Reaching the zoom rocker on dvx200

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PCAir

Member
This might sound dumb ... I'm used to a larger shoulder mount camera (JVC DV5100) and when it's on a tripod, reaching the zoom rocker with my left hand, across the top of the lens, is no problem. Right hand is on the tripod handle.

With the DVX200 on a tripod, the camera's handle is in the way when reaching with my left hand for the main zoom rocker.

What do you do when it's on a tripod? Use the small zoom rocker on top of the handle? Control camera movement with two hands and not the tripod handle?

I've never done much with manual zoom so getting that going smoothly would take some practice. Do shooters do that?

Thanks for any insights here.
 
PCAir said:
This might sound dumb ... I'm used to a larger shoulder mount camera (JVC DV5100) and when it's on a tripod, reaching the zoom rocker with my left hand, across the top of the lens, is no problem. Right hand is on the tripod handle.

With the DVX200 on a tripod, the camera's handle is in the way when reaching with my left hand for the main zoom rocker.

What do you do when it's on a tripod? Use the small zoom rocker on top of the handle? Control camera movement with two hands and not the tripod handle?

I've never done much with manual zoom so getting that going smoothly would take some practice. Do shooters do that?

Thanks for any insights here.
Click to expand...

Whenever it's on a tripod, I use the Libec Zoom rocker: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/361366-REG/Libec_ZC_3DV.html
If I ever have to rush to put my camera on a tripod (wedding for example) and I don't have time to put the zoom rocker on, I reeeally miss it :(
 
Ditto, if operating BEHIND the camera on sticks, yeah a third party zoom rocker on the pan handle works nicely.

However, if you are operating FROM THE SMART SIDE with the right hand on the pan handle and the left hand on the zoom rocker, it's tough with DVX200 since it is a palmcorder and therfore compact and therefore the built-in handle is right where your wrist should be when operating that way. Now, you could get a third party zoom rocker and attach that to the handle. Or, you could invest in a rails system and attach a follow focus like I sometimes do. But, really, I wind up reaching over the lens like I'm used to and doing some weird acrobatics that make operating from the smart side problematic. Eventually, you have to just say screw it and get a third party zoom rocker and operate from behind. I recommend this one for single panhandles, though.
 
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