VariZoom VZRockPZFI Rocker Controller at DVinfo.net

Robert Turchick · November 24th, 2009, 11:06 PM

Anyone using this on an HMC-150? Plan on having a "studio-ish" setup for certain projects and wondered how this piece works in the real world.

Denny Lajeunesse · November 26th, 2009, 07:19 PM

I have one and am addicted to it.

I just wish the focus knob was about twice the diameter for easier pulls. It can be a bit touchy at the stock size.

Also, I flip it side ways on the tripod arm so that the side of my thumb rests on the zoom control. Easier on the thumb muscles that way!

Robert Turchick · November 26th, 2009, 09:23 PM

Thanks! I was kinda wondering about the smoothness.

Denny Lajeunesse · November 27th, 2009, 03:27 AM

If you wear gloves while outdoor cold weather shooting you will find the rec button can be a bit tricky to hit. It's fairly small. I recommend fishing gloves (the ones with the fingertips missing). In fact they are useful for hitting button on the camera as well.

Robert Turchick · November 27th, 2009, 11:39 AM

HeHe! Shouldn't be a problem here in AZ!
Thanksgiving was spent outside in shorts and a t-shirt as it was a chilly 80 deg!
Thanks for the heads up though!

Robert Turchick · December 4th, 2009, 12:34 AM

Just got it and only have one gripe but I understand why it does this. The focus is very sensitive at the extremes. I thought it was a glitch but watching the numbers I was able to "slow down" my thumb and now it's fine! Oh! Took me a bit to realize that you have to turn off the auto iris in a menu on the camera to get it to work. Can't wait to assemble the whole rig (SmallHD DP1, Sennheiser wireless, and Varizoom) for a shoot next week! Then a gig next month on a 12 foot jib with remote head!! Wooohooo!!

Denny Lajeunesse · December 4th, 2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Turchick

Just got it and only have one gripe but I understand why it does this. The focus is very sensitive at the extremes. I thought it was a glitch but watching the numbers I was able to "slow down" my thumb and now it's fine! Oh! Took me a bit to realize that you have to turn off the auto iris in a menu on the camera to get it to work. Can't wait to assemble the whole rig (SmallHD DP1, Sennheiser wireless, and Varizoom) for a shoot next week! Then a gig next month on a 12 foot jib with remote head!! Wooohooo!!

Really? I don't have to turn off any iris settings in the menus. Wait. You don't have your full auto switch on do you?? (On the side of the cam).

Also, contary to how the HVX worked. The HMC doesn't care if your focus switch on camera is set to manual or auto, once you plug in the wires it overrides the setting.

Make sure you give the connectors a good push. You may think they are fully in the back of the cam but they may not be. You should hear a click.

Robert Turchick · December 4th, 2009, 06:57 PM

yup...with the full auto/manual switch set to manual the varizoom does nothing. switch it to auto (as per instructions...albeit for the 100b/200) and it works fine. I did hear the click when I pushed in the cables.

Denny Lajeunesse · December 5th, 2009, 02:09 AM

Odd, I have used my focus when the cam switch was on manual and have used it set to auto.

Noam Osband · July 17th, 2011, 10:02 PM

I'm looking at the Varizoom VZRock and the VZPro: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/696575-REG/VariZoom_VZ_PRO_PZFI_VZ_Pro_PZFI_Zoom_Focus_Iris_Controller.html
What is the difference between the two?

David Sheneman · July 21st, 2011, 08:07 AM

Any idea if you can actually plug two of these into the same camera using a headphone splitter cable? I'd like my camera operators to have local control, but also to be able to remote the Iris in a studio so I can use it as a poor man's CCU.

November 24th, 2009, 11:06 PM	#1
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	VariZoom VZRockPZFI Rocker Controller Anyone using this on an HMC-150? Plan on having a "studio-ish" setup for certain projects and wondered how this piece works in the real world.

November 26th, 2009, 07:19 PM	#2
Denny Lajeunesse Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kelowna, BC [Canada, Eh!] Posts: 257	I have one and am addicted to it. I just wish the focus knob was about twice the diameter for easier pulls. It can be a bit touchy at the stock size. Also, I flip it side ways on the tripod arm so that the side of my thumb rests on the zoom control. Easier on the thumb muscles that way! Last edited by Denny Lajeunesse; November 27th, 2009 at 03:25 AM.

November 27th, 2009, 03:27 AM	#4
Denny Lajeunesse Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kelowna, BC [Canada, Eh!] Posts: 257	If you wear gloves while outdoor cold weather shooting you will find the rec button can be a bit tricky to hit. It's fairly small. I recommend fishing gloves (the ones with the fingertips missing). In fact they are useful for hitting button on the camera as well. Last edited by Denny Lajeunesse; November 27th, 2009 at 12:11 PM.

July 17th, 2011, 10:02 PM	#10
Noam Osband Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Philadelphia, United States Posts: 163	Re: VariZoom VZRockPZFI Rocker Controller I'm looking at the Varizoom VZRock and the VZPro: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/696575-REG/VariZoom_VZ_PRO_PZFI_VZ_Pro_PZFI_Zoom_Focus_Iris_Controller.html What is the difference between the two?

July 21st, 2011, 08:07 AM	#11
David Sheneman Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 26	Re: VariZoom VZRockPZFI Rocker Controller Any idea if you can actually plug two of these into the same camera using a headphone splitter cable? I'd like my camera operators to have local control, but also to be able to remote the Iris in a studio so I can use it as a poor man's CCU. __________________ David Sheneman Rockford, IL

November 26th, 2009, 09:23 PM	#3
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Thanks! I was kinda wondering about the smoothness.

November 27th, 2009, 11:39 AM	#5
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	HeHe! Shouldn't be a problem here in AZ! Thanksgiving was spent outside in shorts and a t-shirt as it was a chilly 80 deg! Thanks for the heads up though!

December 4th, 2009, 12:34 AM	#6
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Just got it and only have one gripe but I understand why it does this. The focus is very sensitive at the extremes. I thought it was a glitch but watching the numbers I was able to "slow down" my thumb and now it's fine! Oh! Took me a bit to realize that you have to turn off the auto iris in a menu on the camera to get it to work. Can't wait to assemble the whole rig (SmallHD DP1, Sennheiser wireless, and Varizoom) for a shoot next week! Then a gig next month on a 12 foot jib with remote head!! Wooohooo!!

December 4th, 2009, 06:57 PM	#8
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	yup...with the full auto/manual switch set to manual the varizoom does nothing. switch it to auto (as per instructions...albeit for the 100b/200) and it works fine. I did hear the click when I pushed in the cables.

December 5th, 2009, 02:09 AM	#9
Denny Lajeunesse Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kelowna, BC [Canada, Eh!] Posts: 257	Odd, I have used my focus when the cam switch was on manual and have used it set to auto.