FS7: Full Wireless Remote Control From Xbox Controller

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Viddovation

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Here's a sample video:
https://vimeo.com/151841133

Essentially, this allows access to all camera functions you have with the Wifi Web Browser, and then some. As for specific button assignments - the buttons can be mapped to the user preference, and "BACK" and "START" act as shift keys, allowing more functions to be programmed.

Additionally, variable speed camera zoom (for servo lenses) can be mapped to any thumbstick axis (or the triggers).

Furthermore, you're not limited to six assignable feature buttons. Any of the assignable button choices in the FS7 menu can be mapped.

And, not shown in this video, but you can integrate this with Kessler Second Shooter for Pan/Tilt/Slide/FIZ.

Mind you, in the video I trip over some of my own button assignments because I'd just switched the mappings from a set that prioritized the pan/tilt/slide controls.

The set shown here puts functions for irising up/down, gain up/down, and shutter up/down, as well as white balance cycling, front and center. Peaking toggle also assigned, as are keys for accessing the FS7 menu system (arrows,set,cancel,thumbnail).

Combined with a wireless transmitter, this permits remote control 30+ feet away.

Hope to test for FS5/F5/F55 soonish. Similar core functionality already works on the Sony A7S (and by extension, ought to work with a range of Sony DSLR style and action cams)
 
James,
This is freaky cool. And while maybe not needed all the time - I can certainly see many interesting possibilities on it's use - especially the Kessler / DC slider combo use featured in the other vimeo video. So - it will work with the wifi transmitter that ships with the camera? Will you sell the software as a download? And - just curious - are you planning on trying other controllers too?
 
markfpv said:
James,
This is freaky cool. And while maybe not needed all the time - I can certainly see many interesting possibilities on it's use - especially the Kessler / DC slider combo use featured in the other vimeo video. So - it will work with the wifi transmitter that ships with the camera? Will you sell the software as a download? And - just curious - are you planning on trying other controllers too?
Click to expand...

Works in conjunction with the wifi adapter included with the FS7. It does require a small extra hardware box to connect that wifi with the xbox controller. Cost is about $100 for the hardware interlink (excluding any software charge). Can be battery powered. In practice, it communicates with the camera via the wifi link.

I'm exploring the possibility of just selling software, with users buying the required hardware from common vendors. I don't see a good reason to make a proprietary controller. If I did so, it would cost hundreds of dollars. And the Xbox controller may not be perfect, but it's great for end users because of it's ubiquity - if it breaks on set, you can replace it for $50 or less, within hours, not days. Your shoot isn't ruined, and there are no special orders to place with B&H. And you can power it with battery packs or with AA batteries. So, it's a very flexible ecosystem.

And... not something I've developed yet... but the core system here can potentially address 4 Xbox controllers. That means 20 mappable motors. That's a bit crazy, but I certainly could see applications where users might want one operator to handler slide/pan/tilt, and a second operator to handle zoom/focus/cam control. Again, that's not currently implemented, but it's within the capabilities that could be programmed going forward.
 
markfpv said:
And - just curious - are you planning on trying other controllers too?
Click to expand...

I may support more controllers in the future. It's not a terribly high priority. An Xbox controller is less than $100, even if you buy battery packs. That's nothing in the video ecosystem. And it's better designed for battery switches on set than a number of other devices.

If I can make a product launch of this I will listen to consumer demand,. But for the moment I see more value in supporting a larger number of camera systems. That's a higher priority at the moment. And continuing improvements on overall reliability.
 
Very cool, James!!

any chance you might be willing to post some footage of the mounted camera? Would love to check out how you've handled ramping movements.

In any case, thoroughly impressive work!!
 
abreu-canedo said:
any chance you might be willing to post some footage of the mounted camera? Would love to check out how you've handled ramping movements.
Click to expand...

Can you rephrase? Not sure what the request is.

Just like you can walk slow or run fast in an xbox video game by pressing the thumbstick axis harder, so you can do the same here - a softer touch is a slower move. As for smoothness - that's on the operator's dexterity. Additionally, I have buttons mapped so you can change the responsiveness, setting a desired "max speed" and an "accel/decel (dampening) rate". Those settings are per axis. If you need a very specific "ramped" shot, you might be better off using Second Shooter's kOS software, or the built in, to do a pre programmed move. Mind you... my rig let's me switch over and run kOS style pre-programmed moves very quickly... like, in minutes.

I do plan to put out more content, including the mounted camera's view (maybe that's what you were asking) so people can see the relative smoothness. Hoping to do that at a more photogenic location!

EDIT: As said above, you can vary speed just like any xbox game via thumbstick pressure. However, there's simply not the same resistance and range built into those thumbsticks as there is in a high quality Jimmy Jib joystick. You're simply not going to get the same degree of response. But you won't pay the same price either. It can take a bit of practice, but you abolutely can do smooth moves.
 
Viddovation said:
Can you rephrase? Not sure what the request is.

Just like you can walk slow or run fast in an xbox video game by pressing the thumbstick axis harder, so you can do the same here - a softer touch is a slower move. As for smoothness - that's on the operator's dexterity. Additionally, I have buttons mapped so you can change the responsiveness, setting a desired "max speed" and an "accel/decel (dampening) rate". Those settings are per axis. If you need a very specific "ramped" shot, you might be better off using Second Shooter's kOS software, or the built in, to do a pre programmed move. Mind you... my rig let's me switch over and run kOS style pre-programmed moves very quickly... like, in minutes.

I do plan to put out more content, including the mounted camera's view (maybe that's what you were asking) so people can see the relative smoothness. Hoping to do that at a more photogenic location!

EDIT: As said above, you can vary speed just like any xbox game via thumbstick pressure. However, there's simply not the same resistance and range built into those thumbsticks as there is in a high quality Jimmy Jib joystick. You're simply not going to get the same degree of response. But you won't pay the same price either. It can take a bit of practice, but you abolutely can do smooth moves.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the lack of clarity. I was in a rush. But yes, your assumption was correct. I wanted to see video from the camera that is mounted to your rig, to see how it performs.

In no way am I trying to look for defects compared to pro rigs, I am genuinely excited about it as a potential mo-co system.

Again, props!
 
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