Trigger camera and Zoom H4n same time at DVinfo.net

Steve Cahill · July 14th, 2009, 07:19 AM

Does anyone know if there exists a interface to put the 5D Mk. ll and the Zoom H4n into record mode at the same time?

Dan Chung · July 14th, 2009, 07:56 AM

Not that I'm aware of, however it should be possible to contruct a remote for the Sony PCM D-50 as it has a dedicated remote socket and optional remote controller.

Dan

Jon Fairhurst · July 14th, 2009, 08:29 AM

Unless your controller gets feedback from the two units, or can send discrete ON and OFF commands (rather than a TRIGGER command), you risk getting them out of sync.

Let's say you accidentally do a quick double-press and one unit reads ON, and the other ON-OFF. The rest of the day you'll record video without audio and audio without video...

Steve Cahill · July 14th, 2009, 09:37 AM

I just want to automate the recorder going into play, and stoping when the camera does the same. I would visually check to see if the audio was in fact in record, and off.

Evan Donn · July 14th, 2009, 10:10 AM

There is a cabled remote for the H4n, so it's certainly physically possible, but not sure it would be easy. I've just stopped bothering with stopping/starting the H4n with the camera. I just run the audio continuously and only stop it if there's a long break in shooting.

Christopher Lovenguth · July 14th, 2009, 10:50 AM

On another note, if this unit (which I have and love) keeps getting pushed at great audio option for the 5D, I wish they would change their file system. I HATE IT!

How hard is it to keep sequentially changing the file number even after you have moved files off the H4N? Ideally if they would give us the option to start a file number anywhere we want we could just "sync" the file number name to the 5D filename. Then just keep count each time even when the files are moved I'd be happy. I use the 4 track option which doesn't even allow you to use the date as a file name. You know how many 4CH000M/4CH000I files I have on one HD? I just don't understand how this could be overlooked at Zoom that people need some sort of easy organization. Yeah I can go in and rename each file later, but what a pain and time consumption that can be easily avoided. Oh and what's up with the date created being 12/31/03 7:00pm ALWAYS? And yes I have my date and time set correctly on the H4N, this is some sort of software bug.

Sorry just dealing with this all morning long on my latest recordings and then saw this post. I really love this recorder paired with 2 Sennheiser G2s, this is my only gripe that really gets to me everytime I start post-work.

Ray Bell · July 14th, 2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Chung

Not that I'm aware of, however it should be possible to contruct a remote for the Sony PCM D-50 as it has a dedicated remote socket and optional remote controller.

Dan

The PCM D-50 also has a pre-record of 5 seconds.. so it works quite well with the 5DMK2

Hugh Mobley · July 16th, 2009, 10:56 AM

I am looking for some mounts to mount my Zoom, is there a company out there specializing in stuff like this, next best thing is a plate for the shoe

Bruce G. Cleveland · July 16th, 2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Mobley

I am looking for some mounts to mount my Zoom, is there a company out there specializing in stuff like this, next best thing is a plate for the shoe

Zacuto sells a really nice mounting system for under $200. Too pricey for me.

Bruce

Denis OKeefe · July 16th, 2009, 11:43 AM

I've been using the "U Boat Commander" (pretty silly name, I don't call it that in public) from IBC photography. Bruce Dorn put some thought and experience into this, it is a bit over $200 in the configuration I bought, but it saved me having to go out and get it built.
It is light, very well machined, and as I said thought out to cover a host of eventualities.
I have an old Leica table top tripod from many years ago, when combined with a Blackrapid strap this rig it rests against my chest and allows me to handhold, move and shoot comfortably.

July 14th, 2009, 07:19 AM	#1
Steve Cahill Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 321	Trigger camera and Zoom H4n same time Does anyone know if there exists a interface to put the 5D Mk. ll and the Zoom H4n into record mode at the same time? __________________ Regards Steve

July 14th, 2009, 08:29 AM	#3
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Unless your controller gets feedback from the two units, or can send discrete ON and OFF commands (rather than a TRIGGER command), you risk getting them out of sync. Let's say you accidentally do a quick double-press and one unit reads ON, and the other ON-OFF. The rest of the day you'll record video without audio and audio without video... __________________ Jon Fairhurst

July 14th, 2009, 09:37 AM	#4
Steve Cahill Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 321	I just want to automate the recorder going into play, and stoping when the camera does the same. I would visually check to see if the audio was in fact in record, and off. __________________ Regards Steve

July 14th, 2009, 10:10 AM	#5
Evan Donn Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 795	There is a cabled remote for the H4n, so it's certainly physically possible, but not sure it would be easy. I've just stopped bothering with stopping/starting the H4n with the camera. I just run the audio continuously and only stop it if there's a long break in shooting. __________________ My latest short documentary: "Four Pauls: Bring the Hat Back!"

July 16th, 2009, 10:56 AM	#8
Hugh Mobley Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Placentia, Calif Posts: 549	I am looking for some mounts to mount my Zoom, is there a company out there specializing in stuff like this, next best thing is a plate for the shoe __________________ Hugh Mobley www.petplanetvideos.com http://exposureroom.com/members/hmobley.aspx/

July 14th, 2009, 07:56 AM	#2
Dan Chung Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Beijing Posts: 665	Not that I'm aware of, however it should be possible to contruct a remote for the Sony PCM D-50 as it has a dedicated remote socket and optional remote controller. Dan

July 14th, 2009, 10:50 AM	#6
Christopher Lovenguth Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 85	On another note, if this unit (which I have and love) keeps getting pushed at great audio option for the 5D, I wish they would change their file system. I HATE IT! How hard is it to keep sequentially changing the file number even after you have moved files off the H4N? Ideally if they would give us the option to start a file number anywhere we want we could just "sync" the file number name to the 5D filename. Then just keep count each time even when the files are moved I'd be happy. I use the 4 track option which doesn't even allow you to use the date as a file name. You know how many 4CH000M/4CH000I files I have on one HD? I just don't understand how this could be overlooked at Zoom that people need some sort of easy organization. Yeah I can go in and rename each file later, but what a pain and time consumption that can be easily avoided. Oh and what's up with the date created being 12/31/03 7:00pm ALWAYS? And yes I have my date and time set correctly on the H4N, this is some sort of software bug. Sorry just dealing with this all morning long on my latest recordings and then saw this post. I really love this recorder paired with 2 Sennheiser G2s, this is my only gripe that really gets to me everytime I start post-work.

July 16th, 2009, 11:43 AM	#10
Denis OKeefe Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wayne, PA Posts: 207	I've been using the "U Boat Commander" (pretty silly name, I don't call it that in public) from IBC photography. Bruce Dorn put some thought and experience into this, it is a bit over $200 in the configuration I bought, but it saved me having to go out and get it built. It is light, very well machined, and as I said thought out to cover a host of eventualities. I have an old Leica table top tripod from many years ago, when combined with a Blackrapid strap this rig it rests against my chest and allows me to handhold, move and shoot comfortably.