Blackmagic Forum

After some advice...

Just bought a second hand BMPCC on eBay and separately bought a Panasonic H-PS14042 Pancake zoom with rockers for zoom and focus. BMPCC is running Firmware 2.1 - no idea what the lens firmware is as I don't have any other M43 cameras.

When I power up the camera with the lens attached I hear the lens do something but it doesn't extend nor do the zoom and focus rockers do anything. When I power the camera down I hear the lens do something. I have tried switching the camera on and off with the two rockers held in the W, T, N and F variations and on one occasion the lens extended and then retracted.

Anyone got any advice?

I'm going to see if I can clean the contacts with IsoPropyl alcohol in case they are at issue - though they look clean on both camera and lens.

I've seen some reference to powering the camera down with the lens removal button pressed down - but that didn't seem to change much.

Sometimes it's the lens and sometimes it's the camera.

When I bought my OG BMPCC, brand new, I couldn't control iris or focus on my Panasonic 12-35 MFT zoom. I brought it back to the store and we tested the lens on a Panasonic camera; it worked perfectly. We tried another focus-by-wire Panasonic MFT lens on the BMPCC and no dice, so the camera was returned (BMD actually repaired it and replaced some parts, but I don't think they service this camera anymore). That lens still works but I occasionally experience hiccups (sometimes using the lens shuts down the camera) so I mostly use all-manual lenses on that camera these days.

Cleaning the contacts is always recommended but the problem in your case is likely deeper than that. If you know anyone with an MFT camera you could try the lens on that camera to rule out the lens being faulty.

Brad Hurley wrote:Sometimes it's the lens and sometimes it's the camera.

When I bought my OG BMPCC, brand new, I couldn't control iris or focus on my Panasonic 12-35 MFT zoom. I brought it back to the store and we tested the lens on a Panasonic camera; it worked perfectly. We tried another focus-by-wire Panasonic MFT lens on the BMPCC and no dice, so the camera was returned (BMD actually repaired it and replaced some parts, but I don't think they service this camera anymore). That lens still works but I occasionally experience hiccups (sometimes using the lens shuts down the camera) so I mostly use all-manual lenses on that camera these days.

Yep - I've got a manual wide angle coming - that should work fine - but I was hoping for image stabilisation - hence the Lumix purchase.

Cleaning the contacts is always recommended but the problem in your case is likely deeper than that. If you know anyone with an MFT camera you could try the lens on that camera to rule out the lens being faulty.

Thanks Brad. I think a local camera store may be my next step.

I feared the contacts may not be it - as I can here 'something' is happening between the lens and the camera when powered up and down.