Zoom Rocker / Focus/Iris Remote (For MultiRig Pro)

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filmguy123

Veteran
Ok just got my DvMultiRig Pro and LOVE it! But, I don't have any remote for zoom or other controls. Looking for some advice on what to get.

Top priority is a zoom rocker. I simply NEED one of these, to attach near the right grip for my right hand thumb on the rocker.

Now, I would also like to be able to control focus and iris. What I am wondering is - should I get a SEPARATE remote for this and attach it to the LEFT grip? Or should I get it combined into one unit, all on the right grip?

I imagine it would be difficult to control zoom AND focus/iris all from one hand if you are trying to zoom while changing focus, for example... ?? But I've never tried... soo...??


Thoughts? Any specific product recommendations?
 
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I have a Varizoom all-in-one that i use with the multirig, but I don't recommend it.

Certainly two separate controls would work a bit better. But I also must say that it's hard to mount a remote on the multirig in a manner that's comfortable to use. At the least, it takes a few extra extension pieces to have enough room on the handles to mount the big varizoom rockers AND have a good grip... and even so, the position of the thumb rocker does not work extremely well when the hand has to carry weight. It's more comfortable when using the spring mount that goes to the belt.

Also, the foam handgrip sometimes causes the rocker to stick... you need to shim the whole thing out a bit.

The Varizoom focus and iris controls, even with the "larger" knobs, are a bit twitchy and hard to deal with precisely in general, but especially when mounted on the multirig.

I haven't tried alternative devices. This setup is serviceable, but keep these issues in mind!
 
Well, I would be using the support pod when using the zoom rocker. Are you saying you don't recommend the zoom rocker at all, or the particular BRAND of zoom rocker, or the ALL 3-in-1 (focus/iris/zoom)?
 
I don't recomment the 3-in-1 if you need to manipulate all in one shot... it's especially hard to get from the rocker to the iris. But ideally (for me) you want zoom and focus in different hands.

And, I haven't tried other brands, but the Varizoom unit is a little large for the standard grips of the multirig, and care has to be taken to mount it in such a way that the rocker doesn't get affected (prevented from returning properly to center) by the foam grip.

I also don't think a rocker is the most comfortable approach for the multirig. I think that a thumbwheel, offset from the bar (like the focus on the Varizoom PTFZ) would be the most comfortable for long shots. Anything centered over the handle requires a bit of straining of the thumb, especially when the hand is weight-bearing.

As for the two-unit approach... I'm not sure if they make "lefty" and "righty" versions, but work through how each hand will operate the controls while holding a loaded multirig.

I can't suggest a BETTER commercially available system; I haven't trield the Bebob which looks like it might be better for focus. I have struggled through with the Varizoom PTFZ and gotten results. It just never gets as smooth and comfortable to operater all the controls as a shoulder-mount cam. I love the multirig and like the PTFZ... just not necessarily in combination.

Also, hope somebody else will chime in! Definitely try it (or simulate it) yourself before deciding - how you set up the multirig, what you shoot, the size of your hands, etc., all factor in to how well this will work for you.
 
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I've got a MultiRigPro and a Varizoom Rock-PZFI for my HVX200. I like it fine, but I haven't used the MultiRig a lot, and when I have it's always been with the support rod. It sounds like Ullanta's had a bit more experience with the combination, so I'd probably give his opinion more weight than mine. Nonetheles, like I said, I am pretty happy with mine so far.
 
Hmm so any product recommondations that are ZOOM only that work well with the multirig setup? Any tips/pics on how to best mount to the rig? Any brands better than Varizoom for this?
 
My favorite rocker "action" is the Manfrotto - I have the onew that's integrated into a tripod pan-bar. They have a vesrsion that can attch like the varizoom, but I've never tried it. Anyway, the one I have (for tripod use) has a lot more resistance than the varizoom, which I feel gives me better control. Also, it's not so much a "rocker" as a "rotator", which makis it operable from many different angles and in different ways - I can grab it with my whole hand like a motorcycle throttle in some situations, use just my thumb in others, etc.

But really, if you can, try some out. i know other people who definitely prefer the varizoom rocker. It's very much a matter of personal style...
 
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