Someone else came up with this idea first ... http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=16934. Too bad the pictures are gone, so I had to use my imagination.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6590/491779721159275e54cvl5.jpg

Seems to work okay. Used the wireless controller plus a toslink cable to make a mountable controller. The remote is upside down so my palm doesn't get in the way. The zoom and start/stop buttons are the critical controls anyway. Now if only the controller had a joystick control ....

Build details at http://yousillyman.blogspot.com/2007/05/hv20-non-lanc-controller.html

Had the same idea but did not know if it was going to work with fiber.. thx for the share :)

How thick is the fiber?

Johan

The toslink cable is pretty standard. Its about 5mm wide including the insulation, not sure how thick the glass strand actually is. The terminus is about 1mm wide by eye.

If you don't have a toslink cable lying around (mine was $3 plus $6 shipping from Amazon ;-) you might be able to pull it off with those toys/ornaments with the light filament.

Sweet! Very resourceful.

It works very well, but I found the Toslink a bit too stiff, I'd much prefer a coiled wire.

Once I finally get my HV20, I'm going to get a cheap universal remote & learn the zoom & start/stop codes from the Canon. I'll then desolder the IR LED & replace it with a stick-on IR transmitter, these can be had for $6 or less. Add a nice coiled wire, it'll look very pro. ;)

P.S. I have a question: does the Canon remote have focus control? Kind of hard to see from the Canon manual. Also, does it have a variable zoom speed, or does the speed have to be set on the camera first? I'm thinking of different possibilities here if I get a learning remote with a joystick/hat control on it. Varizoom, watch out! :D

Roman,

There are not focus buttons on the remote. I haven't read the manual that thoroughly either. As for the zoom, the default is variable mode. There are three other fixed zoom speed settings for more precise control but you need to pick one from the camera.

I hope you find a way to control the rest of the settings by remote. I'd love to see how you can make this work!

Roman,

There are not focus buttons on the remote. I haven't read the manual that thoroughly either. As for the zoom, the default is variable mode. There are three other fixed zoom speed settings for more precise control but you need to pick one from the camera.

I hope you find a way to control the rest of the settings by remote. I'd love to see how you can make this work!
Thanks for the info. This project is No.95 on my list, but I'll get to try it, eventually. I've yet to get the HV20.

Love your blog site, BTW.

Excellent, Mike -- quite resourceful. Sure appreciate you sharing this with us! Thanks a bunch,

Roman,

There are not focus buttons on the remote. I haven't read the manual that thoroughly either. As for the zoom, the default is variable mode. There are three other fixed zoom speed settings for more precise control but you need to pick one from the camera.

I hope you find a way to control the rest of the settings by remote. I'd love to see how you can make this work!

Hello Mike,
I'm looking to preset the HV-30 zoom at three settings, besides all or none. Do you have any ideas how i might do this?
Cheers,
Christo

DELETED. Original POSTER duplicated the post in another thread