Cheap solution to missing LANC

[Lunchbox]

Fake a LANC controller

[neocastillo]

Nice! I like it.

[Brandy]

Now that I like!! Never heard of a TOS link cable but it's something I'll be looking into. Shouldn't 3" be 3'?

[Lunchbox]

TOSlink cable is optical audio cable used in some high-end audio equiptment (or in the old days, I hook it up to get digital connection from stereo to mini-disc).

Brandy, you are correct. It's 3 feet (3')

[Dodgy Nick]

Now that's simply brilliant Taky, thanks for sharing your innovative idea. Guess I'm off to Maplin again this weekend to buy another piece of kit for my Haich Vee twenty.

[David Susilo]

Now that I like!! Never heard of a TOS link cable but it's something I'll be looking into. Shouldn't 3" be 3'?

it's the same cable used to connect DVD player to receivers.

[Stuart]

Taky, point to note, you've still got the plastic covers in place on either end of the cable, you might find it even more reliable with those removed as there will be more sensitivity on the receiving end and more output on the emitting end.

[Lunchbox]

Stuart, thanks for the great tip. I will try it out and report my result later.

So far this TOSlink solution has been working fine.

Thanks

[crewe1000]

Thanks for sharing this Taky, it looks very helpful.

[CJDaniels]

Taky, point to note, you've still got the plastic covers in place on either end of the cable, you might find it even more reliable with those removed as there will be more sensitivity on the receiving end and more output on the emitting end.

I am thinking that those plastic caps are actually helping. The cable on the remote end is no problem because it is directed straight into the cable, but the one on the camera end is not, I think the plastic cap is carrying the light. If the cap wasn't on there the fiber optic cable is embeded in the casing, and the light might not reach it at 90 degrees.
I have never seen caps like that before, where did you get that cable?

[Lunchbox]

I bought the cable from firefold.com.

[Stuart]

I've seen cheap Tos-link cables on eBay with those caps, and they might indeed help (purely by accident) the angles at which both ends work, but they will decrease sensitivity and output.

[Lunchbox]

I tried removing the plastic caps and it reduces sensitivity. I put 'em back.

[Simon Hughes]

Taky,

How did you mount the remote to the pan arm... it's not clear from the pictures?

[Lunchbox]

It's all taped up using black electrical tape.

[Simon Hughes]

In the pictures, it looks like it's just sitting on the arm... where did you tape it (I can't see any tape at alll)?

[Lunchbox]

Sorry I thought you were asking about the wires. The remote control I first did it by those heavy duty foam double side tape. Now I replaced it with tieing 2 black cable ties to it.

You can buy those cable ties at walmart or homedepot.

http://www.amazon.com/GB-Electrical-...3748736&sr=8-3

[Simon Hughes]

Ah, OK, that makes more sense now. Thanks!

[Rocha]

Industrial grade Velcro might actually work best if you need to use the remote to view footage from a good vantage point (potato couch approach!).

Use a 4 inch long base length of the hook side of the Velcro for the tripod and 2 lengths of 1.5 inches each of the soft Velcro side for the remote and the Toslink. Align them each time you set up and away you go.

That Toslink idea is wonderful, thanks for sharing it.

[angelo913]

Taky you're Brilliant!

Having the Panasonic DVC30 with tripod and DVX zoom/record controller I was so disappointed that this GREAT little cam didn't have a jack for at least zoom control.

Thank-you for sharing!

...Angelo

[Lunchbox]

Angelo, I can't take credit for that. I think I read about this solution from another forum and decide to give it a try. Anyway, the setup is solid and has been working great.

[Rumpelgeist]

Does this mod allow achieving anything else besides start/stop and zoom in/out?

What I really would like to have is manual focus control from a remote. That would be a killer feature for rack focus. Have anyone tried to reprogram Canon remote or maybe purchasing a different one? Is this possible? Does this cam understand focus commands from a remote at all?

[Lunchbox]

From what you said in your post, that's already a few good points of doing this mod. It's important for me to be able to pan+zoom, start and stop recording all in one hand holding the tripod bar. It's already useful useful.

You might try to set the zoom speed to 2 and do a pan+zoom out shot. It's beautiful.

I also jack up the tripod so I can see over a crowd of people. With the remote mounted on the tripod handle, I don't have to reach the top of the camera to zoom+start/stop recording.

Besides, this cost me only $3 for the TOSLink cable. I'm happy with the setup until Canon design to put back the LANC port in HV30 or HV50 (?!?)

[Dumbmarine]

TAKY,

Can you let me know where you sourced the Lenshood you show fitted to the HV20 in the lead picture in this thread?

thanks

[Lunchbox]

What lens hood? That is the WD-H43 wide angle lens.

I do have a lens hood now. Check it out

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?t=1754