The Rocker Zoom Style

[Benjamin Treplin]

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'JimBartell' date='Apr 7 2006, 11:17 AM' post='16416'

 

I would still like to pursue a pressure sensitive control at a future date but I didn't want to hold things up any longer.

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'Muhlstock' date='Apr 8 2006, 01:38 AM' post='16446'

 

Jim, Please dont waste your time with pressure sensitive stuff, this system just is not very good for Steadicam, the analog feel of a rocker is much better if this unit is to mounted on a gimbal-yoke. We use to much force with the zoom hand while controling boom height and the rocker thing is easier to feather. In general, I dont think the pressure sensitive units, such as microforce, have good feel. I should send you a photo of the mod I made for the Zoe, I mount with a rubber microphone clamp instead of the supplied long screws. This give a nice clean feel, easy on and off, no silp.

 

You know my order is in, I cant wait.

 

Jeff

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So I've moved it.

Jeff, can't wait to see your modification.

Jim, does your zoom unit work with all whatever-rocker-style-zoom controls?

Best

[JimBartell]

Jim, does your zoom unit work with all whatever-rocker-style-zoom controls?

Best

 

It will definitely work with the J-7 and Varizoom VZ Rock. I think it will work with the ZOE III but I haven't had a chance to test it yet. Are there any others you know about?

 

Jim "old rockers never die" Bartell

[Marc Abernathy]

yes jeff lets see your mod!

[Hervé Colosio]

benjamin , if you can send me the mod of your zoe , i'm interested .

[Benjamin Treplin]

benjamin , if you can send me the mod of your zoe , i'm interested .

 

Jeff is the one who did the mod and I'm highly interested my self.

 

Jim, the only other Rocker I know of is the Zoe II.

 

Best

[Jeff Muhlstock SOC]

Here it is guys, I have struggled this problem for years, trying every zoom control out there, with a variety of mods. Very low tech but this simple solution works great for me. These mic clamps come in a variety of types and sizes, pick the one that works best for your gimble handle.

 

have fun,

Jeff

[Marc Abernathy]

thx jeff,

 

can you kindly explain a little further how you connected the ZOE to the clamp? did the clamp have screws and you used those exisitng screws on the clamp?

 

also, you have a PRO right? the Masters is fatter than the PRO handle no?

[Jeff Muhlstock SOC]

thx jeff,

 

can you kindly explain a little further how you connected the ZOE to the clamp? did the clamp have screws and you used those exisitng screws on the clamp?

 

also, you have a PRO right? the Masters is fatter than the PRO handle no?

 

 

Hi Marc, I think I used thin screws that mated to the existing threads of the Zoe housing. Very simple, 2 screws in place of the long screws that came with the unit. I used recessed type screws so they would sink into the rubber on the inside.

 

And that is an XCS Ergo handle, pretty wide. Again, there are several different size options in the microphone clamping world. Pretty cheep too. Take note that my handle has a grip material on it, this my effect the "grip" or "hold" of this trick.

 

 

Good luck

 

Jeff

[Benjamin Treplin]

Jeff,

thanks a lot for the picture and insight! What does the Zoe 3 feels like compared to the big rockers from Sony or Panasonic. I have a Zoe 2 and I never got decent response around the zero point. It doesn't start the zoom very smooth regardless what kind of lens it is plugged in.

[Jeff Muhlstock SOC]

Jeff,

thanks a lot for the picture and insight! What does the Zoe 3 feels like compared to the big rockers from Sony or Panasonic. I have a Zoe 2 and I never got decent response around the zero point. It doesn't start the zoom very smooth regardless what kind of lens it is plugged in.

 

 

Very smooth response, easy feathering, variable speed control. this is the best zoom control yet. As I have said, I own, and have used just about all of them, from J-7's to Preston. This little devil is great. My only complaint, is the cable. I will fix this problem soon. I would rather see a much thinner cable that can easily be replaced if broken. Connectors on the unit, so we can use a "jumper" cable.

 

Jeff

[Thomas English]

So you guys are having absolutely no problems popping your focus/iris bartech onto your zoom? Maybe its my sld100 that has a low resolution? It really does seem, on slow slow zooms that its going in steps!

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Thomas,

 

I love Jim Bartell & the Bartech, but any notion of using the iris slider for the really slow zooms is not a given(Jim would probably agree. I liken doing a zoom from a focus/iris unit to a manual zoom - results will vary wildly depending on who is doing it.) Can it be done? Yes. If the slow one on my reel can be done with a Seitz, it can most certainly be done with a Bartech, but it is very difficult to get it right. A true zoom unit with a tachometer motor (versus a potentiometer motor) is the way to go when possible (or a digital set-up).

[Thomas English]

sure I was aware of the different types of motor. One of them "pushes" in each direction whilst the other is a stepper. I thought this was the problem. I will have to investigate further and check seeing as the successes you guys have had with iris/focus motors.