphotos page means that you can power zoom and automatically retract on compatible DSLR bodies? Or which of the five options are supported on current DSLRs?

Thanks in advance to anybody who can share knowledge of this interesting tech. Seems like it has some interesting advantages, especially for video shooting, albeit I'd guess the zoom noise would make external audio recording a must.

knoxploration · 12-28-2010, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by knoxploration

The mosphotos page suggests you can use the zoom ring to power zoom on compatible bodies, but that it will still work as a manual zoom ring on other bodies -- am I correct in that belief? Is the switch between power and manual modes automatic, or do you make some manual adjustment to support manual zooming? And is there any way to zoom manually with a power zoom lens on a power zoom body, or are you then restricted solely to power zooming, without a way to fall back to manual zoom if you prefer?

I've answered this for myself after finding the PZ-1 manual on Pentax's website. Pages 27 and 28 have the info:

http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/manual/PZ-1.pdf

To confirm for anybody else researching this, though, you switch modes by sliding the zoom ring forwards or backwards slightly. It's possible to use either power or manual zoom modes on bodies supporting power zoom, and you can fall back to manual zoom for bodies that only support that.

Quote:

Also, am I correct in thinking the mosphotos page means that you can power zoom and automatically retract on compatible DSLR bodies? Or which of the five options are supported on current DSLRs?

Haven't yet managed to answer this point myself, though...

dragra · 12-07-2013, 01:02 AM

What does the "P", "A" and "AS" switch on the power-zoom lens stand for? BTW some links in this thread are dead.

PePe · 12-07-2013, 03:16 AM

Originally posted by dragra

What does the "P", "A" and "AS" switch on the power-zoom lens stand for? BTW some links in this thread are dead.

In the film days some bodies supported a number of advanced PZ functions such as image tracking, zooming during exposure etc The switch in the lens is to operate these. However, current bodies only support the basic motorized zooming, but none of the advanced functions .

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07-25-2009, 03:34 AM	#4
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by Ole: Pentax DSLR's which support SDM autofocus also supports power zoom to some extent as explained in the link below. This information needs clarification as it is not correct. I checked various manuals to derive that the following bodies sporting SDM do or do not support powerzoom: K100D Super: no K110D: no K10D: yes K10D GP: yes K20D: yes K200D: no K2000: no K-m: no K-7: yes K-x: no I just purchased a powerzoom only to find out it doesn't work on a K-m... (and yes, I found out later on that it is specified powerzoom doesn't work with K-m; Pentax dropped the feature!) It is important to note that powerzoom is avaliable with movie recording (K-7). BTW, for dSLR video this may only be possible in Pentax mount ... Last edited by falconeye; 10-12-2009 at 06:39 PM.

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01-31-2009, 05:36 PM	#2
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Most modes don't actually work on Pentax digital cameras. Just the motorized zoom works with those.

03-26-2009, 01:25 AM	#3
Bophoto Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 429	But that should work with a firmeware update. But we don´t have that

12-27-2010, 07:02 PM	#5
knoxploration Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 846	Apologies for bumping a rather old thread, but it seems very relevant, and so makes rather more sense than creating a new one. I'm curious to learn more about how power zoom operates, and its compatibility with Pentax's flagships. I presume from Falk's list that it's likely supported by the K-5 too, given that all previous K-series flagships have supported it. The mosphotos page suggests you can use the zoom ring to power zoom on compatible bodies, but that it will still work as a manual zoom ring on other bodies -- am I correct in that belief? Is the switch between power and manual modes automatic, or do you make some manual adjustment to support manual zooming? And is there any way to zoom manually with a power zoom lens on a power zoom body, or are you then restricted solely to power zooming, without a way to fall back to manual zoom if you prefer? Also, am I correct in thinking the mosphotos page means that you can power zoom and automatically retract on compatible DSLR bodies? Or which of the five options are supported on current DSLRs? Thanks in advance to anybody who can share knowledge of this interesting tech. Seems like it has some interesting advantages, especially for video shooting, albeit I'd guess the zoom noise would make external audio recording a must.

12-28-2010, 11:39 AM	#6
knoxploration Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 846	Originally posted by knoxploration The mosphotos page suggests you can use the zoom ring to power zoom on compatible bodies, but that it will still work as a manual zoom ring on other bodies -- am I correct in that belief? Is the switch between power and manual modes automatic, or do you make some manual adjustment to support manual zooming? And is there any way to zoom manually with a power zoom lens on a power zoom body, or are you then restricted solely to power zooming, without a way to fall back to manual zoom if you prefer? I've answered this for myself after finding the PZ-1 manual on Pentax's website. Pages 27 and 28 have the info: http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/manual/PZ-1.pdf To confirm for anybody else researching this, though, you switch modes by sliding the zoom ring forwards or backwards slightly. It's possible to use either power or manual zoom modes on bodies supporting power zoom, and you can fall back to manual zoom for bodies that only support that. Quote: Also, am I correct in thinking the mosphotos page means that you can power zoom and automatically retract on compatible DSLR bodies? Or which of the five options are supported on current DSLRs? Haven't yet managed to answer this point myself, though...

12-07-2013, 01:02 AM	#7
dragra Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ljubljana Photos: Albums Posts: 238	What does the "P", "A" and "AS" switch on the power-zoom lens stand for? BTW some links in this thread are dead.

12-07-2013, 03:16 AM	#8
PePe Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Helsinki, Finland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 597	Originally posted by dragra What does the "P", "A" and "AS" switch on the power-zoom lens stand for? BTW some links in this thread are dead. In the film days some bodies supported a number of advanced PZ functions such as image tracking, zooming during exposure etc The switch in the lens is to operate these. However, current bodies only support the basic motorized zooming, but none of the advanced functions .