Tom McKay Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Tom here from VariZoom. It's been a while since VariZoom has advertised with S.F. but with our investment in wireless controls in the last 5 years I figured it was time. We have 1, 2, & 3, channels systems. We have a detailed video and webpage you can learn more about here: http://www.varizoom....ocus-s/1822.htm We will be at NAB as well as Cinegear Expo 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RobVanGelder Posted February 27, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 27, 2013 Hi Tom, I had a look at your gear and while the images and movies look nice, i was missing something: the remote start stop function for the camera. After direct inquiry via your company website i learned that this is not a feature of the T.O.C. , which made me shake my head in disbelief. How can you (or your design team) omit such an essential function that is incorporated in every wireless FF as far as i know. Do you expect us to walk over to the Steadicam operator to press the button? Or ask the grip to lower the crane because you need to start or stop the camera in the remote head? how about that car rig when shooting on the highway...... 5 years of design and research..... The -possible- deal is off for me. Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Alfeo Dixon SOC Posted February 27, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted February 27, 2013 this is a rather huge oversight. I hope it can be remedied for a low entry contender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom McKay Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Hi Rob, Actually we do have it now Rob and will ship in April. I appreciate your point on this and we do have in our next version start stop and additionally land option of lens memory of calibration of multiple lens set ups. Our system does have other advantages such as a single receiver for operating 1 2 or 3 channels rather than the need to attach two more receivers to camera for zoom and iris. Please stop by NAB and check it out. Hi Tom, I had a look at your gear and while the images and movies look nice, i was missing something: the remote start stop function for the camera. After direct inquiry via your company website i learned that this is not a feature of the T.O.C. , which made me shake my head in disbelief. How can you (or your design team) omit such an essential function that is incorporated in every wireless FF as far as i know. Do you expect us to walk over to the Steadicam operator to press the button? Or ask the grip to lower the crane because you need to start or stop the camera in the remote head? how about that car rig when shooting on the highway...... 5 years of design and research..... The -possible- deal is off for me. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Davis Posted March 10, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Hi Tom, I was on a job very recently which I guess you could say would really test the signal strength of any wireless device. We were working inside a huge industrial laboratory which housed a particle accelerator, large electromagnetic experiments amongst and various other things including huge concrete lead slabs which messed with our phone signals etc a lot. We were running two cameras side by side one with my Preston single channel unit and another with your varizoom running both focus and iris. Initially when we were shooting near the entrance to the facility, both were working fine with no issues, however once we moved deeper into the facility, nearer to electro magnets etc the AC using the Varizoom complained of constant intermittent loss of control/signal dropout. The Preston continued to work fine with no issue whatsoever. I say this not to insult your product but just to provide some open honest feedback about it in this environment, so maybe it's something you can address. Cheers James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Davis Posted March 10, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 P.S. it also had the same effect on our redmotes for the epic, constant unpredictable signal drop off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evrim KAYA Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 industrial laboratory which housed a particle accelerator, large electromagnetic experiments amongst and various other things including huge concrete lead slabs which messed with our phone signals etc a lot. in other words a wireless hell:) I think this experience is more about preston's exeptional signal strenght rather then varizoom's shortcommings. But they may want grab the bar raised by Preston. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Victor Lazaro Posted March 10, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 True there is a price difference between the tow so I am not shocked or surprised. Preston I amazing but pricey. I never used Varizoom but if you add the camera trigger it could be a real contester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom McKay Posted March 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 James and Evrim, We utilize a certain technology and have had exceptional and even fantastic performance. The situation you describe would probably be the worst imaginable and probably could have just as easily been a problem for a Preston as well. What I do like hearing is we are being used side by side with a Preston costing probably 15,-20k more. Regarding wireless performance I can tell you that in convention center buildings we have seen most wireless controls fail and be completely inoperable where we have never had a problem. I really appreciate all input if we can improve the products we will do it. Tom P.S. it also had the same effect on our redmotes for the epic, constant unpredictable signal drop off. industrial laboratory which housed a particle accelerator, large electromagnetic experiments amongst and various other things including huge concrete lead slabs which messed with our phone signals etc a lot. in other words a wireless hell:) I think this experience is more about preston's exeptional signal strenght rather then varizoom's shortcommings. But they may want grab the bar raised by Preston. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members James Davis Posted March 10, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 On a positive note though I did have a play with the varizoom and thought the build quality was excellent. Yeah as I said the situation was pretty much wireless hell, just thought it was interesting though as I've never seen two different in such a unique environment before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Alan Rencher Posted March 10, 2013 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Will the start/stop feature be a software upgrade, or will it be a hardware upgrade? Will existing units have an option to upgrade. If so, what will be the cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom McKay Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Will the start/stop feature be a software upgrade, or will it be a hardware upgrade? Will existing units have an option to upgrade. If so, what will be the cost? Alan it is both. We had to spin a new pcb in the receiver and on the transmitter we can physically add a button or by software put it on the touchscreen. Still in the air on most efficient way to upgrade and keep cost to a minimum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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