DCS Lens Link Explained – Long-Range Extender for Lens Control Systems

February 18^th, 2026

by Francesco AndreolaFebruary 18^th, 2026

On the show floor at BSC Expo 2026, we stopped by DCS’s (short for Digital Camera Systems) booth, where Gary Keller gave us a demo of their latest product, the Lens Link. Developed in response to real on-set requirements, this system aims to provide focus pullers and DITs with a stable solution for long-range lens control. Let’s take a look at what it can do.

UK-based manufacturer DCS (Digital Camera Systems) has been active for almost a decade, developing high-end solutions for accurate frame-by-frame metadata acquisition with virtually any lens, a key requirement for VFX and virtual production workflows.

Their products, such as the LDT-V2 wireless lens encoder, are designed to fit into well-established workflows without replacing existing pieces of kit, and the new Lens Link is no exception. In case you missed it, head over to our news article for the specs.

DCS Lens Link – Lens control up to 2km

The DCS Lens Link ecosystem consists of two main components: a hand unit and the DCS Bridge. The former is a single-axis FIZ controller with a built-in display showcasing live lens data, while the DCS Bridge is meant to be rigged onto the camera and connected to compatible Preston MDR units, which ultimately pass on information to lens motors.

Using this local, point-to-point configuration, the system should provide up to 2km/1.24miles of operating range in clear line-of-sight scenarios, and about 300m in congested environments, according to DCS, with close-to-zero latency (less than 4 milliseconds).

Additionally, the system can be operated in a Remote mode, in which one (or even multiple) LDT-RX1 Network Bridge is added between the hand unit and the DCS Bridge. The LDT-RX1 needs to be placed as close as possible to the on-camera receiver, as it still needs to establish a wireless connection with the DCS Bridge. However, the distance between the handset and the LDT-RX1 can now be covered by running a long Ethernet/Fiber cable between the two devices, thus proving a reliable, wired connection for most of the signal path. In this scenario, the length of the Ethernet/Fiber cable becomes the only limiting factor.

Overall, the DCS Lens Link seems capable of solving many hiccups on set, especially when the camera is travelling long distances on a car rig or a steadicam, for example. The system currently works with Preston lens control systems, but support for ARRI LCS and Tilta products should also come in the future.

Price and availability

The DCS Lens Link is sold as a package including the hand unit, the DCS Bridge, and the LDT-RX1 Network Bridge. It’s shipping now and retails for £6,000 (excluding VAT), but the first 25 units sold get 25% off.

For more information, please visit DCS’s website here.

Have you ever had trouble controlling your lens from a distance? What are your thoughts on the DCS Lens Link? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!