Attention Jan: HVX Remote Focus/Zoom/Iris

[Bart_Boge]

Hey Jan,

I recall someone on this forum mentioning that your team is planning on implementing remote focus and iris, as well as remote zoom on the new HVX. I know you can't promise anything spec-wise, but could you indicate what kind of system you might be using?

I do event videography with multipve DVX's. As per the extremely helpful links here on DVXUser.com, I fashioned a super-long remote zoom cable for my work ($100' long) for a grand total of $20 in parts (lamp cord, miniplugs, 20k pot, plastic box housing). I absolutely love it, especially for the price.

Will the new system in the HVX work the same way, but just use other pot values for the different functions? Like a 5k pot for iris, 10k for focus, and the standard 20k for zoom? Or will you do something completely different? I would love to cobble together a rig that does remote zoom/iris/focus to go with my remote pan/tilt system I also use. That way, from a centralized location, I can frame all of the cameras exactly as I want without mistakes--and without paying for additional camerapeople!

Right now I have to use a larger F-stop setting than I would like to expand DOF and lock my focus down where I think the subjects will be most of the time. Just yesterday I shot a family event in which I used the camera's ND filters to stay at open iris, and the results at full zoom were absolutely fabulous. It would be great to keep a shallower DOF by being able to remotely tweak focus with a wide open iris.

I won't hold you to anything, I promise. But could you give us all a hint as to how the expanded remote functionalities will be implemented?

 

[NoahK]

The zoom and record function appears to be the same on the HVX as on the DVX with a new separate connector for focus if I recall correctly from the prototype.

Noah

 

[Jan_Crittenden]

Hi Bart,

I am not an engineer, while I know what a pot is, I don't know the technicalities. It will be a separate connector as Noah indicated but the actual design is to be forthcoming.

Best,

Jan

 

[Bart_Boge]

Actually, a separate connector is in and of itself good news, as it probably means the remote zoom/rec on-off system will remain unchanged and thus backwards-compatable for the DVX aftermarket remotes many people purchased (or made, as in my case). I hope the bright boys here @ DVXUser.com will be able to quickly reverse-engineer some do-it-yourself focus/iris system in precisely the same manner that they did for the DVX rec/zoom remote.

Thanks, Jan!

 

[dust]

Now that we are talking about the remote focus... will it have variable speeds like the remote zooms usually have or will it be just a fixed speed? It would be amazing if you could have a real variable remote focus.. If this is not possible, 2 or 3 different speeds would be nice...