JVC Zoom Control Unit for Canon and Fujinon Lenses

Huge, Disappointing Step Backwards

We bought this for an additional we added to our arsenal, and are extremely disappointed. We own three of the previous model (HZ-ZS13BU), and while its fit and finish left a lot to be desired, it simply worked. The problems: 1. The zoom function is not smooth or slow, and its range is limited. When you engage the zoom lever, for the first half or more of its travel, nothing happens. Then suddenly it lurches forward or back. At no time can it zoom in or out as slowly as the previous model. 2. The hardware, while robust, puts the handle on a different plane than the arm of the tripod by 3-inches up or down. That means that to put this piece in a normal, comfortable position for the camera operator, you have to move the tripod handle to which it attaches either up or down by 3-inches—where it then gets in the way. The old piece could simply be mounted parallel to, and to the side of the tripod arms. This one must be either above or below it. This piece is so bad that we took one of our older pieces and put it with our new camera. Now we don’t know what to do with this one. It is special order, so it can’t be returned. So our $900 paper weight is sitting collecting dust. I can't imagine that a product engineer put this side by side with the old one, WHILE ACTUALLY USING IT, and thought they had done a good job. Maybe JVC will do some sort of a firmware update for new production pieces and deliver more sensible hardware with them in the future. The only good thing is the fit and finish of the actual unit and hardware is nicer (quite frankly, the older model didn’t look like it was made by JVC—but it worked). And I guess the record button works…Yippee... But other than that this is a huge disappointment. Camera: JVC GY-HM850 Lens: Fujinon XT17sx45BRMK3 Tripod: Older Manfrotto