DIY non LANC controller
 

Hi

I am a XM2 / GL2 owner and I needed s simple solution to an expensive problem....

I have posted a web page with a simple solution for those that are unable or who cannot afford a LANC controller...

http://home.kooee.com.au/rms/

Marko

Very clever, Marko! Thanks very much for sharing that with us. I don't think I've ever seen someone try to pipe the remote's IR signals to the camera's eye.

I would expect the Achilles heel of this system to be the relatively fragile nature of optical fiber cable. As you noted, they don't deal well with bending. It's hard to imagine that it would survive long under the typical frequent packing/hauling/unpacking conditions that many frequent shooters' equipment faces. But for a careful hobbiest it might just fill the bill!

Ken

Thanx for the comments....the project has been a lot of fun....

The durability of the opto cable is a moot point, but I have tried it in the field several times shooting car rallies under very trying conditions....just watch out for the dust he said...hmmm...and the cable has not been a problem.

With so many clever people out there in DV world, it would be a simple matter for the builder to place a simple strain relief along the cameras handle or to a grip etc, etc....

I note on the Net that there are heavy duty opto cables available...try MONSTER cable in Google....and the lot still comes up seriously chgeaper than a LANC....and is more fun

Marko

Ken - Nattiest XM2 Award?
 

. . Wow lateral thinking or what?!?! - Ken, can we have an award for the presetnation for the nattiest solution?

This is tremendous . . . . Personally, my Canon LANC, cuts the mustard . . but yes yes yes . . .very clever and ingenious . . how does the "Necessity & Mothers of Inventions" quote go . . . . .

Grazie

For a bit more mobility with the controller, try using one of the small bicycle helmet mirrors to reflect IR signal to the sensor from angles toward the back of the camcorder..

. . . . And there was I thinking Don, you didn't have a sense of humour - Hah!

Grazie

Great home page and kudos for the great graphic work with the schemes.

However I've heard the basic idea 2-3 months ago from Peter Jefferson. He used just gaffer tape to fix the cable so your development is towards the perfection.

Very good ideas to make the small boxes and use reflective surfaces. Thanks!

Graham. . . I think the saying is "NECESSITY IS A MOTHER" (at least that's the way we see it.)

That's brilliant!!

I had a suggestion about the poor egros on the Canon IR controller.... What would happen if you used a flat razor blade to shave off the buttons that were not needed? I have a GL2 and another Canon consumer grade cam. Both came with the same controller, so I have an extra. I may try this and eventually shave buttons to make operation by touch much easier.

Thanks for sharing!!

Kevin

Maybe you should try a generic remote (these are fairly cheap) and see if you can programme it first....read: before the razor job.

Some else mentioned on another list that he was going to use one....I think they are programmed by having the emitters face each other then yoou press and store each command....thereby setting what buttons you want and where they are on the remote...!

Mark

Great idea you have there Marko!!!

I'm thinking about actually removing the controller board (the Sony remote for a PD-150) from it's case, trimming the PC board to fit into a small generic Radio Shack project box (without cutting any traces, of course!) and soldering momentary push-buttons via jumper wires to the board. (for zoom, focus, record, etc...)

I can fit the whole assembly into a small case about 2" x 4" in size. I can make a sleeve (heat shrink, maybe?) to fit the IR LED, and butt the fiber cable right up to the LED--then pass it out through some kind of non-kinking strain-relief to feed to the camera...

Attach a handlebar mount bracket to the bottom of the case for the pan handle, and I'm good to go!

I've got a spare remote to play with. Sounds like a nice weekend project for me. I'll post construction pics to my site when I time...

-Phil

Your a genius Marko. I was playing with the idea of how to have a remote controller for my cam without spending a forture, I guess now I have a remote cable to use my XL1s. I now have an great idea how I can get your idea modified to suit my needs. Very clever!!!!

I'm off to shops tomorrow to get started! Brilliant!!!

Let's go....

Guys and Gals, post a link to the forum when you get something up and flying so we can ALL be inspired........get to it...

...and spread the word.....!

Marko

Another thing that might work (this will void your warranty on
the remote) and will require some soldering is this:

Open the remote and remove the LED (Light Emitting Diode)
that transmits the IR signals (de-solder it from the board). Now
solder a cable in the place and attach the LED to the end of the
cable. This can basically be any kind of cable which will allow
for more wear and tear.

DISCLAIMER: this WILL void your warranty. I or DVInfo.net are
not responsible for broken equipment etc.

You should know electronics when attempting this! Ofcourse
the transmitter board might not allow for such a modification,
but it might (I don't have that remote).

Just a thought....

DOH! (a case of "why didn't I think of that...")

You know, since I work in electronics, one would think I would have thought of that! *grin*

Even better idea there, Rob...

Back to the shop for remote IR remote v1.2...

-Phil

Hehe... that happens <g>. One thing I wanted to note is that
I'm unsure of the maximum cable length before the signal will
detoriate too much. But that is something that should be easily
testable. Please let us know what your findings are!

I also just thought if you want to leave your Canon remote
alone there is another way to go: the universal remote. Learn
it the controls of the Canon remote and then strip the universal
remote down (if they didn't poor glue inside it...) and you can
add the extension buttons and label them yourselves. Saves
the warranty (on the Canon remote ofcourse, not the other
one)!

Updated weblink...
 

Hi, just in case anyone else stumbles across this thread it may be useful to note that the link in the original post is now no longer valid, however courtesy of www.archive.org there is the following:

http://web.archive.org/web/200404060...ee.com.au/rms/

Kris

Hi Kris,

Check my post of "Want to Rig up your Infrared Remote ???" in the Remote Lens Controler Section for the units I made up long before 03. Has Pics, and can send more if anyone interested. I've got all 4 of my Sony Cams set up this way and use the IR units all the time, even in tandum with a Sony wired remote control handle removed from a Sony TriPod.

Harold