Varizoom wireless

[Sydney Seeber]

I've been out of it for a couple months, but I found this thing

 

http://varizoom.com.cn/products/controls/vztocdx1k.html

 

the VZ-TOC-DX1-K

 

and can't seem to find anything on it. Absolutely nothing. Is it a rebranded item? Has anyone used it? Some of the components look familiar.

[Sydney Seeber]

So no one's used/seen this thing?

 

Looks like something re-branded with a Hedén motor. It's not a competitor in the high end market, but it looks interesting.

[Mark Schlicher]

FOUND IT!

 

http://ravensclaw.com/products.html

 

A company out of Oregon doing remote control camera heads, distributed by Varizoom. The clue was the reference on the Varizoom page to the "CinemaPro design team". Look at the FIZ controller on this page.

So no one's used/seen this thing?

 

Looks like something re-branded with a Hedén motor. It's not a competitor in the high end market, but it looks interesting.

[Mark Schlicher]

FOUND IT!

 

http://ravensclaw.com/products.html

 

A company out of Oregon that makes remote control camera heads, distributed by Varizoom. The clue was the reference on the Varizoom page to the "CinemaPro design team". Look at the FIZ controller on this page. Looks like they basically repackaged a wireless system that Ravensclaw had built for their remote heads.

 

So no one's used/seen this thing?

 

Looks like something re-branded with a Hedén motor. It's not a competitor in the high end market, but it looks interesting.

[Mark Schlicher]

More:

 

Looks like Ravensclaw first showed this at NAB 09. Here's a thread where the Ravensclaw guy describes the system in some detail. Sounds like they'd been perfecting the bits with their remote heads.

 

Reduser.net thread

 

Judging from their website it looks like they may be only selling the FIZ through Varizoom and not directly.

[William Demeritt]

I saw it at NAB 2011. The unit seemed OK, seemed to do the job. I asked a number of questions, but the people at the booth didn't have many answers. Seems to make sense now, if Varizoom is just selling it under their name.

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I saw it at NAB 2011. The unit seemed OK, seemed to do the job. I asked a number of questions, but the people at the booth didn't have many answers. Seems to make sense now, if Varizoom is just selling it under their name.

I agree, the VariZoom folk didn't have a lot to add other than the general workings of it... which worked nicely. BUT, this will work with other existing digital motors and I asked about the possibility of using existing cables and pinouts to Preston MDR2's power and motors.

 

I told them that IF I could add a $5K backup solution to my Preston HU3 & MDR2 and not have to buy new buy about $7K of cables and motors... I would heavily consider their unit as a low-end/backup solution! This would also be great for guys that plan on buy a Preston down the road, because they would all ready own their motors and cables knocking off a big chunk of the investment.

 

-Alfeo

[Sydney Seeber]

FOUND IT!

 

 

 

 

Cool, thanks! just wish they were a little more forthcoming on the info about their product

[Kar Wai Ng]

 

I told them that IF I could add a $5K backup solution to my Preston HU3 & MDR2 and not have to buy new buy about $7K of cables and motors... I would heavily consider their unit as a low-end/backup solution! This would also be great for guys that plan on buy a Preston down the road, because they would all ready own their motors and cables knocking off a big chunk of the investment.

 

-Alfeo

 

I just bought myself a Bartech with the digital receiver and Preston motor. The BDR and handset and cables would cost you far less than $5k. I chose to go the digital route because it future proofs my investment...if in the (distant) future I want to upgrade to a Preston, I've already got the motor and motor cables! Plus, I'd still have the Bartech as a backup.

[Sydney Seeber]

 

I told them that IF I could add a $5K backup solution to my Preston HU3 & MDR2 and not have to buy new buy about $7K of cables and motors... I would heavily consider their unit as a low-end/backup solution! This would also be great for guys that plan on buy a Preston down the road, because they would all ready own their motors and cables knocking off a big chunk of the investment.

 

-Alfeo

I asked the manufacturer some questions, and he had this to say... "We are Preston compatible in cabling as well as motors." (MDR2 he said).

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I asked the manufacturer some questions, and he had this to say... "We are Preston compatible in cabling as well as motors." (MDR2 he said).

So I guess between NAB and Cine Gear they made the decision to go Preston... nice! Is that including the Power and Run/Stop cables?

[Alfeo Dixon SOC]

I just bought myself a Bartech with the digital receiver and Preston motor. The BDR and handset and cables would cost you far less than $5k. I chose to go the digital route because it future proofs my investment...if in the (distant) future I want to upgrade to a Preston, I've already got the motor and motor cables! Plus, I'd still have the Bartech as a backup.

So the cables are the same pinouts on the BDR as the MDR2? Is that the same for Run/Stop and Power also? ...Jim???

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

I just bought myself a Bartech with the digital receiver and Preston motor. The BDR and handset and cables would cost you far less than $5k. I chose to go the digital route because it future proofs my investment...if in the (distant) future I want to upgrade to a Preston, I've already got the motor and motor cables! Plus, I'd still have the Bartech as a backup.

So the cables are the same pinouts on the BDR as the MDR2? Is that the same for Run/Stop and Power also? ...Jim???

 

 

No run stop and power are different

[Marc Alfonso]

I just bought myself a Bartech with the digital receiver and Preston motor. The BDR and handset and cables would cost you far less than $5k. I chose to go the digital route because it future proofs my investment...if in the (distant) future I want to upgrade to a Preston, I've already got the motor and motor cables! Plus, I'd still have the Bartech as a backup.

So the cables are the same pinouts on the BDR as the MDR2? Is that the same for Run/Stop and Power also? ...Jim???

 

 

Alfeo,

 

The motor connection on the BDR is the same 7 pin Lemo shell size 1B as used on the MDR2, Scorpio, C-Motion.

The wiring is also the same.

 

The power for the BDR is a 2 pin Lemo shell size 0B which is the standard that the Bartech analog receivers use.

 

The camera on/off is a 4 pin Lemo shell size 0S which is also the standard from the Bartech analog receivers.

 

Here are some images

 

 

Regards,

 

Marc

www.plcelectronicsolutions.com

[Ramon Engle]

Its an easy fix for the Start/Stop cable: fabricate a short jumper from the BDR Start/Stop that terminates with a the Lemo Lemo 2B 12pin PHG so you can plug in your existing Preston cables..........Just say'n............