VariZoomVZRL100 LANC Zoom Lens Control (Black)

Ok, I've bought several of these and I've found that when new they work quite well and offer smooth, controllable zoom. Naturally that's what you buy the thing for, smooth controllable zoom.On the other hand they are delicate and even when babied they have a short lifespan. After about a year or so of use the zoom tends to develop hesitation at certain points. I've had to replace 4 of them over the last 3-4 years due to this issue. Due to this they seem to be disposable items, use them until they start to stick/hesitate and then replace. Not a huge fan of this issue in a $100 unit, but it IS a $100 unit and not a $500 unit.The attachment to the tripod arm is a nuisance with the thumbscrews you have to remove, then remove the clamp bar, then attach and put it back together. On the other hand it DOES work, but I really hesitate to call that clamp "professional"The bottom line is that if like me you're coming from more traditional Fujinon or Canon zoom controls for ENG lenses then these aren't anywhere near the same quality or durability. Of course they're $100 instead of north of $600 each, still I wish someone made a LANC version of the standard zoom handles. I have several Fujinon controls that are still perfectly functional after 30 years of hard use, these are just as smooth when new, but consider yourself lucky to get more than a year of use out of them.

I've got a couple of these as well as a couple of the Libec ones  Libec ZC-3DV Zoom Control for Sony, Panasonic and Canon DV Cameras  that are close to the same price. There are pros and cons to each.I feel like I have better control with this one (which is a pretty big pro), but the Libec is easier to attach and detach from your tripod handle. Also, I'm always worried that I'm going to lose one of the little nuts that you thread on and off to attach this one. And yes, you have to take them all the way off to get it on your tripod (at least I do with mine); whereas the Libec loosens all the way without anything coming off to get dropped/lost while out on a shoot.Another pro is the tally light that comes on and stays on while recording. That's proved more useful than I thought it would.But another con is that the LANC cable can't be detached from the controller like you can with the Libec. When it goes bad, you're either gonna have to get out your soldering iron or buy a new unit. When the cable goes bad on the Libec, I can just buy a super cheap 2.5mm male-to-male cable.Overall, I'd say that I like this one a little better than the Libec because precision control just can't be beat. There's just a little more resistance to the zoom rocker and it's a little wider and those two things combine for better control for me. It's worth the other inconveniences to have your shots look better. But I still wish there were a hybrid of both these products at a similar price. Gimmie the convenience of the Libec with the control of the VariZoom and you'll get 5 stars. :)

So it is definitely a great tool for the money. You have to pay at least 2x this for a real one. Of course you're not gonna be able to dial in the speed of the zoom for this price, but one thing I figured out recently after about a month of using it. You can't hit record while zooming. I always thought it was a problem with the record button not working every time I clicked, but I just did some testing and every time the record button doesn't register is when I start to zoom before or after.So that's something to think about. I'm definitely triple checking every time I hit record that the camera is actually recording.Also the record button is in a bad spot. I can't hold the camera steady and reach for the button at the same time. Could be my tripod isn't heavy duty enough, or maybe my hands are too small but idk why the button isn't down and to the left a little bit more.Overally it gets the job done and makes your life a little easier https://amzn.to/2mpve8D

I got this for my Sony PXW-X70 video camera because I often use a high tripod and need a remote zoom. I very much like the smoothness of the zoom and the range of motion of the rocker. The variability of the speed is also very smooth. On the downside, I'm not crazy about the fairly primitive clamp used to attach the zoom to the tripod handle. It's not quite wide enough to fit over the part of the handle on my Manfrotto tripod where I generally hold it, so I have to rig something for that. And the two loosening hand screws are clunky and could be easily lost (which I almost did on my last shoot.) The real problem, however, is that it is pretty finicky as to whether or not it will work. I have tried all the suggestions for using this zoom with my particular camera that are included in the instructions--it turns out they are irrelevant. Sometimes the zoom works no matter what you do, and sometimes it doesn't. I've found that unplugging it from the camera and plugging it back in sometimes fixes the problem, sometimes not. I've tried plugging it in with the camera off, and with the camera on-- again, no consistency. I can usually get it going by fiddling with it, but if you've already begun a long shoot, like a concert and it decides not to work, you're kind of screwed. Luckily, I have a backup zoom that is not quite as good, but always works. I don't want to send this one back because I really like the way it works, when it works. For the money, or for any price, it should work all the time.

Muy bien