I am looking for a remote cable to start/stop a F55. The only thing I find is a Vocas cable, but you need to use it in combination with a handgrip. The cable itself doesn't have a button. Purpose is to start/stop the camera without touching the camera or tripod handle when using extreme telelenses.

Any suggestions?

Cees
- I guess the RMB-170 remote can do the job - but better check with SONY.
http://www.pro.sony.eu/pro/lang/en/eu/product/broadcast-products-system-cameras-control-panels/rm-b170/overview

Thanks for your input again Bo. The RMB is however overkill for me. Certainly the price of it. I just need a simple cable with start/stop button, one or two ft. long, hanging down my camera. Like you have this simple lanc start/stop cables for lower end cameras.

Hi
We use the RM-B170 as CCU on our OB wagon and the signal to start, stop, replay and all ccu operations is a data signal in the cable to the camera. It has to be more than a switch. When the camera will work with B4 lenses it will act on the start/stop switch on the lens and on the connected zoom - so the function must be on the lens pin too.

Do you have it set up to control iris as well for any of your lenses?

Cees I have purchased the Arri start/stop handle with cable. It has a rosette to go on my Shape 700 shoulder brace. It is suppose to arrive this week. When searching it was the best price and as with most Arri products I expect it to be well made.

Arri part number K2.66278.0

Purchased it from Abel in NYC

Here is a link just scroll down the page to find it in the options.
ARRI Group: Ready-to-shoot Kits (http://www.arri.com/camera/pro_camera_accessories/ready_to_shoot_kits.html?item=248&cHash=2cf00f66a6544090671747f7a8461e77)

That's more or less what I mean, but then without the handle. Guess there must be something somewhere. Also consider to take a remote trigger cable of my nanoflash and replace the connector by a hirose 4-pin connector.

nanoFlash.net - Remote Control & Time CodeCustom lengths in 24 hours. E-mail or call us. (http://www.nanoflash.net/remote_control__time_code)

Don't know if that works or if it could harm the camera one way or another. Electronics really isn't my thing.

I am sure if you ask at CD they will let you know if the cable will work. Same here I am not about to build a cable for my F55 and have any chance of causing damage. But I am sure there are a lot of people on this and other forums who are capable of building a start/stop cable with button.

Hi Cees,

This is relatively easy to make yourself, you use the 4-pin Hirose connector on the camera as trigger input.

There are 4 connections on the Hirose socket on the camera. You would solder up the following.

1 Ground
2 Rec tally
3 Rec trigger- grounding this briefly will roll the camera, grounding it again will stop the camera.
4.+12 v

You can use a simple start/stop button bought from an electronic components shop, you will need to get the Hirose 4-pin from a specialist (online), same for cable.

If this is unclear then there is a whole thread over at the Sony community.

Warm regards,

James

Thanks James. This is exactly what I wanted to know.

Cees,

Just so its clear, its the switch connection between pins 1 and 3 that triggers record, I recommend that you read the whole thread on the aforementioned forum as there are many good suggestions there.

James

Is there a way to connect to the 8-pin remote on the camera besides the un-ergonomic Sony controller? I'd like to keep the single 4-pin (on the R5) for powering a wireless mic or mini-LCD.

Peter, Looking at the manual for the F5/F55 I see two 4-pin power out connectors on the battery plate.

When you use the R5 raw recorder, the battery plate is removed and you just have one 4-pin power port.

Cees, any reason no interest to use the remote via wi-fi and control with mobile device, tablet, etc.. ?

yes, two reasons.

For me response time is much faster holding a trigger button in my hand and pushing it, while being able to keep my eye on either the viewfinder or the live subject itself.

Secondly, I do wildlife filming and don't want to use other devices in the filed, especially when they need batteries. I have been controlling a GH3 as B-roll camera with wifi and got very nervous now and then when the battery of my tablet started to get low before the end of the session.

I just got my Movcam grip this morning. It's the new redesigned grip with Red/F5/F55 control. I was trying to get one out of the States, but they appeared here so I snagged one. It seems really well made and the wooden grip sits nicely in the hand. It starts and stops the F5 as expected. I have the Arri extension arm on the way so the grip is of limited use until that arrives.