Ray, the Manfrotto EX1 controller (not LANC, though, of course) is due soon.

I knew that (not LANC that is)! Force of habit I suppose. =)

- Ray

perhaps a silly question, but if remote control is limited to start/stop and zoom control (or, so it seems), why not just stick with LANC? perhaps rhetorical, but I'd expect that there would be additional functionality such as focus control as others have asked for. Anyone know what the interface is spec'd to support versus what remote manufacturers have implemented?

I received my Varizoom EX controller last week and have shot with it twice now. It is great. Love the newer rocker. Intuitive, ergo friendly....Nice.

Piotr, what advantages will the Manfrotto have over the Bebob which is currently available (I have a Lanc version for my V1U and I like the brand). Do you know how soon, (days, weeks, months) the Manfrotto will be for sale? I can't see it listed anywhere, even for pre-ordering. Thanks. -Keith

I am supposed to have a working prototype within a couple of days; will keep you posted on both the technical details and availability.

Bebob ZOE-EX controller review
 

I have 2 EX1 cameras. I previously had three HVX cameras and had 2 Varizoom controllers and one ZOE-DVX controllers for them. Overall they were very similar and worked great and very similar.

So when I needed zoom controllers for my new EX1's I initially called Varizoom and ordered two of the first units available. I received them and unfortunately was not impressed. It was almost impossible to get predictable slow zooms. They were very "notchy" and went very fast from slow to fast with a quick jump from no zoom to quick zoom with abrupt stops. With a little practice I got better but not great.

I made a few calls and found someone who had 2 Zoe-EX in stock and ordered them because I had a shoot coming up. I got them the day before the shoot. The difference was night and day. In addition to being more compact and amazingly more controllable, they have a speed adjustment wheel which sets the maximum speed for zoom, but still lets you use the full rocker. The quality of zoom reminds me of high end professional zooms as opposed to stepped LANC and my older HVX cameras. I am thoroughly pleased. The zoom is more controllable than even the built in rocker. You can get true feathered starts and stops unlike the HVX zoom mechanism.

I called to return my Varizoom controllers and was assured by them that the problems in the controllers have been fixed. Because I had already bought the Bebob controllers and was totally satisfied, I did not take them up on replacing them. So I cannot vouch for whether newer models have the problems resolved. They did return them with no problems. So thanks for good customer service.

Even assuming they have fixed the problems in the Varizoom controllers, I really like the speed adjustment of the Bebob, something Varizoom does not offer. So I am totally sold on the Zoe-EX controllers.

I have the Varizoom PMW-EX1 (not the more stylish looking one above). I am entirely satisfied. No jumps at all. With your thumb in the cradle, you can start out creeping and slowly ramp up. Rock solid build.

I've got the Libec ZC9-EX. I'm very happy with it.

Paul.

I also bought the Libec and am happy with it. At the time it was the only one shipping, and I was concerned about the quality given that it's the lowest-priced unit on the market (so far), but was pleasantly surprised. It has the functionality of the others, and the zoom control works well - push it slightly and it zooms slowly, push hard and it zooms quickly (easy to control).

OK guys - the Manfrotto MN521 EX - will be out very soon now (premiere at NAB). And believe me - worth waiting for!

Piotr,
you make me curious! Can you tell me more about its features?

cu,
Gerald

Sorry - all I can say at the moment is that it's definitely worth waiting for :)

did some posts get deleted from this thread (or maybe I read them posted elsewhere) about the Manfrotto?

While it sounded nice, it didn't sound like it added a whole lot more than any of the other units already on the market - still no focus adjustment, for example. On the other hand, if it retails for $99, I'll buy one... :-)

Yeh I got an email from this thread about a post that isnt here!

take a look
http://www.varizoom.com/controlsindex.html
wanted to get STEALTH-EX with the 10ft extension, ( I need EX on the crane), they don't ship outside of US,
well, will have to find Canadian distributors,
:-)

VariZoom
 

I wish you had taken us up on our offer for the exchange control. The units you first received lack one component and now they all have this important addition. Anyway that is sometime the price of being first out you will get a bug or something that can be improved. As you found out we have a pretty liberal return policy and we always try to satisfy.

I do appreciate the business and if you care to try a Rock or other control we will ship it free and discount steeply to make up for the inconvenience.

We had only a few go out that were not optimized. Sales have been strong and high level of satisfaction on all units sold.

Best regards,

Tom

I've never needed a remote control for my cameras but have started looking into one for the EX1.

What I want to know is how do you control the focus? All of the ones linked to above seem to just be zoom controls. Wouldn't focus control be equally important?

Maybe they do and I'm just missing something...

You focus in the standard. Zoom in to subject - manual focus- pull out and work as normal. There is no connection for remote focussing on this camera. Relying on auto focus does not look very good, whatever the camera.

That's right but with the camera on a crane it can't be done. Remote focusing is required.

VariZoom Ex Focus
 

John and Bruce,

Remote focus control is possible and I have already made a unit but have not yet brought it to market. The camera does not make it easy to provide but it will be available in the coming weeks possibly months. I don't like to introduce a product until I have it in production and stocked for sale.

The cost of focus control will be about double the cost of the zoom control. VariZoom now makes cranes too so that feature has become a little more important to us as well.

Tom

VariZoom

That's useful to know. I think I have read somewhere that the remote control socket has no provision for focus control in the protocol. Presumably you are going to fit a motorised focussing unit?

I own Verizoom, Libec, Canon and Sony zoom controllers. When I got the EX-1, I ordered and I am using another Libec unit. Very, very smooth, compact and lets you crawl if you wish.

It seems to me that there has to be a way to control the focus with a controller, it's not like the lens is completely manual, there is an autofocus. Not that I'm the one to figure out how to build something like that but I would have to think it is possible.

- Ray

I use a Libec controller and the nice thing about any zoom controller is that you can control zoom with your right hand on the tripod arm, and focus with your left hand on the lens. Trying to do both on camera at the same time is extremely tricky.

I can't think of many situations other than jib shots where you would even want to control focus on the tripod arm. The lens ring is so much better at doing that job, especially the non-servo EX1 lens.

Paul.

Anyone wants to make a comparison of zoom controllers
 

So there is the Libec, Varizoom, Manfrotto and Bebob Zoe-Ex..Ahhhh... so many choices..
So if you want recording and zoom - nice slowwwwww zoom (like the Cowen brothers use :-) )
What does one use ?
I live in Australia - so once I order an EX1 from BH - I don't really have a choice of returning or trying another one out..

Also, on the HV20 site there is a list of must-have accessories for the HV20. Would anyone care to have such a list for the EX1 ?
Thanks!

Anmol,

Why would you want to order from America.

I just bought my 2nd EX here in Melbourne for a very reasonable price with three 8 gig cards thrown in (one a redeemable from Sony).

There are three dealers in Melbourne and asked all for a quote.

Suggest you do the same in Sydney.

cheers Vaughan

Oz pricing
 

Hi mate. I saw it listed for about 10K. BH has demo special for 6K USD - about 6.6 AUD with the exchange rate..
Even the new ones are 7K AUD from BH.
Just seemed excessive - having to pay the premiun..
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you have to pay in Oz ?

B&H wont send an EX1 overseas, so unless you can either get someone in the USA to buy it for you or you fly over and pick it up, you wont be able to get it from there. They have an agreement with Sony and refuse to send anywhere but the USA (and maybe Canada)...

I know they arent a sponsor of this site, but seeing as B&H wont send to Australia, maybe you should try Expandore, thats where I got mine. Saved about $3k AUD on the ridiculous Australian price.

I got mine in Sydney from an authorised Sony dealer for under AUD $9K inc GST but that was before the Australian dollar went through the roof so I'd imagine by now the price has come down even more. At the time I looked at grey imports but the money saved was minimal and simply not worth the risk and grief.
As this dealer has personally delivered my camera by hand to Sony for its 'fix' it does pay to buy locally in my opinion. I also got the second 8GB card no questions asked.
If anyone in Sydney would like their details PM me. If you do PM me, please, please make certain your email address in your profile is current.
If Chris doesn't mind I'm more than happy to post their contact details.

I bought off the same dealer as Bob - highly recommended and again about $9K AUD. Worth the investment for the excellent customer service. My first camera had serious vignetting, the second likewise - the dealer blasted Sony and I got a third camera that was perfect plus the extra 8Gig card plus a free high capacity battery - plus peace of mind knowing that if there are any other issues in the next 2 years that it won't be a problem to get them fixed. I have bought overseas in the past with my Z1, but with the EX1, I am glad that I bought local.

Has there been any addtional info about this product? Was it shown at NAB?
Tnx, Craig

OK, so as I indicated before, the Manfrotto 521-ex offers - in addition to the usual Rec/Standby, and Ret (for last clip review) buttons - also two "snap zoom" buttons. What they do is activate the highest possible zoom (both directions), regardless on the current maximum speed set for the rocker when pressed fully.

And, when you set the latter to the minimum (with a nice thumb wheel on the unit's side), carefully operating the rocker can result in really nice, slow, creeping zooms (well above a minute from Wide to Tele, and vice versa).

Where did you get your 521-EX ???

I cannot find it anywhere...

Thanks, Scott K.

Mine is a testing, pre-production unit - but the final product will be available soon.

I bought a Varizoom Stealth for my Z1s specifically for toggling focus to mimic the Push Auto focus function. I hope you're adding that button to the EX1 controller as I just received the EX1.

oh, I thought it was already shipping. I need a remote this week. Would love to get that one. Do you know when it will be out? And the price?

What would be a good one in place of this one?

Scott K.

Unfortunately, the Push Auto Focus function is not implemented in the EX1's lens controller interface; no zoom remotes on the market offer anything focus-related for this camera.

This makes me sad. The Sony exec at the NAB interview was talking about the great support the EX3 would have for remote control in distant installations in sports arenas. If lens zooming is included, I bet full control , including focusing, will also be possible.

EX3 is a completely another story in this regard - rather than a "zoom control", it has the proper "remote control" interface, allowing for cotrolling virtually all camera setting with the same kind of devices as the 900 camera and alike.