Anybody who knows anything about the history of Zacuto knows that the company is a constantly evolving entity. From production studio to rental house to DSLR accessories manufacturer and back again, owners Steve Weiss and Jens Bogehegn are consistently reinventing not only their company but also themselves. In the February 2011 issue of Today's Machining World, Noah Graff discusses with Steve and Jens their journey through the different stages of their careers; how they came to be pioneers of the film and video accessory manufacturing world and their eventual return to their first passion, filmmaking.
The duo never had any real background in product design before, but after 50 years of combined experience in the film and video world, manufacturing their own line of products seemed like the next natural step. In 2004, Panasonic released the first of a new wave of prosumer HD video cameras, the HVX200. The image quality was great and the price was almost unbelievable. The only problem was the body design of the camera itself. For industry professionals used to managing larger ENG cameras, shooting with the HVX200 just wasn’t practical. It was too big to be a palmcorder and not the right design to be a shoulder mount camera. The HD video camera had all the benefits a professional would need in picture quality but none in ergonomics. This gave Steve and Jens an idea.
Steve Weiss and Jens Bogehegn, co-founders and owners of Zacuto USA
They quickly teamed up with local engineer, Bob Zajeski, of Zeta Engineering. Because Bob was so close to Chicago, Steve and Jens could rapidly review Bob’s drawings and have a prototype built in a matter of weeks. Having a local engineer not only allowed Steve and Jens to get parts made quickly but also gave them much more control over the quality of their products. Quality control has always been and continues to be a primary concern of Zacuto’s designs. All the pieces were falling into place and so Zacuto’s manufacturing business, Zacuto USA, was born with the introduction of their first product, the Universal Baseplate.
Zacuto’s Universal Baseplate allowed shooters to attach a matte box and follow focus to their cameras. Then Steve and Jens brainstormed. They realized that the rods behind the camera could be used for a shoulder pad and power mounting system. Now the rig was counterbalanced and shoulder mountable. Every time a new problem came up, Steve and Jens would develop a new product to solve that problem. Zacuto now has over 250 original products. The film and video industry changes so fast, it is a constant struggle to keep up with the newest hottest cameras. In the last few years, the business has shifted to accommodate the new HDDSLR cameras. Once again, at the forefront of the transformation, Steve and Jens were ready with a new line of DSLR accessories ready to outfit these cutting-edge cameras. The Machining World Today article goes into much further detail of the manufacturing process. It is simply a must read for anyone interested in the manufacturing or business end of how Zacuto products are made.
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