Length Limit for LANC? at DVinfo.net

John Cloy · March 19th, 2006, 01:42 PM

Does anybody know what the length limitation is for a LANC cable? I have a need to control cameras from a long way away (say, up to 300 feet).

I've found threads where it has been done for up to 50' away, but I need to be a long way away from this...

All help appreciated...

jc

Stewart Menelaws · March 19th, 2006, 02:19 PM

Hi John - not sure what the limitation is for the cable length, but should it turn out to be too short for you, have you considered a remote servo set up. We used to control a small video camera in a large (10' wing span) model aircraft using this method - a mate of mine is really into stills and video work using some pretty niffty set ups on a helicopter with ground monitoring - if you want his email address I can give that to you to see if he can recommend a set up for you - that is if you can't find a better way to do this.

Regards: Stu...
www.studioscotland.co.uk

Rob Wilson · March 19th, 2006, 04:16 PM

John,

I've run my GL2 LANC out over 100 ft using plain 4 conductor phone wire. Worked fine. Don't know what the limt is.

Phil Jensen · March 31st, 2006, 06:51 AM

In theory the max distance is only about 15 feet but it obviously works much farther than that. If you were to run a shielded cable (2 conductor with a ground shield) you might be able to make 300ft. The risk is twofold however.

First, any noise (transformer, lights, sound system) could bonk your control and the camera will stop responding.

Second, if you use a small guage wire (24ga or so) the voltage drop over the wire will be enough that the lanc controller won't work (lanc supplies 5.9v over the cable to run the controller). You could potentially get around that by supplying 6vdc at the controller.
Phil
www.grizzlypro.com

March 19th, 2006, 01:42 PM	#1
John Cloy Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Escondido, CA Posts: 50	Length Limit for LANC? Does anybody know what the length limitation is for a LANC cable? I have a need to control cameras from a long way away (say, up to 300 feet). I've found threads where it has been done for up to 50' away, but I need to be a long way away from this... All help appreciated... jc __________________ John You mean I can get paid to do this?

March 19th, 2006, 02:19 PM	#2
Stewart Menelaws Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Scotland (UK) Posts: 219	Hi John - not sure what the limitation is for the cable length, but should it turn out to be too short for you, have you considered a remote servo set up. We used to control a small video camera in a large (10' wing span) model aircraft using this method - a mate of mine is really into stills and video work using some pretty niffty set ups on a helicopter with ground monitoring - if you want his email address I can give that to you to see if he can recommend a set up for you - that is if you can't find a better way to do this. Regards: Stu... www.studioscotland.co.uk

March 19th, 2006, 04:16 PM	#3
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	John, I've run my GL2 LANC out over 100 ft using plain 4 conductor phone wire. Worked fine. Don't know what the limt is.

March 31st, 2006, 06:51 AM	#4
Phil Jensen New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: bellvue, CO Posts: 13	In theory the max distance is only about 15 feet but it obviously works much farther than that. If you were to run a shielded cable (2 conductor with a ground shield) you might be able to make 300ft. The risk is twofold however. First, any noise (transformer, lights, sound system) could bonk your control and the camera will stop responding. Second, if you use a small guage wire (24ga or so) the voltage drop over the wire will be enough that the lanc controller won't work (lanc supplies 5.9v over the cable to run the controller). You could potentially get around that by supplying 6vdc at the controller. Phil www.grizzlypro.com