The Best $229 You Can Spend On Your DVX200 - Mike Mas

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Mike Mas

Active member

Hello Guys - Of the hundreds of cameras I’ve operated all the way back from my first Ikegami’s in the 80’s, I’ve always reserved remotes for studio work and seldom if ever used them in the field, that is until now. A few months ago, I ordered a VariZoom remote for my DVX200 and can truly make the claim that next to my Atomos Shogun, the VariZoom remote is now the second best investment I’ve made to my DVX200.

I was just on a good sized 4 day project which included shooting at Bell Mountain, Ga and it seemed as if almost every shot required talent to be moving at angles to the camera or with a zoom, being able see the shot in bright sun thanks to the Atomos and having the Varizoom to keep them in focus, cut my shoot time in half with a minimum of re-takes.

Here's a few screen grab's from the videos to show the DVX200 is alive and well with regard color and quality and in no need of retirement. The first image is Bell Mountain at Magic Hour, which is a Drone image, aerials are 90% of our work and the field we specialize in.

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While the DVX200 is pretty much a complete package for almost any type of project and its egress well designed for smooth operation of its controls and lens, when on a tripod with the addition of the “VariZoom Rocker Control” it will provide a new level of control to your work. The VariZoom remote adds a degree of ease resulting a better product. Aside from just a zoom & trigger controller, having the iris and focus on the handle offers a whole new degree of control for the DVX.

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Regardless, of how slick you are about reaching over and around the camera to adjust focus and zoom, this remote will improve your shots two-fold, and there’s no operator shakes in your shot! You can even detach the control and have a separate operator pull focus on your moving shots as you steer the shot.

While I’m sure some DVX owners already own a remote, if you don’t, I guarantee it will be the best $229 you can spend on your DVX200. P.S. The remote also doubles as a trigger control for your GH4/5 as well.

https://www.varizoom.com/

Regards - Mike

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I use this remote now for more than 3 Years. I bought it for the AG-AC130A and use it now with my DVX-200. As you mentioned it works great, but frankly, the zoom poti inside, a 20kOhm Bourns Poti worns out, cousing the zoom to start not smoothly. So I must replace it. But beside this it is a great remote! Please note that the area focus does not work with the remote connected...
The yellow square dissapears at the moment you connect the remote. And if you try to switch it on, you get "invalid"...
 
Can you please tell what kind of magic arm do you use for holding Shogun? is it good? I'm just looking at different options at the moment.
 
Alex,

Hello - I'm using the Wooden Ultra Arm, its an extremely rugged (alunimum) "flexible arm design" yet its easy to loosen and re-adjust. The one shown has the 5" extension which works for both the DVX and the GH5 I would recommend also getting the shorter 3" extension ($35) so it works with other smaller cameras, etc.

I'm using the Manfrotto 323 Quick Release on top so I can quickly remove the monitor. I use this same Manfrotto 323 release on my GH5 so I can move it from the tripod to the Crane gimbal, but I can snap the camera on this same mount if I needed to perch it, or use one pod for a 2 camera fixed station.

Here's a link and a few images and a link.

Regards - Mike

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=email&A=details&Q=&sku=1281017&is=REG

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Excalibur said:
I use this remote now for more than 3 Years. I bought it for the AG-AC130A and use it now with my DVX-200. As you mentioned it works great, but frankly, the zoom poti inside, a 20kOhm Bourns Poti worns out, cousing the zoom to start not smoothly. So I must replace it. But beside this it is a great remote! Please note that the area focus does not work with the remote connected...
The yellow square dissapears at the moment you connect the remote. And if you try to switch it on, you get "invalid"...
Click to expand...

Excaliber,

Thanks for bringing that point up, I totally forgot to mention it.

LOL! I spend over an hour one day trying to figure what the heck I screwed up with my switch settings for focus and Iris controls only to find out I forgot to unplug the remote. Yes, the remote tends to disable focus and iris switches & setting when plugged in!

Regards!
 
TheTrickster said:
I wonder if this would work on the GH4/GH5 with the 14-42mm PowerZoom lenses?
Click to expand...

There is only one remote plug on the GH5, when I tried the Varizoom I was only able to trigger the camera to record with no focus.

If you have a motorized power zoom lens, (which I don't) the zoom will operate.

Mike
 
I agree, this Varizoom rocker really is the best for the price. It works great, and it's study too. A few times the control knobs have wiggled free but I cranked them back down with an allen wrench and have been good every since. The cable is long for tripod arm extending. I'm not a fan of how it connects though...just nuts and bolts...I've dropped the nuts more than once, so I just ended up keeping it on 24/7 instead of trying to tear it down all the way.

I got caught in the rain at a wedding last month and thought it was toast (wouldn't work for a little while). Dried it out and it's just like new and works perfectly.

I tried a few cheaper Libec controllers and they started malfunctioning after a few months.
 
TheTrickster said:
I wonder if this would work on the GH4/GH5 with the 14-42mm PowerZoom lenses?
Click to expand...

At one point, I had a different zoom controller (a Bebob/16x9) for my bigger cameras, and decided to try it on my GH4 with the 45-175mm power zoom... and it worked. I don't see why this wouldn't.
 
Those features are awesome! I would like to see those with programmable dedicated buttons on a new DVX300 maybe! Very cool.
 
Hello to all Varizoom users:
This is not "The-best-229-you-can-spend-on-your-DVX200"! As you know (a few steps back in this thread) my zoom lever on the Varizoom does not work properly. A low zoom speed is not possible. So I ask Varizoom for a replacement of the Bourns Zoom Pot. And this is what I get back: "Unfortunately this may be a part you wont be able to buy. They require you to buy a very large qty. We also do not sell this part."
That means, you can not buy a simple spare part from VariZoom! The only way is work with the bad zooming or put the VariZoom in the waste bin!
That's why I have bought the DigiPin!
Much, much better!
 
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