American Cinematographer - December 1970 - 44

THE HEDEN ELECTRONIC
REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM
One of the latest entries in the "zoom control
derby" is a dual instrument that regulates both
the rate of the zoom and lens focusing parameters

Officially introduced to the trade at
Photokina, the Heden Electronic Re¬
mote Control System for use with zoom
lenses on 35mm motion picture cameras
is one of the most advanced instruments
of its type and features several unique
characteristics.
The unit actually performs two sep¬
arate functions. One of these has to do
with zooming of the lens from one
predetermined focal-length to another.
The second function is concerned with
remote focusing.
The speed range of the zoom control
is extremely wide, being variable from 2
seconds to 2 minutes. This speed can
Once two extremes of focus have been pre-set,
the camera operator can shift from one to the
other by flipping a knurled wheel, without
having to take his eye from the viewfinder.

1190

also be varied in mid-zoom by means of
a pistol grip. The maximum speed is
adjusted and set before zooming. Then,
by depressing the trigger, the operator
can vary the zoom rate from zero up to
the pre-set maximum speed, depending
upon how much pressure he applies to
the trigger. This option makes it pos¬
sible to gear zoom movement precisely
to variable speeds, of action within the
scene.
The focusing control provides impor¬
tant versatility. It can either be affixed
to the pan-handle and operated by the
camera operator, or it can be operated
remotely from several yards away by an
assistant. It also has a capability for
pre-setting two different focus dis¬
tances. This becomes especially useful in
scenes where there is a split focus
situation (between two key actors, for
example) and it is deemed desirable to
change focus back and forth to shift
attention emphasis or favor the actor
who happens to be speaking. When the
focus control is affixed to the pan¬
handle, the camera operator can ac¬
complish this simply by flipping a small
knurled wheel, without having to take
his eye away from the viewfinder.
The electronics of the control unit,
together with the motor unit, form a
complete servo system. The precision of
the equipment makes it possible to
work with a closer graduation of the
scale drum than the scale of the lens
itself!
The part of the Heden control which
is attached to the lens is mounted
without any mesh, alteration or possible
damage to the lens mechanism whatso¬
ever. The movements are extremely
smooth and any potential variations are
precisely compensated for by the elec¬
tronics.
The Heden equipment will fit inside
Arriflex 120-S and 300 blimps, as well
as inside the Mitchell blimp.
The equipment is manufactured by
Heden Engineering Co., P.O. Box 102,
431 22 Molndal, Sweden.
It is exported by Olof Lindstedt &
Co., Prytzgayan 4, P.O. Box 30, 431 21,
Molndal, Sweden. ■

The Heden Remote Control System for use
with zoom lenses on 35mm cameras has an
extremely wide range of zoom speeds (2
seconds to 2 minutes).

The part of the Heden control that attaches
directly to the lens is mounted without any
mesh, alteration or possible damage to the
lens mechanism.

The focusing control, when mounted on the
pan-handle, can be easily operated by the
camera operator, or remotely by an assistant
from several yards away, when detached.

AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER, DECEMBER 1970
American Cinematographer - December 1970

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