Zoom-Focus-Iris control

hellohello - long time no see ... but i´ve found a little time to put some of my parts together and try how they work... well well ... they work ok but not really great - and i don´t find a case in the right size for it :(
but here: i show you what i´ve done so far and maybe the little grafic helps one of you guys building a better one for your own:

http://picasaweb.google.de/a.nostitz/FocusIris/photo#5028842880306960034
this is a little "shematic" of how i´ve wired the parts together.
1.)The Jack at the top:
i´ve got a female jack (this is the connector to the camera - i´ve chosen this because now i can have different length of connection cables for tripod,handheld,crane-use - simple 3,5jack stereo cables that i can plug in my box and the cam)

2.) the focus-side at the left:
from the middle-connector of the jack it goes to
2.1) an on/off switch to go from manual back to automatic
wich goes to the middle connector of
2.2) a switch for the two focus-presets
both other ends are connected to one of the both
2.3) 20k sliding potentiometer (pot) wich it works quite well, but i´ve mesured that a 15k pot would be perfect, because at 14k and a few it goes to infinite focus
!! -> this would be all you need, because it would allready work without 2.4) but:
2.4) i´ve put a second smaller pot in series so i´ve got a more sensitive regulation for detailfocus - here would be a 1k or 2k better than my 5k!!
2.5) both are connected to the ground of the jack

the other side is for the iris control - works exactly the same way!
theres only one little difference: when you turn of the control of the focus (and the camera is set to manual) the focus stays at the same setting you´ve set in your controller until you turn the focusring at the cam - the iris on the other hand jumps to the setting set in your camera - so you´ve got three presets if you like!! :) (was this understandable?)

here are a few making of pics:
the first is the setup for the zoom/rec
second a lot of cables you will need
third: an iron
fourth: good music
and two pics of my work :)
http://picasaweb.google.de/a.nostitz/FocusIris


hope i´ll find some good case soon and maybe i´l change the pots to 15k for better control

have a nice evening!
arne
http://picasaweb.google.de/a.nostitz/FocusIris/photo#5028842880306960034
 
I don't know about the DVX but the HVX is very smooth and gradual. Also, I still plan on posting pics just got tied up at work and didn't get to it last night.

Bob
 
Bob if you could post some pics that would be awesome. I'm not quite sure how splitting it up changes things - looking back to the varizoom unit they have two plugs out of one box with a 4 pin for the iris/focus and a 3 pin for the zoom/start-stop. From what I understand you are using 2, 3-pin connectors when all controls are plugged in, right? Any light you can shed would be great. I just want to make sure I understand this right before I blow something up :)
 
2 3pins will work - i´ve used it in my setup i´ve posted before!

and don´t blame me, but i don´t think you can blow a lot up - these are all passive parts - just a few resistors - so there will be not a lot of harm to your cam if you plug it in the wrong way round (i hope i´m right - otherwise i had luck in wiring it right the first time :) )

bob what do you think about my setup? any suggestions? is it the same to you with the 15k or is your 20k perfect for you?
 
Cool, I just wanted to make sure that I understood that only 3 pins were being used. I promise I wont lay any blame :) Thanks! Cool looking setup by the way. How do you like the linear pots vs the rotary?
 
i think they would be very nice if they had the right size (15k not 22k) and even in realworldsize they could be a little smaller - but i testet it with my dvrigpro (and this not perfect assambling :) ) and it worked quite well. you can set focus just with you thumb and thats what i wanted! ;)
 
Koala

I am using pretty good quality 20k pots and it is working very well without a trim pot like you have. But I would say that sounds like a very nice addition using a trim for more finite adjustments. I also agree that it is tough to find small enough pieces to acheive a really clean finished form factor. That and a case to fit things in to can be tough as well. Oh, one suggestion I have is to wire up the controller with a stereo plug that you can plug varying length control cables into. I didn't do that on my first prototypes and I was always fumbling with the cords, now I can make cables that are just the right length. Doing that also lets me leave cabiling attached or routed through my jib and on my camera stabilizer so I don't have to reconfigure the cabling on every setup.

Bob

Here are the pics I could scrounge up of my first prototypes:

1170963808.jpg

1170963855.jpg

1170963924.jpg
 
Thanks for the pics Bob, nice job fitting those pots in the small cases. Thanks for the mention of the plugs so I can leave rigs wired and have different lengths of cables. That will definitely be included in my version. Using the multiple presets for the focus, how fast is the focus pull when you just use the switch? Do you actually switch while recording?
 
The focus switches very quickly, less than half a second for most shifts, and I do switch while recording for certain setups (actors in background and foreground for example)

Bob
 
jdajda said:
Thanks for the mention of the plugs so I can leave rigs wired and have different lengths of cables.
Click to expand...
:( thats what i´ve posted before ... nobody reads my posts:( really sad koala :(

:)
 
Poor Koala... Sorry I didnt take great notice of your use of jacks... I'd post pics of mine, but my friendly local electronics store is only open during the week - doh! Any cable that you guys are finding works better than others? I was going to start with some cat5 since I've got some already.
 
ok so ive gone shopping and gone to radio shacks and frys electronic stores. i can only find 50k pots how would i use resistors to bring the pot down to 20k. i thought id pick up 15k resistors and put towo on each pot. but pot just stops working? could someone explain hows this is done?

i know in the dvx zoom instructions it said you could use resistore to bring the pot down.

also if i do just stick on the resistors then how do i put them on?
 
guysmilez,

I'd just say order from Jameco.com digikey.com or some other online electronics parts provider before trying to regulate a pots resistance. I don't think it would be worth your time and energy.
 
what if i used 10k pots would it not adjust the full range?
at the stores near here they only have 10k then it jumps to 20k they do have 25k sometimes...
 
Do you know where I can order these parts online?



BrianMurphy said:
Thanks to everyonewho linked me up with the specs a while back. I finally bought a six pack and sat down with the soldering iron. Here is what it looks like.
Cost:
Box-2.50
Contact switch -1.49
2-20K linear mini pots- 4.99 each =9.98
1-30K linear pot-2.99
2-female 3.5mm stereo jacks .79 pk of 2
1-2.5 male stereo jack-.79 pk of 2
1-3.5 male stereo jack-.79 pk of 2
Knobs-1.50
wire I had on hand.
Total:about 20 bucks
It works like a charm,though I am going to try a couple more pots on the zoom, the iris and focus work fine with 20k, just would like a bit more gradual control on the zoom which could also be because the pot is so cheap.
I will use a bicycle bracket to attach it to the tripod arm and probably epoxy the screw to the bracket and use wing nuts to make it easy to take off.
It is an easy build, the biggest problem is finding a box that is small enough and then getting jacks that will go through the walls of the box. I had to hot glue my jacks in place from the inside because they were too short.
Click to expand...
 
I haven't check back here for a while, been working and studiying etc. But these parts and most others used in my build and Bob's and other folks should be available in Austin Texas at an electronics store for sure.
I also wanted to say WOW! some nice builds here. When I have time I will be adapting some of these innovations on my next build.
Brian
 
I'll post a list of everything that is needed from Jameco's website. I thought that I had done that already but I must have missed it.

Bob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top