I've been waiting for a varizoom pro-L for a sony PD150 since the video forum. (in Jan)
The supplier eventually sent me the PG-L,this weekend, saying he was having trouble getting hold of them - it seems it's faulty. It will zoom out but zooms in until you stop it by zooming back out. It's no good for invision zooms.
When I spoke to him about the Pro-L, he offered me a manfrotto as a replacement. I paid a good price for the zoom controller so the manfrotto could be an option but what's the opinion on this board?
I need focus and zoom - the other options are extras. I liked the feel of the varizoonm but this has peed me off a bit.
Hi Dave,
I use the Manfrotto 523PRO and I love it!
Only one grumble, you can't use focus while zooming in/out. :o
Agreed that the feel of the Varizoom grip is very good - but will you be satisfied with it when you realise that the zoom rate has to be set by turning a knob ie that the zoom rocker does NOT give variable rate zoom. Not only that, but the 'variable focus' means fiddling around with push-buttons. I bought a VZ-PRO-L about three years ago when it was all there was, but since then there have been the Manfrotto, the Zoe Bebob and the Libec ZC-3DV, all of which have fully variable zoom on the rocker.
My personal favourite is now the Libec - it does all I need and at about £100 it is half the price of the others.
Ray Liffen
I quite like the feel of the zoom operated by my index finger. I think that I could get used to it.
The buttons for the focus seem very "Maplin" to me.
I'm tempted by the manfrotto, that's what he tried to offer me when he had a problem sourcing the varizoom. I was reluctant as I didn't have enough information to make a choice over the phone then and there.
The varizoom that was delivered wasn't in a box and came with no paperwork, but looks new. It's just that when you take your finger off the zoom (in) it keeps going until you zoom out to stop. It must be faulty.
I just wonder if I should ask for a 523pro as a replacement.
I was hoping in the future to be able to rig up a switch box so that one zpoom demand would send to several cameras. Think it would work? I gather that the manfrotto is battery powered v the varizoom that's camera powered.
What's the longest remote zoom cable run that works?
I'm tempted by the manfrotto, that's what he tried to offer me when he had a problem sourcing the varizoom. I was reluctant as I didn't have enough information to make a choice over the phone then and there.I gather that the manfrotto is battery powered v the varizoom that's camera powered.
Actually Dave, mine's camera powered, I believe there is another version that runs off a battery but not mine.
(Oops, I've logged in using my proper name - Chirpy!!!) :o
I've just done a test report on the Zoe-DVL for a magazine, and carried out the tests using a Sony VX2000. So my thoughts will most certainly apply to your PD150, Dave M.
Here's what I said about the focus control:
Focus: The Zoe’s Focus button has several neat touches, some of which are quite surprisingly clever. When the yellow LED is off the Zoe’s rocker does normal zoom controlling, but in this mode the camera is in manual focus mode – regardless of where the focus switch is positioned on the camera body. If you push the button and the LED starts to blink, it means that the rocker has now turned into a fine tuning focus control, allowing you to rock and roll about the focus point. If you give the button two quick pushes, the LED stays on and the camera reverts to the auto-focus mode – again, over-riding the camera’s own focus control switch on the lens barrel. Now the really clever bit. If you give the button a long push it activates the camera’s ‘push auto’, just as if you were pushing that awkward button on the camera itself. When you let up, the camera locks onto that manual focus setting, awaiting your next instruction.
tom.