varizoom??????

C

crs127

Well-known member
So i got my camera today, yay!
Thanks Spec-Comm!

My problem is that i bought one of those varizoom rocks(f/i/z) units and when i hook it up to the camera, my iris would go all over the place and the focus would not work properly.
When i hold the jack up against the body of the camera, it seems to be ok.

I think i have a bad connection, anyone else experience anything like this?
 
Yes, I've experienced exactly that. Using Jay's Varizoom on this Prudential gig and it did something similar. When I first plugged it in, one dial would control both focus & iris (which is decidedly what you don't want!!) Then the AC read the manual and found out that you're supposed to have the camera set in autofocus; we tried that and it made no difference, so then he figured out to turn the camera off, set it in autofocus and turn it on with autofocus already engaged. From that point on it seemed to work.

Then when he pressed on the cable, it acted up again. We ended up pulling the focus/iris jack out and only using the zoom portion of it; at that point it worked fine as a zoom-only controller.

Very disappointing. I went back that night and sent Rush an e-mail cancelling my order for my Varizoom (I'd pre-ordered it). Of course, next morning the varizoom showed up on my doorstep. Sigh. Rush was so quick on the draw he'd already sent it before leaving on vacation, so now I have a Varizoom.

Well, I tried mine and so far it's working flawlessly. Which is good, but it does make me nervous.
 
crs127 said:
So i got my camera today, yay!
Thanks Spec-Comm!

My problem is that i bought one of those varizoom rocks(f/i/z) units and when i hook it up to the camera, my iris would go all over the place and the focus would not work properly.
When i hold the jack up against the body of the camera, it seems to be ok.

I think i have a bad connection, anyone else experience anything like this?
Click to expand...


I have the same one.
It sounds like you just don't have the connector in far enough.
One is smaller than the other, and you have to turn the cord in a way that it will go all the way in.




...or it could be defective, but I doubt it. It sounds like you are riding on both contacts (not pushed in all the way)
 
connectors are fully push in, i cant push it in any further, i think its a bad connection on the camera.
i hope not, i just got the thing.
 
Great I have one on the way too. Oh well I need more problems to go with the ones I'm having getting the camera and computer to play nice with each other.

David
 
crs127 said:
connectors are fully push in, i cant push it in any further, i think its a bad connection on the camera.
i hope not, i just got the thing.
Click to expand...
I agree. It certainly sounds like a connector issue, but we put 'em through every configuration we could think of. If they're coming loose, it's a design flaw that they should address.

I was kind of surprised that they went with two 90-degree connectors, it makes it very difficult to attach. I really wish they'd included some sort of molded block connector which would provide for easier and more secure attachment.
 
How do you like zoom controller itself.
or that matter also the focus & iris when they are working right.
 
Eh.

I dunno... I sure wish I had a place nearby where I could try this stuff out before buying.

It's okay. It works. It's better than not having the capability. And it's fairly cheap, so -- as long as it keeps working, I'll use it.

The really cool thing about the focus control is that it's a precise positioning system. It's discrete with hard stops, so you could control focus to exacting tolerances -- if the wheel was big enough. But the wheel is so tiny, it makes precise tracking a lot of work.

I know someone else talked about this, but I wonder how much effort it would be to replace the little wheel with a bigger-diameter wheel. Bigger diameter would give you more control.

The zoom's okay. Iris is okay; it has the same size focus wheel but it takes a lot more movement to effect a change, which is more like you'd want it.

Certainly not thrilled with it. But as long as it works, it seems like it could do the job. Definitely room for improvement though; if you need one right now, because you're doing a jib arm job or something, it's worth picking up. But if you don't NEED it yet, I'd say wait and see what the competition comes up with before committing to this one.

I got a bunch of stuff all at once, so I should probably put up some photos and a brief review, I imagine a few people out there would be interested in hearing how this stuff works on the HVX. Got the Chrosziel mattebox & rails, the VariZoom, the Cartoni Focus tripod, and the Century .6 wide-angle and 1.6 teleconverters.
 
Last edited:
I really like the bepop stuff a lot more than the varizoom. Pierre from bepop has been posting on a thread on this forum. After chatting with him.. seeing his product and hearing what it can do.. I'm going with that thing. It has everything the varizoom doesn't and they have their zoom and focus split... but will be offering it as a package for both controllers.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=46581 CHECK out the thread..


I also like their camera light as an option as well... I think Barry is going to be getting a demo, Right? Or something like that...
 
Justyn said:
I really like the bepop stuff a lot more than the varizoom. Pierre from bepop has been posting on a thread on this forum. After chatting with him.. seeing his product and hearing what it can do.. I'm going with that thing. It has everything the varizoom doesn't and they have their zoom and focus split... but will be offering it as a package for both controllers.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=46581 CHECK out the thread..
Click to expand...

The Bebob has always been a better choice for the DVX. It was much more subtle and smooth. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Zoe works on the 200 I got yesterday. Panny definitely improved the zoom in the 200. There is no glitch or hop at all using the same original Zoe on the 200... very nicely done Panasonic. Finally, a small camera with a zoom controller that's as good as the large cameras.

I should have the new Foxi controller next week. It has a larger knob like Barry was suggesting. If it's anything like the Zoe, we'll all be wanting one...
 
VariZoom Focus and Iris connectors and NAB

VariZoom Focus and Iris connectors and NAB

This is Tom from VariZoom. Green Hornet is right . The problem described is a jack and plug that are not fully seated in position. There are four conductors and it has to be fully seated or you will begin crossing up functions.

Tip for insertion of connectors: Line them up to go in at the same time and push them in together (side by side). They are a little tight but they do fit. The right angle connectors are necessary to protect the camera. You won't break a right angle connector off in a camera but straight in connector can snap off like a matchstick.

I see people agonizing over buying a $250.00 control that has a money back guarantee. We have had tremendous sales and the only problem I have heard out of several hundred sales is the connector was not seated. Once the connection was properly set there has been no problems.

If anyone in this forum buys a VariZoom RockPZFI, PFI, or the new StealthPZFI (available next week) and has any issues just call my office and we will replace it immediately and diagnose the problem when we recieve the returned product.

I will pay all the shipping.

Big knob version for follow focus: I made one a week after someone requested it in this very forum 7-8 weeks ago. I may bring it to NAB for feedback. I have a couple diabetic customers and parkinson customers too that the large knob is handy as they are always a little shaky and need a little more substantial and forgiving knob.

Marking positions: I have had no problems marking the case and or knob to repeat a position on any of the VariZoom controls I am making. The controls are as infinitely controllable as the camera allows. There are no increments between increments.

We will have 3-4 HVX and DVX100B cameras at NAB and all of the controls hooked up and ready for testing. People concerned about follow focus and marking positions please bring your pencils and markers and test away.

If you have never been to NAB you really should go. You can walk back and forth and test and compare products against each other all day. That's why we are there. We lay it all out so the toughest customers can give us hell. We got the cameras, the controllers, the stabilizers, the supports so you can dig in and decide what is best for you or just complain and tell us what you want.

Tom McKay

www.VariZoom.com

VariZoom Rock PZFI Zoom, Focus, Iris
vzrockpzfi_02.jpg


VariZoom PFI Focus, Iris
vzpfi_01.jpg


Navigator and FlowPod
vznavigator_01.jpg














Green Hornet said:
I have the same one.
It sounds like you just don't have the connector in far enough.
One is smaller than the other, and you have to turn the cord in a way that it will go all the way in.




...or it could be defective, but I doubt it. It sounds like you are riding on both contacts (not pushed in all the way)
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top