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MX Motor drive sought?

Taliety
Posted 01/06/2004 - 23:14 Link
Hi,

I know that the MX had a motor drive available, 5 frames a second, but I've not seen one for sale recently (plenty of auto winders). Anybody got any ideas where I should look for one? I think it uses external batteries, in common with the LX. Are they normally sold separately, as I've not seen the battery pack available either.

Is the LX motor drive the same, or will I end up buying an LX as well. Always wanted one, but definitely don't need one.

Taliety
Cheers

Malcolm

Life? Don't talk to me about life!
Kim C
Posted 01/06/2004 - 23:26 Link
Hi,
Over the last year, I have seen about 3 MX motordrives on eBay. You have to watch though because many people call the winder a drive.

The MX drive took either a NiCd pack or a pistol grip which took AA bats. The NiCd pack is much better but many have the cells gone. These can easily be replaced. I changed the ones in my pack for about £18 and can do it for others if needed. The LX drive is different and won't fit the MX. The MX NiCd pack will fit the LX drive but the LX pack won't fit the MX drive! The pistol grip will fit both.

As to getting one - how much do you need it. They tend to attract quite high prices. I had 2 LX drives, one for each LX (one had the MX pack!). However, I didn't use them that much and sold one.

Regards
Kim
Taliety
Posted 01/06/2004 - 23:35 Link
Thanks Kim.

I'm not sure "need" describes my interest, just "want". I have no application, but currently have no faster drive than about 2.5fps. I do find this quite slow if I'm taking sports and car racing photos. Quite a lot happens in 400ms. In fact, I sometimes find I get better results by using a quick finger on the button.

Yes, I have found the descriptions are sometimes a bit wayward. This can only be resolved by a photo (on ebay). Just seen an LX motor drive sold on ebay, only one bidder, but got £95.

I've not long had the MX, so have only just started thinking about a motor drive.

Taliety
Cheers

Malcolm

Life? Don't talk to me about life!
Kim C
Posted 01/06/2004 - 23:58 Link
Hi again,
The only trouble with the drive is that 5fps is a "max" speed. You will only get 5 fps at max shutter speed. In real terms it works out at about 3-4 fps. I have not had much success with using them to get a sequence of a fast moving object. The frame I wanted was always in the middle of 2 shots!!!! In my motor racing days, I found the best way was to prefocus on a point in the track, pan the camera and manually take the shot in the right place.

Kim
Taliety
Posted 02/06/2004 - 00:12 Link
Yes, I find that prefocus is best for the pan or head on shots, but the motor is useful for the exciting bits, like when somebody overcooks it, or there's a tangle.

I find I'm usually using a long lens with multiplier, so autofocus when available doesn't work, as the maximum aperture is around f8. You just have to be a bit nifty with the follow focus, but caressing the release just isn't fast enough, so you have to be a bit more agressive. this in turn means that you're liable to end up with a lot of blurred photos.

I used to do a lot of rifle shooting, and the trigger caress is essential to an accurate shot. Lots of lessons to be learned in getting a steady camera, but I'm finding a monopod gives much steadier results if a tripod can't be used.

Taliety
Cheers

Malcolm

Life? Don't talk to me about life!
Kim C
Posted 02/06/2004 - 00:35 Link
I know what you mean. I didn't want to put you off a drive. I actually found the drive more useful in other ways. With a long lens I have sometimes used a rifle grip and the drive works well.

The bat pack and drive can be separated and connected with a cord. The bat pack then becomes a remote release. I have a long 10m cord and this setup has proved very useful in nature photos.

In many air to air shoots, I have to use the LX upside down to fit around helmet, cockpit etc. Easy to fire the shutter this way but a to rewind without the drive!!!

Kim
Stephen
Posted 06/06/2004 - 17:11 Link
Just a small correction - the LX NiCd pack does fit the MX drive, it is a little longer than the MX drive so protrudes a few millimeters at each end but doesn't look too ungainly. I find that the handling of the MX, particularly with longer lenses fitted (I use it with the 300mm M*) is greatly improved when using the drive.

Another interesting differnce on the MX drive is the shot counter. This will allow you to set a maximum number of shots, which when reached the drive stops. In practice I have found this frustrating so tend to set it the 36exp setting.
Stephen

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