stabilizers and zoom controllers

[mdizzo]

hey guys, i'm ready to blow a large amount of money on a dvx100a and am trying to choose the best, yet most economical stabilizer and zoom controller. i'll primarily be shooting weddings. the stabilizers i've looked at are the dvrigpro (www.dvtec.tv) and the varizoom vz-lsp (http://www.varizoom.com/pages/lsp.php). there's obviously a couple hundred bucks difference. also, for zoom controllers the zoe zoom (http://www.saferseas.com/vsd/eye/zoe.html) and the varizoom vz-rock-dvx (http://www.varizoom.com/controllers/rockdvx.php). has anyone used or heard of people who have used these. i'm pretty open at this point, just want the best stuff even if i have to pay more. thanks.

[mdizzo]

also i might add if there's something better you can recommend i'm definitely open to suggestions, don't want to make it sound like these are the only ones i'll buy.

[Barry_Green]

At DVExpo, one of the things we made sure to do was test out the zoom controllers.

Unfortunately for me (who was doing the buying), my jib operator declared that the Zoe was "vastly superior" to the VariZoom options. The Zoe is twice as expensive as the least-expensive VariZoom. 16x9 had a show special on it, $285 which includes a free Petrol lens hood. I had to buy it, and it's a very useful piece of equipment (but it's so small and packed so spartanly, it sure doesn't look like it should cost $300!)

Then again, as they say, "buy the best and you only cry ONCE."

If you want to save bucks on a zoom controller, read Zoomforce's article on building your own for under $20.

As for stabilizer, we went with the GlideCam 4000.

[Zoomforce]

I use the glidecam 2000 with the DVX.. it works well with out being too heavy for prolonged use.

Zoe rocker is definately the best. I didnt really test the Varizoom when I was at the varizoom booth, I got lost in talking to the guys about thier upcoming remote focus puller for the DVX.

[Barry_Green]

The 2000 works well, we'd been using a guy's 2000 while trying to figure out what to buy for this show. I just figured that after adding the anamorphic, the heavy battery, the wireless mic receiver, etc., it might be pushing the weight limit of the 2000, plus I want to be able to use it with the film cameras too. For those who don't have need to accomodate that variety of equipment the 2000 is an excellent choice.

As for the focus thing, we ended up going with a focus ring from 16x9. The Century was nice, especially since it added hard stops, but at $320 (at B&H, $395 retail) it was way overkill for our needs (which is driving the focus gear from a jib arm's focus motor). We ordered a piece from the 16x9 follow-focus system. The ring itself has industry-standard-pitch gear teeth and cost less than $100.