Cable from unmanned camera

[Steven Davis]

Well, I was thinking, since we sometimes have an unamanned camera, I'd like to monitor the video. Most times we are within 30 feet and can see the lcd, but it would still be nice to run a cable from that camera to a larger LCD.

Does anyone do this. I'm not sure what cable I want to get given the various limitations on length etc.

At this point, I'm thinking a 50foot cable with an LCD of some sort, I'd love to go wirelesss if someone has an idea.

[Martin Pauly]

Yes, I do this. When I do multi-camera shoots, I have a remote controlled camera that I monitor using a cheap and very small LCD TV. The image quality is not good, but it's good enough to make sure I frame what I want to capture. It also shows me the on-screen display, so I can see the readouts for focal length, remaining tape, etc.

I run a composite video signal from the camera to this LCD TV.

- Martin

[Steven Davis]

Originally Posted by Martin Pauly

Yes, I do this. When I do multi-camera shoots, I have a remote controlled camera that I monitor using a cheap and very small LCD TV. The image quality is not good, but it's good enough to make sure I frame what I want to capture. It also shows me the on-screen display, so I can see the readouts for focal length, remaining tape, etc.

I run a composite video signal from the camera to this LCD TV.

- Martin

When you say remote controlled, are you talking about the remote that start/stops or you talking about a joystick. And thanks, I will look into this more, I would feel more comfortable seeing the third camera, it just makes things less stressful. Hehe.

[Tony Neal]

I use balanced mike cables with XLR to phono adaptors at each end to monitor composite video. I've used 100 foot lengths with minimal signal loss and noise.

[Martin Pauly]

Originally Posted by Steven Davis

When you say remote controlled, are you talking about the remote that start/stops or you talking about a joystick

Both. I use a standard LANC controller (with a long cable) for zoom and focus control, plus this for pan and tilt:
http://www.imagewest.tv/index.asp?Pa...PROD&ProdID=34

I'm not too happy with it because the movement starts and ends rather abruptly, so it takes the camera a second or two to get a stable picture after I start or stop moving it. But it's better than not having it at all, of course.

- Martin

[Don Bloom]

there is also the 'grizzly pro' remote unit. I think the Von Lankens used to use it. (I could be mistaken). The Grizzly unit uses CAT5for control.

It does seem to me though that a few years ago there was a wirelss unit that had a head transmitter screen joystick and ancillary gear needed to operate the unit. For the life of me, I can't remember the name but it looked like a decent piece at a decent price.
I'm a bit leary or running wires around a church not to mention it's a lot more stuff to strike and packup after the show and as a solo operation I'm not sure if I really have the time to do it but it certainly has lots of advantages.

Don

[Chris Soucy]

Something like this will do the job, must be a dime a dozen in the States.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?...&doy=10m6#spec

100 metres is about 330 feet.


CS

[Frank Simpson]

I do a similar thing by taking my video signal RCA cable from my camera. I use a 100' length of regular coaxial cable with RCA adaptors at both ends. I get a perfectly fine image!