Wireless FPV and camera control?

[David W. Richardson]

Can someone tell me if there is such a thing?

What I want to be able to do is wirelessly control my camcorder from my tablet computer. On my tablet screen I want to see what the camcorder sees (FPV) and I also want to be able to control the cam's zoom and start/stop functions. Pretty straightforward.

Now I know there are camcorders on the market that already have wireless control built-in. But I don't want to buy a new cam. I want a device that will plug into the LAN-C port on my current cam for camera control, and take video out from my A/V out to send the video to my tablet screen.

Oh...and it needs to do this via wireless, not infrared.

I can find FPV systems used by model aircraft hobbyists that I could modify to send my cam's feed to my tablet. But the only controllers I can find to run the cam are those handheld IR controllers that come with some cams. Two problems with that. The main problem with that is those controllers are line-of-sight, don't work very well outdoors, and you usually have to be positioned somewhere in front of the camera for them to work. That's no good.

I'm looking for this to make wedding videography a bit easier. I want to be able to place the camera in position, and then be able to control its zoom and start/stop functions from a more remote, out of the way place. Eventually I'll graduate up to a remotely-controlled pan/tilt head as well, but for now I just need to get wireless camera control and FPV.

Anyone know of anything out there that will do this? I've had no luck finding anything so far.

Thanks in advance!

 

[David W. Jones]

I can't offer up much, but… If I were in this same scenario, I would probably do a cost analysis between putting together a system like you mention, against one using newer cameras already having the function built-in. For example… I have only done a few simple tests with my new GH4, but thought that we have come a long way when a $1700 4K camera can wirelessly send it's video signal to, and be controlled from my iPad or phone. Now I have not explored working distances, or setting up a mobile extended network, but for my possible future needs, say a B cam shooting from a 12 foot jib, things look promising.

Keep us updated as to what you find out though, as there are plenty of us that have covered events solo while shooting with multiple cameras.

 

[Jim Ritscher]

You'll do better with this on the FPV forums. Pretty much a multichannel transmitter/receiver combination can control a servo motor (that's what they're designed to do). I believe you can also get the receiver to act like a switch, though I don't have any experience with this. So anything you can control with a servo motor or a switch, you can control. You would probably have to rig something up yourself. But ask this question on a radio control forum.