Zoom & Focus Remote

HotConductor

HotConductor

Well-known member
HotConductor said:
OK so here's what I'm looking at:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/696601-REG/VariZoom_VZ_SROCK_ZFI_Rock_DVX_VZ_PFI_Studio.html

To me this seems like a crazy amount of money for a two-piece zoom/focus set. I love Varizoom but are there any other two-piece alternatives? I'm going to bite the bullet a get this set unless someone has a suggestion.

Building my own is not an option as I simply don't have the time to do it!

Thank you all. Love this community.
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I spent that much on just a Zoe zoom remote for my HMC150, and it was worth every penny.

Of course, we have zoom and focus remotes at work that are over $4-6k, so "crazy expensive" just depends on your perspective. :)
 
Is there any negative to getting those two items separately? I have never used any Libec equipment. If I can save a few bucks and the difference will be negligible, then I'm glad to do it. Every dollar counts. BUT, if I am going to be regretting that decision for the rest of the life of the camera, I would rather spend the extra $60 and get the Varizoom kit.

Mike I'm with you on the more expensive gear. I run a VERY small company, but I have worked for the big dogs with the heavy duty gear you describe. If the HMC wasn't limited to LANC then I might consider something more robust. Its all a piece of the puzzle though. Starting my company without investors has me REALLY tight on funds. Not to mention a new baby!
 
The Verizoom and Libec are relatively the same... I use both and have no issues.

HMC is not LANC btw.
 
HotConductor said:
Mike I'm with you on the more expensive gear. I run a VERY small company, but I have worked for the big dogs with the heavy duty gear you describe. If the HMC wasn't limited to LANC then I might consider something more robust. Its all a piece of the puzzle though. Starting my company without investors has me REALLY tight on funds. Not to mention a new baby!
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I'm totally with you, I just thought the "crazy expensive" comment was funny considering what else is out there. :) Congrats on a new baby, by the way!
 
I maybe changed my mind a little... If you got the extra $60 go with both the same brand. Besides the aesthetics of them being similar I am not crazy about how the Libec starts zooming when you want to start a really slow zoom. I get a little zoom start-stop-start-stop action some times, maybe thats why its so cheap now :D
 
I have the Varizoom combo, and they're great. Nicely built, and the zoom action is very smooth, even better than the zoom rocker on the lens (I use mine with an HMC80, if it matters). I like that there are adjustments on the Varizoom to set the center point and dwell range (how far you have to press the lever before it starts moving) for the zoom control. The Libec also looks perfectly nice, as does the Manfrotto for focus/iris control, but I'd want to check any of them to make sure the controls are smooth and repeatable, and that the ergonomics work for you and your camera/tripod combination.

LANC is a nice spec, but I love the electronic simplicity of the Panasonic approach, and that there are plenty of published plans out there for do-it-yourselfers to create their own variations. However, I went with the commercial products because the mechanical design and ergonomics are better than anything I could probably create in my basement shop, especially for the zoom rocker control.

- Greg
 
Thank you all for the feedback. I am in the process of getting accessories for both of my HMC150s. Zoom/focus/tripod and a stabilizer of some sort. Consider the halo rig hd... This is a genuinely fun process for me, just time consuming and difficult on a budget. If you all have any suggested retailers feel free to PM me.

Again, thank you for your help!
 
Quick question... B&H is closed for Passover. Very cool actually, except for the fact that I need to purchase the following two items...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/696601-REG/VariZoom_VZ_SROCK_ZFI_Rock_DVX_VZ_PFI_Studio.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/543319-REG/VariZoom_VZ_TK75A_VZ_TK75A_Aluminum_Tripod_System.html

I have done some ebay searching and google searching but have found very few options for these two items around this price range. Any thoughts or suggestions? I would need to purchase these parts (in particular the zoom/focus seeing as there are tons of tripod alternatives out there) tomorrow, so that it would arrive next week-ish.

Thanks for your help!
 
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