Zacuto - what the...?

taylormade

taylormade

Well-known member
Having just spent a small fortune on a Zacuto Recoil rig, EFV Pro and the EFV Rod mount, I discover that there is no apparent way to change the final tightened position of the knobs. The knob that tightens the EFV Rod mount ends up sticking straight out toward the front of the rig and it bangs smack into the dual handle mount. Of course, in all the product photos they show the knob straight up and the handle mount and rod mount snugged up tight to each other. Impossible with my rod mount, unless I'm missing something. I searched the instructions and the internet for a solution, but no luck. Is there a way to reorient these handles (I know you can on Lanparte and Tilta) or I'm I stuck with a $340.00 piece of junk?
 
While i can't fully grasp what you mean, maybe you should try emailing Zacuto for advice/help. They are usually (in my experience) pretty quick to solve consumer problems.
 
Already did, but you're right. I should wait to hear from them before I go off on a rant. The problem is simple - when you rotate the knobs it tightens the clamp on the 15mm rods. Where the end of the knob ends up is important to how everything fits together. The one knob sticks out in exactly the wrong direction when fully tightened and interferes with putting on other parts of the rig.
 
Redrock sell Click to position Knobs - also Kipp levers are available from cinevate, and maybe non photo dealers like McMasters

Interesting to see the response

S
 
That is the way Zacuto's levers work. The threaded allen screw is stationary and the red arm rotates on it, to tighten or loosen. They are different than Kipp or other racketing style levers. I do not have your particular rig, but I have many Zacuto pieces and I haven't run into your issue. They are smaller than Kipp levers and they generally seem to be out of the way. But, I do prefer Kipp style levers.

I wonder if you could turn the allen screw a partial turn to change the final position of the red lever? Probably best wait to hear what Zacuto recommends.
 
The Allen screws don't seem to affect the position. I tried your suggestion, turning the Allen screw, but the knob always ended up back where it started. The knobs are not held in position by the screw, they rotate around the screw shaft, but backing off the screw with an Allen wrench and changing the position of the screw doesn't work like I originally thought it would. Maybe Zacuto will have an answer to this seeming Chinese puzzle. If the position of the knobs can't be adjusted, it's a poor design in an otherwise beautifully executed piece of gear.
 
Redrock had this issue for ages, then they changed to click to position knobs. The solution actually is to find the right position and use Loctite to lockdown the screw / knob relationship, once that is set you shouldn't have any issues.
 
Good idea, Postmaster. Why didn't I think of that? Seems like for the price, Zacuto should provide a packet of washers for just that purpose. I'll try it when I get home tonight.
 
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taylormade said:
Having just spent a small fortune on a Zacuto Recoil rig, EFV Pro and the EFV Rod mount, I discover that there is no apparent way to change the final tightened position of the knobs. The knob that tightens the EFV Rod mount ends up sticking straight out toward the front of the rig and it bangs smack into the dual handle mount. Of course, in all the product photos they show the knob straight up and the handle mount and rod mount snugged up tight to each other. Impossible with my rod mount, unless I'm missing something. I searched the instructions and the internet for a solution, but no luck. Is there a way to reorient these handles (I know you can on Lanparte and Tilta) or I'm I stuck with a $340.00 piece of junk?
Click to expand...

Postmaster said:
One or two washers on the Alan bolt should do the trick.

Frank
Click to expand...

What Postmaster said. I had to do that on the v3 baseplate.
 
What really burns me is that Zacuto never got back to me. Not my idea of solid customer service. I'm happy with the equipment in general, but the knobs and customer service have dampened my enthusiasim for Zacuto products.
 
taylormade said:
What really burns me is that Zacuto never got back to me. Not my idea of solid customer service. I'm happy with the equipment in general, but the knobs and customer service have dampened my enthusiasim for Zacuto products.
Click to expand...

I really dislike seeing users bash suppliers in these forums without giving the manufacturer time to respond. The first post was late at night (10:08pm) on Wednesday and I hardly think it's fair to expect a response over the weekend. Zacuto is one of our best suppliers and supporters of the AF100. Let's treat them with respect. Perhaps their entire staff is at NAB.

Regards,
Scott
 
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Levers

Levers

taylormade said:
What really burns me is that Zacuto never got back to me. Not my idea of solid customer service. I'm happy with the equipment in general, but the knobs and customer service have dampened my enthusiasim for Zacuto products.
Click to expand...

Our product assemblers usually tune all the levers to avoid this issue. This one may have slipped, my apologies. Like was suggested, we just need to add some washers. You can contact Elma@zacuto.com and she can assist you with that. We are announcing ratcheting levers at NAB this week. More info coming on those to the web soon. I'm not sure who you emailed or when. We are closed on the weekends. Feel free to email me
if any questions as well.

Sorry for rather short concise response. I'm responding from iPhone at NAB.
Mandy - vp sales and marketing
 
I'm not bashing, I'm making several statements of fact. As I said, the overall product is excellent. Beautiful machining, excellent anodizing and nice design - except for the knobs. When I got my order Monday I checked everything out and discovered the problem. I called the supplier that sold me the equipment and we tried to solve the problem. I'll quote him, " when you told me the knobs aren't adjustible, I was about to call you crazy - but I just tried them and you're right!" I then called Zacuto and was told no one was able to help me at the moment but that they'd call me back - I left both my home and cell number. I waited that day and heard nothing. Then I emailed them through their web contact form and waited two days. Still nothing. Then I posted the problem here and got the help I needed. Postmaster's excellent advice on putting extra washers behind the knobs did the trick. I'm sorry, but waiting a full week to hear from a company when you have a problem and have made every effort to contact them both by phone and by email is not acceptable, especially when you just dropped over two grand on their product. (By the way, it was an excellent deal that got me a Zacuto EFV at a sustantial discount - thanks to Zacuto for that!) A simple explaination of the solution and a small bag of extra washers would also have been greatly appreciated. No big deal, but I had to spend time and gas driving to a hardware store that carried stainless steel washers and purchase them.

I always like to hear other people's comments and experiences with equipment they've bought and used - good or bad. Sorry if my comments struck you the wrong way.

Edit: I see Mandy responded while I was typing the above post. I emailed them through their contact form on their website and was told my email went through. Maybe the upcoming NAB threw things off. Thanks for the response. i'll be in the market for the levers - just wish I had waited. :)
 
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