Manfrotto 523PRO Telescopic Pan Bar Style Lanc Remote Control for Sony & Canon Camcorders

by Manfrotto

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000FA7PP8
• Item model number: 523PRO
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

The 523PRO remote control works with both Sony and Canon LANC-enabled MiniDV and HDV video cameras. The remote control features a record/stop button, a power on/standby button, three different zoom speed control buttons (slow, medium, and fast), and a push autofocus button.

The zoom wheel can be used to control one of the three preset maximum zoom speeds or a customizable maximum speed which you can set to exactly the level you want. For all zoom speeds except the slowest preset speed, you can choose between progressive zoom speed (the further you rotate the zoom wheel, the faster the zoom) or fixed zoom speed (irrespective of the rotation applied to the wheel, zoom speed remains constant) by pressing the button once (progressive) or twice (fixed). The LED shows you which speed you have selected. To set a "custom" zoom speed, simply hold the zoom speed button until the LED flashes and use the wheel to set your speed. The setting remains in the unit's memory until you decide to change it. Whether you choose a limited progressive zoom range or a single fixed speed, the features of the 523PRO mean you can easily repeat zooms precisely in subsequent takes of the same shot. The 523PRO also allows you to set left- and right-handed operation by changing zoom wheel direction.

The push autofocus button makes it very easy to achieve in focus images when working in manual focus mode. You can also use the manual focus in and out buttons and change the focus direction. The 523PRO does not come with any parts to fit to the head, but instead utilizes the pan bar clamp that comes with all Manfrotto 500 series heads.

Product Description

The 523 works with both Sony and Canon LANC enabled video cameras to give you even greater control over the zoom functions of the camera from the pan bar of your video head! Aside from the record/stop, focus and power on/standby buttons (also found on the 522 LANC models,) the main feature of the 523 is that it gives you three different zoom speed control buttons. The 523 ships with these buttons as general use presets, but you can rapidly customize them to your own personal zoom speed levels! The zoom speed buttons set the upper limit of the range of movement of the zoom wheel and determine whether the zoom is progressive as you exert more pressure on the wheel, or fixed no matter how far you push the wheel. Being able to set a fixed zoom speed is an obvious advantage, since you can cut out the risk of accidentally putting too much pressure on the zoom wheel and ruining the shot half way through. The progressive set speed feature is even more flexible: the zoom wheel in full min-max range has 8 different speed positions, so as you gradually turn the wheel further, it steps up gradually from a slow to a rapid zoom. By selecting the lowest zoom speed, the whole arc of movement that normally covers all speed steps only covers a few of them, meaning that you can easily keep the zoom limited to a slower range that you might find more suitable for your subject. Whether you choose a limited progressive zoom range or a single fixed speed, the features of the 523 mean you can easily repeat zooms precisely in subsequent takes of the same shot.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product, although expenseive, November 16, 2008

By 

Stan Miastkowski (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Manfrotto 523PRO Telescopic Pan Bar Style Lanc Remote Control for Sony & Canon Camcorders (Electronics)

If you're a serious video maker: professional, prosumer, or serious amateur, having this remote as a replacement for the tilt-and-pan lever on your Manfrotto tripod will make a big difference in the quality of your finished videos. I use it with a Canon GL-2 to record stage productions, and it makes for smooth movements and zooms, instead of groping for the controls on the camera. It's high-quality as I'd expect from Manfrotto; and built like a tank. Its $400 price is high, and I paused a long time before purchasing it. But it's been worth every penny.