New controller for Panasonic Cameras from Studio 1 Productions

kwkeirstead

kwkeirstead

Well-known member
I bought a "ProZoom™ Panasonic Zoom/Focus Controller" and expect to receive it Feb 15th from Studio 1 Productions in time for a United Way fund-raiser event I am covering that night.

http://www.studio1productions.com/zoom-controller-dvx.htm

I have been waiting for this product to come on the market for a couple of months

I will post a review here within a few days.

At $99, it looks pretty interesting.
 
ProZoom Panasonic Review
Date of Review: February 20, 2013
By: Karl Walter Keirstead
Product Name : ProZoom Panasonic
Supplier Name: www.Studio1Productions.com
Contact: 386 788 6075

Reviewer Status
I have no affiliation with Studio1Productions.

Overall Impressions
Excellent product, greatly improves workflow – could not find anything wrong with it. At $99, it’s a steal.

Ordering Processing
The supplier promptly filled my order and shipped the next day (I ordered on a Sunday night).

Packaging
The packing was adequate, shipments packed the same way should arrive without damage.

Instruction Sheet
The instruction sheet clearly describes the functionality.

Installation
The unit installs on a tripod handle with two long thumbscrews.
The install plates are solid (metal).
I installed duct tape around the tripod handle to prevent the plates from removing surface paint on the handle.
The screws are easy to tighten/untighten.
I recommend progressive tightening followed by testing by trying gently to rotate the unit clockwise/counterclockwise. If there is no slip, do not over tighten.

All of the buttons are well-placed and of superior quality.

Left side for Focus, middle knob for Zoom (anticlockwise for W, clockwise for T), Right side for Iris.

Record
The button is well-positioned and very visible.

ZOOM
The dead zone is in the center, you hear a definite click.
Camera SettingProZoom Switch SettingOverride
Auto ZoomAuto (up)Camera
Manual (down)ProZoom
Manual ZoomAuto (up)Camera
Manual (down)Camera

As you dial clockwise or anticlockwise, the speed of zooming increases smoothly.

There is no bounce back either at W or at T.


FOCUS/ IRIS
The following summarizes the Focus/Iris actions with toggle switches up (auto) and down (manual)

FOCUS
Camera SettingProZoom Switch SettingOverride
Auto FocusAuto (up)Camera
Manual (down)ProZoom
Manual FocusAuto (up)BLOCKED at ProZoom*
Manual (down)ProZoom

*very useful, prevents inadvertent adjustment of Focus. But, guard against touching the wheel because if you switch out of auto to manual, you will probably jump to an unwanted focus setting.

Remotes have sensitive Focus wheels (the camera wheel is bigger, therefore easier to get a precise setting). Get used to the small wheels.

IRIS
Camera SettingProZoom Switch SettingOverride
Auto IrisAuto (up)*
Manual (down)*
Manual IrisAuto (up)*
Manual (down)ProZoom
*did not test

Cabling
The two cables are 5 feet in length. Bigger connector goes on top, smaller goes on below.
For tripod use, I reached the conclusion the cables would be best looped and tied with twist ties, one of which I put around the tripod arm.
Make sure you include extra twist ties in your grab bag.

Notice how the wires are able to connect upward and can be looped around the battery down to the tripod handle.

For slider use, it would seem best to have one single coiled cable that splits into two at both ends. I don’t have a slider so I was not able to experiment
or comment but it’s my understanding the usual setup finds the tripod in the middle of the slider, or at one end in some situations, so everything should be
OK for both horizontal and vertical slides with five foot cables. You can buy extension cables from the supplier should you have a need to use say a 12 foot slider.

Internal Works
The unit under test was not a demo or sample. I ordered it for production use. I did not open the unit because it would invalidate the warranty.
 
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Nicely done review. Can you compare this unit to any of the others on the market, like the Varizooms or Manfrottos? Is there any reason to prefer the ProZoom over one of these?

- Greg
 
Sorry, the only other remote I have is a Manfrotto 521FI and it has 1/2 of the functionality, at more than double the price.
 
Can you achieve a slower zoom with the prozoom than just operating the camera zoom?

Does the zoom have soft starts and stops?
 
Thank you for expressing interest . . . .

Yes, it features continuous variable zoom in/out.

You can start slow, ramp up, let the zoom run on its own and then toward the end of your zooming you can decelerate and slowly arrive at your end point.

I will run an experiment where I accelerate quickly, let the zoom run on it's own until it hits the end point (0 or 86 for my camera) and see if we get a bounce at the end.

It's 5 AM here, so you should be able to see results by 0900 hrs your time.

Next Monday, I have to cover four events at a talent review (musical stage events). I will upload some footage so that you can see how the zoom performs.
 
I ran some footage just now in my living room with my tripod on the carpet, pins extended - still not very stable, - need to repeat with rubber feet on ceramic tile and post the results to YouTube so you can see

Close to Far
1. fast zoom - (any bounce at end of travel?)
2. ramp up/full speed/slow down toward end - it looks like you have to start deceleration at around 50 (full in is 86) - (smooth all the way? no bounce when you turn the wheel to the no-zoom middle position?)
3. slow start, allow to go to 86, see if there is any bounce. (smooth? no bounce?)

I suppose to be thorough, I need to repeat from far to close.
 
If you are zooming and let go of the knob does the zoom continue? Or does ithe knob go back to center and the zoom stops?
 
I was actually just looking at the varizoom, but may end up going with this instead. The toggle switches look like they may get broken easily in transport. But looks decent enough for use, for the price may grab two and have one as a back up. Thanks for the find.
 
If you buy 2, then you could use one for zoom and the other for focus and iris. And it's still cheaper than alot of other units.
 
Digitalgecko . . . the zooming speed remains constant if you "let go" of the knob. This means you can start a slow zoom, let it be and then accelerate it for a while and then cut back for a soft landing.

To reverse directions, you have to go through the middle position and then go to the other side.

A full speed zoom requires, a sharp clockwise turn then, if you decide to reverse and go at the same speed, you are talking about something like a 270 degree adjustmenta the wheel.
 
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