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Activity Forums Panasonic Cameras hvx 200 remote lens control

  • hvx 200 remote lens control

    Posted by Eric Ranzenhofer on June 4, 2007 at 8:24 am

    Could someone help me with the following questions:

    What is the pin out,type of signal(digital,analog cv etc. and the spec.) that is used to control the iris (and the other functions: zoom focus) on the hvx200 (cant find a service manual) as well as maximum length of cable I could use.Can a amplifier be used to extend the length of the control cable.I have seen comercialy available remote control but with a 50 foot cable . I want to extend this to use it like a ccu with my 3 hvx 200 ans fs 100 camera kits 200-300 feet.Does this exist.If not and it is feasable I would participate in develloping a unit.

    Adam Fuller replied 16 years, 1 month ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Lance The tech

    June 4, 2007 at 10:44 am

    The focus/iris remote comes out on a 4-pole/3.5mm plug.
    D is the ring and A,B,C are the contacts inwards to the tip.
    The voltage on B is the Focus – 0V is near and 2V is far.
    When D is open the cam is auto-iris, when D is GND the cam is
    manual-iris.
    The voltage on C is the iris -0V is open and 2V is closed.

    The zoom/s.s is a 3-pole jack.
    C is the ring and A the tip.
    Every time A is grounded recording starts or stops.
    B is the zoom voltage also between 0V and 2V giving a variable
    zoom speed.
    C is connected to the ground in the camera

    Hope this can help you. I am not aware of any commercial kit
    that can operate at that distance this camera. The best for short control are Bebop from Germany.

  • Accountneedsrealnameupdate

    June 4, 2007 at 1:52 pm

    More specifically, on the 4-pole focus/iris connector, if you call the tip A and the back sleeve D, then ring C is your reference. A 20k pot between C and A adjusts iris, a 20k pot between C and B adjust focus, and a switch between C and D toggles auto/manual iris.

    On the 3-pole zoom/ss, if you call the tip A and the back sleeve C, then the C sleeve is the reference. A momentary switch between C and A will act as the Start/Stop button, and a 20k pot between C and B will control the zoom. Note that the ‘center’ position of the zoom pot, (10k setting), is the ‘do nothing’ position. Moving the pot one way will zoom in and the other will zoom out, (I forget which is which), but changing the value of the pot a little will slowly zoom, and changing it a lot will zoom more quickly.

    Now for the short answer to your question. Buy a varizoom controller, build or buy some extensions, and hope for the best. Or call varizoom and see how far they think you can get away with. It’s just a few analog voltages, so I think you could probably get it to work if you use one 300′ run of quality wire, (no connectors ever 25′).

    Best of luck.

  • Eric Ranzenhofer

    June 5, 2007 at 10:53 am

    thank you for your info
    log or linear pots

  • Accountneedsrealnameupdate

    June 5, 2007 at 3:34 pm

    All three are Linear

  • Adam Fuller

    March 25, 2010 at 7:20 am

    So I have the varizoom rock pzfi, which uses the connections you mentioned. I’m trying to use it with a homemade focus follow system.

    I simply need to tap into the correct leads off the line for the focus pot. C B D, is what I’m thinking leads to the focus pot, but it’s not working correctly. Is there something about how the remote is wired that will not allow me to gain access to one pot from three wires off the 4-pole plug?

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