Tony Davies-Patrick
December 15th, 2012, 09:59 AM
I've been using the Phottix Hector for most of my remote controlled viewing with the Canon 5D MkII during the past few years (Phottix do a cable version called the "Hector" and a wireless version called the "Hero"). It works great and provides a remote LCD LiveView screen for viewing all controls at distance from the camera, and firing the shutter in continuous shooting, 2-sec delay and Bulb settings.
Phottix Hector Live View Remote ? The Phottix Journal (http://journal.phottix.com/photo-accessory-news/introducing-phottix-hector-live-view-remote/)
Phottix Hero Review ? The Phottix Journal (http://journal.phottix.com/photo-accessory-news/phottix-hero-wireless-live-view-remote-worthwhile-investment/)
The biggest problem with the Phottix Hector & Hero are they do not have a video STOP/START function and so can only fire off stills images.
I found one way around this and use the "Remote Commander" - (Universal Camera Remote Control - that works with Canon, Nikon and Pentax cameras). Made by a company in Australia.
By setting the Canon 5D Mark II body on 2-second delay and pressing the 2S function on the Remote Commander, it is able to stop & start the video mode without the need for cable connections.
Using the Hector or Hero combined with the Remote Commander device does work quite well, but it can be a bit temperamental at distance, and the RC device is infrared, so needs to point at the front of the 5D camera and also is affected when working outdoors in bright sunlight. (When I need to fire the Remote Commander from behind the Canon camera, I use a small mirror to bounce the beam to the front of the body).
The original version of the Gigtube GW C1 made by Aputure, also suffered the same problems as the Phottix, in that it did not control video modes in the remote camera body.
Aputure have now updated the Gigtube model to include wireless stop/start video control for the Canon 5D Mark II. This model is the called the GW2-CII.
There is also an updated version that will control video Stop/Start in the latest Canon 5D Mark III. This Gigtube model is called the GW2-CIII.
The GWII-CIII model will also work with 1DX, 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark III, 7D, 650D(T4i), 600D(T3i),6D, 550D(T2i), 500D(T1i), and 60D.
Aputure Limited - Gigtube Wireless Digital Viewfinder (http://www.aputure.com/en/product/gigitube_wireless_digital_viewfinder.php)
Remaining on the subject of remote control devices, I've also been looking at ways of pulling focus without needing to touch the lens (especially when I video subjects using my powerful telephoto lenses).
The FC1 USB Focus Controller, made by Okii, looked decent enough when I first viewed it, but it just seemed too fiddly for my liking.
FC1 USB Focus Controller (http://www.okii.net/product_p/fc1.htm)
I much prefer the V-Control USB Focus Controller that is also marketed by Aputure. It has a plastic body compared to the metal FC1 (but the V-control does have a metal tripod connection point as well as an easier way to quickly change batteries from AA to Lithium units), The V-Control also offers a more intuitive layout and form factor:
V-Control USB Focus Controller (http://www.aputure.com/en/product/v_control_usb.php)
Phottix Hector Live View Remote ? The Phottix Journal (http://journal.phottix.com/photo-accessory-news/introducing-phottix-hector-live-view-remote/)
Phottix Hero Review ? The Phottix Journal (http://journal.phottix.com/photo-accessory-news/phottix-hero-wireless-live-view-remote-worthwhile-investment/)
The biggest problem with the Phottix Hector & Hero are they do not have a video STOP/START function and so can only fire off stills images.
I found one way around this and use the "Remote Commander" - (Universal Camera Remote Control - that works with Canon, Nikon and Pentax cameras). Made by a company in Australia.
By setting the Canon 5D Mark II body on 2-second delay and pressing the 2S function on the Remote Commander, it is able to stop & start the video mode without the need for cable connections.
Using the Hector or Hero combined with the Remote Commander device does work quite well, but it can be a bit temperamental at distance, and the RC device is infrared, so needs to point at the front of the 5D camera and also is affected when working outdoors in bright sunlight. (When I need to fire the Remote Commander from behind the Canon camera, I use a small mirror to bounce the beam to the front of the body).
The original version of the Gigtube GW C1 made by Aputure, also suffered the same problems as the Phottix, in that it did not control video modes in the remote camera body.
Aputure have now updated the Gigtube model to include wireless stop/start video control for the Canon 5D Mark II. This model is the called the GW2-CII.
There is also an updated version that will control video Stop/Start in the latest Canon 5D Mark III. This Gigtube model is called the GW2-CIII.
The GWII-CIII model will also work with 1DX, 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark III, 7D, 650D(T4i), 600D(T3i),6D, 550D(T2i), 500D(T1i), and 60D.
Aputure Limited - Gigtube Wireless Digital Viewfinder (http://www.aputure.com/en/product/gigitube_wireless_digital_viewfinder.php)
Remaining on the subject of remote control devices, I've also been looking at ways of pulling focus without needing to touch the lens (especially when I video subjects using my powerful telephoto lenses).
The FC1 USB Focus Controller, made by Okii, looked decent enough when I first viewed it, but it just seemed too fiddly for my liking.
FC1 USB Focus Controller (http://www.okii.net/product_p/fc1.htm)
I much prefer the V-Control USB Focus Controller that is also marketed by Aputure. It has a plastic body compared to the metal FC1 (but the V-control does have a metal tripod connection point as well as an easier way to quickly change batteries from AA to Lithium units), The V-Control also offers a more intuitive layout and form factor:
V-Control USB Focus Controller (http://www.aputure.com/en/product/v_control_usb.php)