18Jun Using Varavon Sling – Focus Zoom Lever
Varavon sent out a few units of their latest product – the ‘Varavon Sling’. The Varavon Sling is a Focus Zoom Lever, and we decided to try them out for one of our shoots. We weren’t doing a lot of tracking on this set, and It’s not a required piece of gear for everyone, but the guys on set found it useful. It’s a similar idea to the DIY Focus Lever using a silicon kitchen jar opener, but the Sling has a firm plastic handle and fairly long adjustable band to fit almost any lens. Beats setting up a rail system, follow focus, and lens gears when trying to knock out something quick. Check out the Varavon Sling via Vifocam.com
Varavon Sling Focus Zoom Lever
Like 
Subscribe 
Follow
14 Comments
Leave a Comment
>> Continue Reading More Articles <<
June 18th, 2012 at 8:33 am
You might also check out lensstraps.com. I bought a couple of these (cheap) and several straps (they’re reusable, unlike zip ties) for zoom ring control.
June 18th, 2012 at 8:38 am
Seems like it would make you tilt left and right when you go to turn your focus or zoom ring with it (while handheld like the shooter with the Pistol grip was shooting). I would personally like to use my hand directly on the lens rings. Did you find any stability issues when you used it?
June 18th, 2012 at 8:45 am
@Steven – The shooter with the pistol grip didn’t have one, but I know what you mean. There’s a time and place for it.
June 18th, 2012 at 10:02 am
Reminds me of the pipe clamp + bolt DIY. Those things are now in the bottom of a box along with various other budget experiments.
June 18th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Yeah, sure, Varavon Sling. Looks good. Who are the women singing? They sound GREAT.
June 18th, 2012 at 10:18 am
I’ll second the lens straps, bought a pair recently and they’re great quality.
June 18th, 2012 at 10:56 am
Hi Emm. Thanks for this tip again. Only one question popped up in my mind about these Varavon Slings. Does those have some play on them when u turn let say zoom ring. Zoom rings are often more sticky than focus rings and if this is made of some kind of rubber it might bend or does it?
June 18th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Just ordered a pair. Look forward to trying them out.
June 19th, 2012 at 10:34 am
does this fit the canon 50mm 1.8?
June 20th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
Emm,
Great seeing you film PINAY! lol… Man, they’re OG! What is this project for?
BTW, great tip on these Focus Zoom levers!
June 20th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@Eric – They’ve been apart for a long time now, and they were reunited for one weekend to perform at an event. Angelica flew in that same night and they needed a spot to rehearse for the next morning. At the same time a few in-studio live performances and then we shot a mini-doc about who their back story. I met Irma years ago, and actually helped shoot her wedding. Small circles…
June 28th, 2012 at 10:12 am
@Emm,
Wow that’s great! I used to be in a group called Devotion where we used to perform with them back in the day… Definitely a small circle… I would to see that mini-doc! I always had an idea to film a documentary of asian artists before youtube was around…. If you feel like teaming up with some Socal filmmakers, just hit me up!
Keep up the good work man…. I’m constantly on your site!
November 3rd, 2012 at 9:48 am
emm – Do you think this will work with geared cine lens like the new samyang 35mm T1.5 lens?
November 4th, 2012 at 10:53 am
@Mark – It will work. It’s just a lever that attaches over any focus ring.