C100: Sigh. Zacuto Grip Relocator

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
Hi all:

I am wondering how many of you own the Zacuto Grip Relocator? I have had mine for a few years and love it and I very much am a fan of Zacuto products in general, I just bought a demo EVF Pro from as well. I am prepping for a big shoot in South America that I leave on next week. Not only am I using and needing my Zacuto grip relocator for handheld shooting, I am also using it on the Letus Helix Jr. like DVXer SlavikB invented here http://www.geardads.com/camera-gimbal-letus-helix-canon-c300-c100/ A genius idea. Problem is, my grip relocator stopped working in December. Sent it back to Zacuto in January and they had it for a month, repaired it and shipped it back. I've used it for a couple of shoots and now it is selectively not working again. Yes, I have unlugged and re-plugged it back in, made sure the plug is seated properly. It sometimes partially works where I can change WB, shutter and ISO, but the Iris control doesn't work. Then later, the iris control will work, but the record button doesn't. I've tried rotating it, pushing it into the jack firmly, etc. I take the Canon grip off of the reloactor and plug it into the camera and all functions work fine so I know it's the Zacuto. In the interest of trying something new, I just ordered the Wooden Camera grip relocator and I have figured out a way to mount it to the Letus Helix Jr. handle. If I have problems with the Wooden unit, I am less than hour away from them.

1. Has anyone used the Wooden Camera Grip Relocator who has used or owned the Zacuto Relocator? How is the Wooden reliability compared to the Zacuto?
2. I was on a shoot with a few other crews who were all using C100s and C300s and several of them were using the Zacuto grip relocator. I asked them if they liked it and they said yes, but that they too had sent their relocators back to Zacuto multiple times for repair. I am kind of surprised that the Zacuto seems so unreliable, it's not like it's super cheap or anything and usually Zacuto stuff is pretty reliable. I am trying out the Wooden Relocator but I also ordered a spare Zacuto ENG relocator too so I will now have three grip relocators. Kind of ridiculous but I need it for this shoot I am working on for both shoulder mounted handheld and for use in the Letus Heliz Jr.
3. Anyone know of winding the cable from either around the grip extension arm is more reliable than just looping the excess cable and tying it off with a velcro cable wrap?
 
Last edited:
I use mine quite a bit with my Ronin and haven't had any problems yet.

I did have a problem when I ripped the entire plug off when using the grip relocator on a shoulder mount, but I sent it into Zacuto and they replaced it. I guess I've been lucky.
 
I have the Wooden Camera grip relocater. Replaced my Arri when the wires got ripped out of it last year. So far, so good. It seems solid and has worked well, so far. And I just loosely wind the excess cable around the iris rod.

I may be in the minority, but I didn't like the design of the Zacuto and that's why I originally went with the Arri and then the Wooden Camera.
 
I too had a choice to get the Z-grip relocator but I agree, I am not crazy about the design and the heavy duty-ness of it. The Wooden handle uses the Arri Rosette with teeth and I bought the Tilta 6" handle extenders and the Wooden Camera 15mm rod to double Arri Rosette attachment. The Arri Rosette with heavier arm with more mass to it with the Rosette teeth seems much more robust than the Zacuto mount on the Z-Grip or the ENG model. Fingers crossed. This shoot will be mostly handheld and gimbal so my entire shoot mandate largely depends on being able to work with the handle remotely. I'm hedging my bets, I will bring both the Wooden Relocator and the Zacuto.
 
Received the replacement Zacuto today as well as the Wooden Camera Relocator. No comparison, the Wooden is definitely heavier and built a little beefier, I like the feel of it and the Arri Rosette system over just 15mm rod fittings. Plugged in the replacement Zacuto and the Wooden, both worked fine. Now to send the broken Zacuto back to them for another repair.
 
Puredrifting, good know the Zacuto is working, gives me some hope. Mine never worked from the beginning. I got it to work on the C100 mki after giggling it around and repeatedly trying to change the ISO settings, but after that I always said a little prayer every time I used it.

It didn't work at all on the mkii, not even a little.... nothing! Since the C100 mkii can be operated by the LCD I just figured that was my option after setting it up to Slavik's idea.

I never sent the Zacuto back for repair after reading about all the problems others were having, just wrote it off as an expensive mistake.

I am I correct to assume that those success stories were with the mki? Anyone get it to work on an mkii?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top