HVX200 Bebob Zoe problem

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We've got 3 HVX's and 3 sets of Foxi and Zoe controllers.

Just recently the controllers have started to behave strangely. The zoom will continually creep towards telephoto, even when the zoe has been unplugged and also sometimes zooming into telephoto causes the camera to start recording. This is very frustrating as we use one of the cameras on a jimmy jib and has to be remotely controlled.

I've written to Bebob and all they have said is 'have we checked they are plugged in properly?' which wasn't much help at all.

We have found that leaving them overnight and then turning them on again seems to cure them for a few hours but then the behaviour just returns at random and stays like that until turned off overnight again.

We've swapped controllers and cameras and cables and every possible combination but the bahaviour just returns.

Anyone else had this problem with the Bebob stuff? The Foxi works great but the zoe, well it's made our kit unusable.

KE>

[mikkowilson]

If you are on a jib, I presume you are using an extension cable?

Does it creep with just the cable connected? (No Zoe on the end)


- Mikko

[monkeyking]

I have both Zoe s for the HVX - the current one DVXL that works with both sony(lanc) and Panasonic cameras and the HVX model only. I forget the name .
They both work fine but I don't use them as heavily as you do. I think I read a thread on the other user group about this same problem. do a search.

[jimpatro]

I've seen the same problem with the Varizoom controller. We reseated the connector and that fixed it.

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Yeah the Jimmy has the extention cables but it does it with none.

Just heard back from Bebob Germany and they say it's either a problem with the controllers or the cameras...but all 3? All at once? I find that hard to believe.

The strange thing is the camera just seems to go into a mode when this problem arises and even when the controller is pulled out it still carries on zooming.

I'm going to do some tests today and post a video on youtube so people can see the problem first hand.

Thanks for the replies.

[monkeyking]

I think once I plugged in one of my Zoe's and the camera started recording by it self, but I either turned it off or unplugged/replugged the connector to fix it.
I agree it doesn't seem likely that all 3 HVX's would fail simultaneously or all 3 zoes to fail as well.
Maybe try the zoe's on totally different HVX's and see what happens.

[mccannondsl@eircom.net]

Yes, I have the same problem with my Zoe. I understand it is not difficult to repair. It requires removing a strip of paper and invalidating your warranty. It is a common problem with them. I haven't repaired mine as yet. I sent it back to the people from whom I purchased it and they returned with having sorted out. I haven't had a chance to find out why was not fixed.

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HA!! after a week of waiting for this problem to come back, it finally came back today with a vengence. I have a video I posted on You Tube where you can clearly see the camera zoom creeping whether the zoe is connected or not. Switching it off seems to help for about 10 seconds and then when the zoom stops working again, the camera starts creeping again. It seems to me that there is some kind of fault with the Bebob controller that sends the camera into a tizz. It can't be a faulty unit unless all 6 units and combinations thereof are all faulty which seems hard to believe, unless the bebobs have an inherent/design fault.

Here's the vid.

http://www.youtube.com/v/pwpbzpaSqb4

Just to recap the symptoms.

First the zoe starts to behave strangely and does not control the zoom smoothly. Shortly after that the controller stops working completely, once that happens, the camera zoom starts creeping and just won't stop!

Turning it off resolves it for a few seconds but soon enough the zoe will stop responding and then once it does, the zoom creeps.

I'm calling foul on these Bebob units. However it is intermittent which makes it a total nightmare and totally unreliable.