Sunpak Remote Pan/Tilt

[Dave Largent]

I have a few questions about this device. What kind of range do you get with the remote? Do you have to have line of sight? The remote is powered with a watch battery, right? If you have it, have you been pretty happy with it?
Any idea which Sony battery powers it? Does it usually
come with a battery?
Sorry for all the questions. Mike Rehmus put some ideas in my head.

[Dave Largent]

I found the answer to most of my questions. Thought I'd
share the link to the owners manual for anyone else
interested.
Basically, I believe it takes a 6V battery like is used in Sony
Hi-8 camcorder. Not supplied with unit. (Just so happens
I already have one of those batteries.) Distance is suppose to
be 30 feet. Still not sure if it's line of sight. Check out these
links. Mike will know what the second link is about.

http://www.21best.com/21_best/electr...or_sale_3.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=271111&is=REG

[Don Berube]

Cool. I doubt that the motors and gears inside would stand up to rigorous daily useage though. The heavy-duty motors and gears in the Varizoom PTZ solution will, in case you need a "24/7" solution. http://www.varizoom.com/pages/mc100.php

- don

[Dave Largent]

I watched the demo. That's some heavy duty hardware -- at a heavy duty price.
I went over to the manufacturers site of that RF Link
video transmitter/monitor. The specs aren't too bad.
300 foot system range. Auto exposure 1/60th to 1/6000th,
auto gamma correct, auto back light correct.

Even better specs on their TeddyCam. 582 lines of resolution,
high sensitivity mic, 1/3" sensor. Maybe I'll get one
and put it on a tripod for my next gig. : - )

http://www.rflink.com.tw/consumer-6.htm

[Dave Largent]

Regarding that second link above to the "RF Link", Mike had mentioned he had thought about using that as a framing
device in conjunction with the Sunpak. This would give an idea
of the general framing. Well, I'm exploring another option.
I ran across this. The CAM PRO.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=204130&is=REG

What you do is take a direct video feed out of the cam. Send
that wired to the transmitter. Transmitter wireless to receiver.
Receiver wired to portable 9" B&W TV or portable LCD DVD player. Using this device, you can actually view what the
camera is seeing, for more accurate framing. The transmitter can be battery powered and it comes with a camcorder mounting bracket. With some Sony and Canon cams, the Sunpak remote is also suppose to control cam zooming.

The receiver for the CAM PRO must be AC powered. Could
someone tell me what to use to tape down extension cords
so that nobody trips on them? Would the best thing be to use
gaffers tape?

[Mike Rehmus]

Here's the latest wireless setup that has me excited. Just under $400 from Markertek. It's called Waveshot and is built by Laird.

http://www.lairdtelemedia.com/press/pressrelease.html

Markertek has quite a few wireless video systems for sale.

And a few more, and sturdier pan-tilt setups.

All of this is in their new catalog or you can search their web site.

Now all I need is a wireless link for the LANC setup and I'm good to go.

But if I'm going to do that, why not just radio the firewire stream back to a mixer as well? Or a storage device.

[Dave Largent]

Checked out the Laird link.
Noticed they mentioned image lag with fast camera panning.
I just ordered the Sunpak/CAM PRO setup yesterday. I'll be sure to check for image lag.
Mike, I'm planning on using it the same way you had envisioned.
They have a 20 foot remote sensor that goes with it (so that direct line of sight is not required) but they were out of stock on that.

[Mike Rehmus]

I wonder if any of those TV remote controls, the ones that use a RF link between the IR receiver and IR transmitter would work. Might be worth a try.