User manual VARIZOOM VZ-MC100

[. . . ] For initial setup, leave the motors disengaged (the small brass motor gears should be pulled away from the large black gears). HORIZONTAL CAMERA BALANCING 3. Securely attach the camera to the mounting plate with bolt and washer. After tightening the bolt, slightly loosen it again so that the camera may slide forward and backward on the mounting plate. Move the camera so that gravity allows it to rest on the plate without tilting up or down, balancing the camera horizontally. [. . . ] Joystick Forward: camera points down; Joystick Backward: camera points up; Joystick Left: camera points to the left; Joystick Right: camera points to the right. (assuming the silver toggle switch is in the normal position ­ to the left). *NOTE: The UP/DOWN joystick directions will depend on how the camera is mounted ­ you can reverse the UP/DOWN by turning the camera 180 degrees to face the opposite direction. For normal operation, mount the camera so that the left side (viewfinder/LCD panel side) faces out away from the rotating arm. 3 Underslung Operation toggle switch 1a. When the camera is underslung, your left / right controls are reversed, so you need to flip the silver toggle switch on the control box to keep the joystick controls consistent. This way joystick-left will result in camera-left and joystick-right will result in camera-right. The toggle switch does not reverse up/down controls because they remain consistent when the MC100 is underslung. The normal position for the toggle switch is to the left Flip the switch to the right for underslung operation. underslung 2. In addition to the joystick, which is pressure-sensitive for speed control, these dials enable the operator to set the maximum speed of each motor, allowing for a higher degree of control. Turn the dials completely clockwise for maximum speed. The most effective way to vary the speed of the panning and tilting is by using the joystick, so you may find it best to leave the dials turned up all the time. ALWAYS OPERATE THE CONTROL UNIT WITH THE DIALS TURNED UP AT LEAST ¼ TO ½ THE WAY TO MAX. OPERATING THE CONTROL UNIT WITH THE DIALS TURNED ALL THE WAY DOWN MAY RESULT IN ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. Speed dials IMPORTANT NOTES * * STORAGE We recommend removing the motors from the Pan/Tilt head when storing the MC100 unit in the case. You can do this by loosening the clamp levers and sliding the motors off the stainless steel mounting posts ­ they can be placed in one of the supplied compartments of the MC100 case. Likewise, you should disconnect all extension cables from the unit and store them in a properly coiled position. When storing the unit, do not subject it to excessive heat, moisture or dust ­ store in a cool, dry place for optimal long-term performance. * TRIPOD MOUNTING We recommend mounting the MC100 on a 100mm bowl-type tripod since it will fit snugly and enable you to thread the supplied bolt through the MC100 mounting plate and down through the bowl of the tripod. Using the supplied oversize washer and nut, you can securely bolt the MC100 onto the tripod bowl. Although the MC100 can be mounted to a standard center-post tripod, the mounting bolt on such tripods isn't long enough to enable you to secure the mount with a washer and nut. If the tripod/MC100 mount were suddenly jarred or disrupted, there is a possibility the mounting bolt might bend or shear, so be very cautious about this type of setup. VARIZOOM DOES NOT RECOMMEND MOUNTING THE MC100 ON ANY TRIPOD OTHER THAN A 100 mm BOWL TRIPOD. * 360-DEGREE PANS AND TILTS The MC100 is capable of 360-degree turns on either axis, and the only limitation is in the twisting of your cables. Typically, you can go at least 360 degrees before the cables become severely entwined, but you should always be aware of the stress you place on the cables when going past 360 degrees ­ cable damage may result. [. . . ] Erratic control unit behavior may also result from damaged cables. MAINTENANCE: The MC100 should not require much maintenance, but over time wear and tear may take its toll. The most common wear and tear issue is damaged cables, which are relatively easily replaced. After much use, the bearings in the base may need light lubrication. These bearing are the two sets of thin triple washer-like assemblies above and below the base block (where the rotating shaft fits). [. . . ]