On Tue, 27 Nov 2001 02:23:05 GMT, Ernest wrote:

>I've read the TRV900 FAQ and numerous posting on this topic. To the
>letter, everyone rightly complains about the difficulty in controlling
>zooms on the standard rocker controls of todays pro/consumer camcorders.
>
>However, it is unclear to me why the Varizoom is any less difficult to
>use than the standard rocker as it's Stealth Lens Controller simply
>trades rocker for slider. It seems to me that holding a slider in a
>rock solid ultra slow zoom is little easier than a rocker.
>
>Can anyone whose used either the Varizoom, or Sony Tripod controllers
>(870RM) testify how I am wrong? That is, can you reliably hold a solid
>zoom speed on these variable speed controllers?
>
>Also, The Studio1 DZC-1 seems to overcome this problem with a dialed in
>speed setting. Anyone use one of these?

I have various Sony Lanc controlers and the Canon version
also. If you MUST depend on having only one zoom speed
while zooming, the $180 Canon controller is THE way to go.
You can dial in any of 5(?) zoom speeds, then "mash" the
rocker (it will do variable-speed, also...), and get the
one selected zoom speed reliably. Number "1" is also
VERY slow, slower than available with the Sony camcorder
rocker...