Varizoom lens controllers

I've got a Rock PZFI. It's not bad. I've got the tiny focus wheel (I mean, the original version with the TINY focus wheel, which is as small as the iris wheel) and it's twitchy but not too bad. I've used one with the bigger focus wheel (they all come standard with the bigger wheel now, I believe). It's much better, but still no match for the smoothness of the FOXI or the sheer size of the FOXI.

I like the iris control on the Varizoom better than the iris on the FOXI. For focus the FOXI wins.

But in price, you have to consider that the FOXI is only Focus & Iris, so you'd need a ZOE too, and then you're at, what, $700? $750? Versus the Varizoom which gives you focus, iris, and zoom, all for about $259. I'm not saying that the zoom is as good as a Zoe, or that the focus is as good as a FOXI. But I am saying it's 1/3 the price, so you have to determine how important those features are to you.

I bought the Varizoom before the Foxi was out. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably spend the dough and get the Bebob products. But if someone's on a budget, the Varizoom is fine, at least if you have the bigger focus wheel.
 
I initially bought the Varizoom, returned it, couldn't stand it. I like Varizooms larger controls like the Pro-L line and such, but I hate everything in their "stealth" design. I now have the Bebob units and like them much better. Personally I find the Bebob products to be far superior to Varizoom's. Unless money is an issue...get the Bebob.
 
I just got my Varizoom Rock-PZFI controller and as a result of my first tests I have 2 questions:
1. In the macro area up to a few meters the contoller is very precise but then it starts to deteriorate. I assume that this works as designed and we'll have to live with it. Is it the same with the FOXI?
2. The user manual mentions that to operate the remote focus control feature properly, the FOCUS switch on the side of the camera lens should be set to 'A'. I tried it with 'M' and there was no obvious difference. Any explanation?
 
it is tempting, but I can't see myself trying to pull focus a whole day on that wheel! might get hand cramps even! lol
seriously, it is a big bargain, but I doubt I'd be able to get most of the investment back when upgrading becaue of the pricepoint and Foxi's price... buy it for 250, sell it for 200 and you'd still have a hard time getting a bite, and all along both you and your potential buyers are only $200 away from the Foxi........
 
I use the Stealth and the PZFI controllers. They both work well for my needs. The reason I have two is for my Fig Rig. They allow me to pull focus AND zoom simultaneously when I'm Fig Rig'ing it. Otherwise, I just mount the Stealth on a tripod arm or sometimes mount both. Depends on the shot.

But I see Barry's point and agree.

I'm going to be upgrading my camera with a 35mm lens adapter, mattebox, rails and all that. So, I'll be looking for better focus control at that point.
 
jjb said:
2. The user manual mentions that to operate the remote focus control feature properly, the FOCUS switch on the side of the camera lens should be set to 'A'. I tried it with 'M' and there was no obvious difference. Any explanation?
Click to expand...
Because the varizoom offers the option to switch between auto and manual focus on its controller. If you've set the camera to MF mode, that switch on the controller won't work. You can only switch to auto mode when the camera itself is in auto mode.
 
Controllers for 100a

Controllers for 100a

Is there a controller for the DVX 100a that has both focus and zoom? I can only find those features on controllers for the 100b.
 
The 100 and 100A lack the ability to servo control the focus from an external resistive divider.
 
Hey Barry, you know you can get the big wheel upgrade?
Mine has the big wheel but I still pretty much use the focusing ring on the camera more than I do on the controller.
 
Do not purchase a big wheel upgrade if you are getting a Varizoom now... the big wheel comes standard... if you do you'll be stuck with a replacement for a part that won't need to be replaced, they should change the page.
N8ture, just go to the site, they have it listed as a separate item.
 
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But how big is that big wheel? This would be for a 1st AC as well as myself depending on the situation. I was going to get the indiefocus and indierails but that would be equally expensive as a Varizoom, or more so depending on the model and especially taking into account how you have to buy rails to use it. The Varizoom is more versatile also. But I want my AC to pull good focus, and if my AC is me as it was earlier this week when I let my buddy shoot on my camera, I want it to be easy and even enjoyable to do so.

Looking at the specs on the site--says the "wheel upgrade" which is now apparently standard is 1'' in length, i.e. diameter. Whose idea of an upgrade is this? I wonder if I get request a further upgrade, and something to match marks against visually. I could rig a bigger wheel and match against a mark on the controller, but I don't want the rig looking too ghetto at the same time. That's part of what I love about a plain gear focus and whip, it looks so cool.

Anyway...long post in which I pretty much answered my question, but some confirmation on my conclusions and advice is still of course welcome.
 
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the wheel is far from the industry size... I measured it at an inch and an eighth in diameter
if you do rig a bigger wheel onto it please post back Gobo... I would be interested

I personally find pulling fine focus with the Varizoom to be hard and exhausting... I do wish I
had a bigger wheel, but mounted on my Fig Rig it is as good as it will get... mounted on the
tripod's arm it comes i very handy and worth the money... so I conclude that it is not for the
Assistant Cameraman dedicated to pulling focus while shooting, it does however work very
well, and for the single man crew it is worth it's price easily.
 
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Yeah, that definitely sucks. Oh well...if they won't do it for me I'll do it myself. Cut a bigger ring from cardboard and wrap it in gaff tape, or just use a foamcore ring which won't look as cool but would be less effort in certain respects.
 
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