Remote Lens Control on the PDW-EX1

Chris Hurd · February 9th, 2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonard Levy

...feathered start and stop like one is accustomed to on a professional 2/3" camera lens. This has been impossible with any other 1/3" camera regardless of the controller or the speed of the zoom.

Sorry but this is not true. You have a valid complaint about 1/3rd-inch camcorders with LANC remote controls, but there have been 1/3rd-inch camcorders with standard 8-pin Fuji or Canon controllers (such as the entire JVC Pro HD camera line) and they certainly don't have this problem.

Leonard Levy · February 9th, 2008, 11:32 PM

Sorry, i haven't worked with those carefully anyway. Only the Sony and Panasonic. Question remains the same though.

Carroll Lam · February 10th, 2008, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonard Levy

Carroll , can I ask you the same question I tried to ask Paul.
Can you truly get a feathered start and stop like one is accustomed to on a professional 2/3" camera lens.

Since I have never used a "professional 2/3" camera lens" I cannot answer your question categorically. I can say that I can get _very_ slow zooms with light pressure on the rocker and the Zoe speed dial set to its lowest value. The degree of feathered start is really a question of how good one is in "feathering" pressure on the rocker.

Carroll Lam

Thomas McKay · February 10th, 2008, 01:31 PM

This is Tom from VariZoom. The zoom circuit on the new EX is similar to the Fujinon but not exactly the same. It is not incremental in steps like the Lanc controls but is similar in feel to what a professional camera with a Canon or Fujinon would be.

The zoom is very responsive and allows for an extremely slow crawl. VariZoom has three configurations for this control. The Rock EX, the Pro-Ex and the PG-Ex.

Tom

Bill Ravens · February 10th, 2008, 03:36 PM

Tom...

I have a Varizoom Rock-X. Can this be adapted(with an adapter cable) to work with the Sony EX1.

Leonard Levy · February 10th, 2008, 04:41 PM

Tom,

Thanks for stepping in as you seem to understand the question. I have an HVX and one of your controllers for it, ( i can't remember which one but it has the iris knob as well). At any rate I just avoid any zooming except in run and gun situations because there is just no way to get a decent start.
Would I be able to do that with one of your controls and the Ex?

(will you do a trade - in?)

Lenny Levy

Thomas McKay · February 10th, 2008, 08:08 PM

Hi Bill,

I think you have a VariZoom Rock DVX, no matter no pre-existing control is going to work on a Sony EX camera. We could possibly make a convertor cable to allow a Canon or Fujinon pro control to work but that is the only possibility of utilizing an existing control.

Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Ravens

Tom...

I have a Varizoom Rock-X. Can this be adapted(with an adapter cable) to work with the Sony EX1.

Thomas McKay · February 10th, 2008, 08:14 PM

Hi Leonard,

No, it will not work. Trade in? Come on I have plenty of controls already. I am sure whoever buys or uses your HVX will need the HVX control. Used VariZoom's do well on Ebay and will get you about 75% of retail.

Thanks for the business.

Tom

Th

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonard Levy

Tom,

Thanks for stepping in as you seem to understand the question. I have an HVX and one of your controllers for it, ( i can't remember which one but it has the iris knob as well). At any rate I just avoid any zooming except in run and gun situations because there is just no way to get a decent start.
Would I be able to do that with one of your controls and the Ex?

(will you do a trade - in?)

Lenny Levy

Leonard Levy · February 10th, 2008, 08:39 PM

Thomas - I was kidding about the trade in , but I'm don't feel I've gotten a clear answer yet about whether I will be able to do a fully professional feathered zoom with the EX-1 and one of your controllers.

I'm buying if you can convince me!

Bill Ravens · February 10th, 2008, 08:42 PM

Tom...

Thanx for your answer. However, it is a VZ-Rock F that I use on my HD110.

Thomas McKay · February 10th, 2008, 08:58 PM

Sorry Leonard,

You will be very pleased with the VariZoom. The VariZoom EX controls work perfectly and have an extremely smooth professional feathered slow crawl that can be ramped up quickly or ever so slowly. I'm not sure I can make it sound any better.

Best regards,

Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonard Levy

Thomas - I was kidding about the trade in , but I'm don't feel I've gotten a clear answer yet about whether I will be able to do a fully professional feathered zoom with the EX-1 and one of your controllers.

I'm buying if you can convince me!

Thomas McKay · February 10th, 2008, 09:07 PM

Bill, I could make a convertor cable for the Rock-F but it will not work as well as the new VariZoom EX controls that are specifically designed for the camera. So I will likely stay away from making a convertor cable.

Thank you,

Tom

Bob Berg · February 10th, 2008, 10:43 PM

I'm going to give the new Varizoom VZ-PG-EX a try. Should be shipping in a couple of weeks. I used one of their handles on PD-150 and DVX100 and liked it.

Here's a link...

http://varizoom.com/products/controls/vzpgex.html

Bill Ravens · February 11th, 2008, 08:15 AM

Tom...

Once again, thanx so much for taking the time to answer. Sounds like I need to just bite the bullet and get a VZ designed for the EX.

Thomas McKay · February 11th, 2008, 10:24 AM

Hi Bob & Bill,

The link to the Rock EX just went live. Both controls work very well. (image below)

http://www.varizoom.com/products/controls/vzrockex.html

Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Berg

I'm going to give the new Varizoom VZ-PG-EX a try. Should be shipping in a couple of weeks. I used one of their handles on PD-150 and DVX100 and liked it.

Here's a link...

http://varizoom.com/products/controls/vzpgex.html

February 10th, 2008, 01:31 PM	#64
Thomas McKay Sponsor: VariZoom Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 58	Zoom for Sony EX This is Tom from VariZoom. The zoom circuit on the new EX is similar to the Fujinon but not exactly the same. It is not incremental in steps like the Lanc controls but is similar in feel to what a professional camera with a Canon or Fujinon would be. The zoom is very responsive and allows for an extremely slow crawl. VariZoom has three configurations for this control. The Rock EX, the Pro-Ex and the PG-Ex. Tom

February 10th, 2008, 09:07 PM	#72
Thomas McKay Sponsor: VariZoom Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 58	VariZoom Rock-F Bill, I could make a convertor cable for the Rock-F but it will not work as well as the new VariZoom EX controls that are specifically designed for the camera. So I will likely stay away from making a convertor cable. Thank you, Tom

February 10th, 2008, 10:43 PM	#73
Bob Berg New Boot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 14	Varizoom I'm going to give the new Varizoom VZ-PG-EX a try. Should be shipping in a couple of weeks. I used one of their handles on PD-150 and DVX100 and liked it. Here's a link... http://varizoom.com/products/controls/vzpgex.html

February 9th, 2008, 11:32 PM	#62
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Sorry, i haven't worked with those carefully anyway. Only the Sony and Panasonic. Question remains the same though.

February 10th, 2008, 03:36 PM	#65
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Tom... I have a Varizoom Rock-X. Can this be adapted(with an adapter cable) to work with the Sony EX1.

February 10th, 2008, 04:41 PM	#66
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Tom, Thanks for stepping in as you seem to understand the question. I have an HVX and one of your controllers for it, ( i can't remember which one but it has the iris knob as well). At any rate I just avoid any zooming except in run and gun situations because there is just no way to get a decent start. Would I be able to do that with one of your controls and the Ex? (will you do a trade - in?) Lenny Levy

February 10th, 2008, 08:39 PM	#69
Leonard Levy Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,684	Thomas - I was kidding about the trade in , but I'm don't feel I've gotten a clear answer yet about whether I will be able to do a fully professional feathered zoom with the EX-1 and one of your controllers. I'm buying if you can convince me!

February 10th, 2008, 08:42 PM	#70
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Tom... Thanx for your answer. However, it is a VZ-Rock F that I use on my HD110.

February 11th, 2008, 08:15 AM	#74
Bill Ravens Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: santa fe, nm Posts: 3,264 Images: 10	Tom... Once again, thanx so much for taking the time to answer. Sounds like I need to just bite the bullet and get a VZ designed for the EX.