Zoom - Remote control

J

jaydskate

Member
Hi guys,

I managed to build an okay zoom remote control myself (you can check out the picture lower) but last week, while I rented an extra DVX100 for a multi-cam shoot, I got to try the 521P from manfrotto.I must admit that I didn't care much for my little DIY remote anymore. Mine is not spring loaded so it doesn't return to it's orginal position after. Has anyone achieved to build a unit that does that?

I'm also interested in rocker button zoom controler. Has someone built one yet?

Thanks in advance

that's my remote...

remote_zoom.jpg
 
What end is that you are using. I built a controller and mistakenly used 1/8" phono plug per some instructions somewhere but it won't go in the jack in the back of the camera.

The way I built mine (tested only with a multimeter mind you) was to have two pots, one that goes from 0 to 10k and then one that goes from 10k to 20k then there are two momentary switches to "engage" the pots and cause it to zoom or wide. There is of course also a momentary switch to activate the record.

I need to know what kind of end is supposed to be on this thing though.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks
 
Naann you're right, It's a 2'5mm stereo jack.

Thanks Nerdninja, I'll look into it but I know that it's cheaper in parts to build a unit and I wanted to try myself. Thanks for the help but if I succeed into building one unit, I'll post it here.


Jayson
 
My Libec zoom controler (the cheap-o $100 version) is great. I bought it for use with my shoulder mount and it's served me well.
 
"My Libec zoom controler (the cheap-o $100 version) is great. I bought it for use with my shoulder mount and it's served me well".

It looks good but the cheapest one I found is 170$ US That's almost 200$ Canadian then I have two buy 2 of them since I have a DVC-30 and a DVX100. I'll try to Shop around for a Libec or a Manfrotto 521p...How about the varzoom one? Has anyone tried it?
 
Hey Guys, I built a spring loaded one that returns to the original position about 5 months ago... I'll try to post pictures for you guys later... It was built for very cheap and works very well in my own humble opinion.
 
TJIsACoolGuy said:
I built a spring loaded one that returns to the original position about 5 months ago...
Click to expand...

Wow, it took 5 months to return to it's original position?! ;)
 
I have the varizoom rocker, not slider, and it works great. I think that if I were to take it apart, I would find the same parts as the DIY's, just engineered to work better.
 
what about rocker pots? i cant seem to find single units for sale on the web.seem all to be for industrial quantity purchase.
 
matt s. said:
what about rocker pots? i cant seem to find single units for sale on the web.seem all to be for industrial quantity purchase.
Click to expand...
Hi again, trust me, I've been looking arund for about six month to find a rocker-pot but the only one that I found is a 10k one and trust me, they don't come cheap (roughly 90$ US). The problem is "how do you modify a 10 k pot to become a 20k one.

I have a bunch of 50k slider-pot but how do you get them to 20k without blocking them physically to 20k?
 
Do some research into RC circuts, it is going to require you to put resistors in parallel before or after the pot to bring the resistance to what you need. I would diagram it all for you here right now but I was laidoff from my tech job and now I have a test in intermediate accounting to study for, change of carrer and all you know.

Search on

RC Circuts, Resistor Capacitor circuts, Simple RC Circuts, OHMs Law, Parallel Resistance, etc etc.

Happy hunting,
 
Naanan said:
Do some research into RC circuts, it is going to require you to put resistors in parallel before or after the pot to bring the resistance to what you need. I would diagram it all for you here right now but I was laidoff from my tech job and now I have a test in intermediate accounting to study for, change of carrer and all you know.

Search on

RC Circuts, Resistor Capacitor circuts, Simple RC Circuts, OHMs Law, Parallel Resistance, etc etc.

Happy hunting,
Click to expand...
Thanks Naanan!

I just bought a bunch of parts and I'll start testing tonight...
 
I've buit this same DIY project and it has worked great. Jarred's instructioins (Listed elsewhere on the site) were easy to follow.

My question is this- does anyone who what the different frequencies are for the various zoom speeds? What I would like to do is to built a unit that has 6 buttons instead of a rocker switch. Then I would bush a button to zoom in/out and always get the same speed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top