VariZoom VZCINEMAPRO-K4 User Manual

Cinema Pro-K4

Operations Manual

BEFORE YOU START, READ THESE WARNINGS

1) NEVER PLUG POWER DEVICES OTHER THAN THOSE SUPPLIED BY

VARIZOOM INTO THE SYSTEM. ONLY USE VARIZOOM POWER SOURCES
AND CABLES. USING DIFFERENT POWER COMPONENTS CAN LEAD TO
SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND EVEN THE CAMERA. THIS TYPE
OF DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

2) DO NOT MODIFY THE SUPPLIED CABLES OR ATTEMPT TO

DISASSEMBLE THE HEAD.

3) LENS CONTROL CABLES MUST ONLY BE PLUGGED INTO THE

SPECIFIED INPUT JACK ON THE LENS ITSELF – NEVER PLUG A 12-PIN
CONNECTOR ON A VARIZOOM LENS CONTROL CABLE INTO THE 12PIN
JACK ON THE CAMERA BODY. WHEN IN DOUBT, CONSULT VARIZOOM
OR YOUR LENS MANUAL.

4) THE ADVANCED CONTROLLER DOES NOT REQUIRE SEPARATE POWER,

IT RECEIVES POWER THROUGH THE GREEN-CODED CONTROL CABLE
THAT CONNECTS TO THE HEAD. THE “AUX” POWER JACK ON THE
ADVANCED CONTROLLER IS ONLY UTILIZED IN WIRELESS
CONFIGURATIONS AND SHOULD ONLY BE CONNECTED TO A
VARIZOOM POWER SUPPLY.

5) DO NOT OPERATE THE HEAD WITH AN UNBALANCED LOAD (i.e., with

the camera’s weight extremely off-center either horizontally or
vertically).

6) DO NOT GET THE SYSTEM WET – IT IS NOT WATERPROOF.

7) ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR LENS AND POWER CABLES HAVE ENOUGH

SLACK RUNNING THROUGH THE TILT AXIS TO PREVENT TWISTING
AND TEARING OF THE CABLES.

8) MAKE SURE YOUR LENS CLEARS THE BASE OF THE HEAD WHEN

TILTING. IF THE LENS DOES NOT CLEAR THE BASE, SET SOFT LIMITS
(SECTION 7) TO PREVENT THE LENS FROM STRIKING THE BASE OF
THE HEAD WHEN TILTING.

9) WHEN USING THE CP JR’s ONBOARD LENS CONTROLS TO CONTROL

YOUR CAMERA, ALWAYS POWER THE CAMERA UP LAST. OTHERWISE,
THE RECORD START/STOP FEATURE MAY FALL OUT OF SYNC. TO
AVOID THIS ISSUE, JUST MAKE SURE TO CONNECT XLR POWER TO
THE HEAD BEFORE YOU TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.

General Description

The Cinema Pro is a mid-size, two axis motion control head. It has a wide
variety of operating modes: manual operation from joystick, optional hand wheels or
pan bars control, motion control style record and playback, “go to mark” preset

framing, intervalometer operation and can operate as a slave to Kuper Node
motion control*. It also is capable of providing motion data for virtual set operation.

The Cinema Pro Advanced Controller gives the user all input and programming
capabilities and has a joystick for pan & tilt control. The Advanced Controller also
works in concert with two optional control input devices: Pan Bars for broadcast-style
operation or Hand Wheels for cinema-style operation.

The Jibstick remote is a simpler, less expensive controller designed for one­man jib operation. The jibstick only offers joystick pan & tilt with smoothing and
speed control.

The Cinema Pro’s lens interface controls zoom, focus and iris. It provides four
varieties of control signals: RS-232 for Fujinon digital lenses or Varizoom (TOC) motor
drives, RS-422 for Canon digital lenses or Preston motor drives, position or speed
based analog, pulse width type RC servos, and LANC.

The following is an in-depth description of Cinema Pro operation and a
complete description of each of its features.

*These features are only available when used with the advanced controller.

1. Basic Setup

Secure Cinema Pro head to crane, tripod, or solid mounting beam

Plug the FACTORY POWER SUPPLY into AC mains

Connect XLR cable between the Cinema Pro head and FACTORY POWER SUPPLY

Connect in Green LEMO connector between the Cinema Pro head and the plug marked “CTRL” on the
controller

Connect camera control (if applicable) between the camera and the 12-pin LEMO connector on the back
of the tilt arm on Cinema Pro head .

Connect camera power (if applicable) between the 2-pin LEMO connector also located on the back of
the tilt arm

Connect the bloop/sync (if applicable) between the camera and the 6-pin Fischer connector also located
on the back of the tilt arm

If using the TOC system

Connect the TOC 3A (3 axis lens drive box) between the orange 16-PIN lens control connector located on
the front of the tilt arm of the Cinema Pro head, and the grey “control” port located on the TOC 3A

Connect the Lens drive motors to the appropriate connection according to their function (zoom, focus,
iris)

If using a Preston MDR2*

Connect the MDR2 box between the 16-pin LEMO connector located on the front of the tilt arm of the
Cinema Pro head, and the appropriate command connected on the MDR2 box (refer to the
manufacturer’s instruction manual for proper connections)

Connect the Preston lens motors according to their manufacturer’s instruction manual

Center of Mass

* make sure that the MDR2 is not connected to any power source (including

batteries) prior to connecting to the head. This can result in damages to the

control console. The MDR2 will get all necessary power directly from the head.

Balance the Camera – Although the head will hold position very well, it operates best when the camera
is balanced on the mounting platform. With heavier cameras, it is essential, as an out-of-balance load
will cause the servos to constantly fight to hold position. Make sure that the motor power is turned off

before balancing. This will allow you to move the tilt axis by hand. To balance the camera

horizontally, you need to place the camera’s front-to-back center of mass at the center of the mounting
platform slot. You can do this by trial and error, sliding the camera front-to-back on the mounting
platform until it stays level.

The simplest accurate way to find the camera’s center of mass is to lay a pencil/pen on a table
and try to balance the camera on it front-to-back. The spot on the camera where it comes closest to
balancing on the pencil is the center of mass. Place the camera’s center of mass at the center of the
mounting slot and secure the camera with mounting screws (2 if possible). When horizontally balanced,
the platform should stay level.

With smaller cameras (under 10lbs), you may not need to adjust the vertical balance. For larger
cameras, you may want to adjust it for optimal performance and to minimize the effort the servos have
to make to hold position. To get the vertical balance right, raise or lower the platform to get the
camera’s vertical center of mass located on the center of tilt rotation. To adjust, you will have to loosen
the lockdown screws (2) on each of the camera platform tubes. Once they are loose, turn the fluted
knob on the underside of the platform (between the tubes) to precisely raise or lower it. Rotate the
platform to various angles and adjust until it holds position at any angle. If it falls down, you need to
adjust the platform upward. If it drifts upward, you need to lower the platform. Note that if you can’t
get the vertical balance just right, the head will compensate when the servos are powered up. When
balance is achieved, tighten the lockdown screws on the platform tubes.

A

nalog lens control connector

- White

Digital lens control connector

- Gray

Set pan

axis

soft limits

Set tilt axis

soft limits

Analog lens voltage balance

Pan/tilt smoothing

Pan speed

Tilt speed

Joystick for pan and tilt operation

Pan/Tilt/Zoom/Focus Response Direction

Communication Connection

USB connector

Sync

Power

Motor Power

After all connections have been made and the camera is balanced, switch on power located on the

C

ommunication connector

- Green

power brick.

After sync is established (the “sync” light on the jibstick should be illuminated), switch on motor power
(See below for location)

2. Jibstick layout and functions