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Thread ID: 59360 2005-06-30 00:25:00 Designing a switchbox Nomad (952) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
368089 2005-06-30 00:25:00 Hiya

I have a film camera that has a 10 pin port. From the research I have done, I can buy a Nikon 10 pin cable and cut it or if DSE or Jaycar has a 10 pin connector (hopefully). I am wanting to design a shutter release cable.

I have been told to connect 3 pins (I know which ones), one is ground, one for autofocus and the other is shutter release.

About the switchbox itself. The switchbox needs diodes and/or resistors? Would DSE or Jaycar have conveniently made switchboxes where I just connect the two wires for the 2 buttons and the ground wire?

I am assuming diodes et al are needed, as one guy got a older Nikon trigger device and altered it ... thus from his diagram I have doubts how it would work if it only comprise of 2 switches, one wire to AF and the other to shutter release and then the 2 towards ground wire (total of 3 wires towards the 10 pin plug). So I am assuming he left out the many stuff the Nikon trigger comprised of in his diagram as he was using a fully ready conveneint switch box.


Any helps appreciated.
Nomad (952)
368090 2005-06-30 00:34:00 Not enough info.

Assumedly you are using the "switchbox" to pull each of the 2 wires (shutter and AF) to Ground (the third wire)?

Where do the diodes and resistors come into the picture? It's obviously a bit more complex that above, you need to give a link to a circuit diagram.
godfather (25)
368091 2005-06-30 01:16:00 What I am hoping if there are ready made switchboxes that all I need is attach 3 wires.

This is the Nikon MC-12A trigger unit I wanna use. I don't have this trigger but I want to replicate its design in another switchbox.
www.avernus.com

People have been converting the MC-12A unit to be used on a more modern camera, so not need to purchase a more expensive MC-30
www.schneordesign.com

I found the 2nd link's diagram a bit too easy to believe? I would think the author left out the technical stuff as all he was doing was migrating the device onto a more modern camera.
Nomad (952)
368092 2005-06-30 01:51:00 The first link seems well explained. Using 3 diodes gives a voltage drop (about 0.6v - 0.7v per diode for common 1N4148 silicon diodes) that the camera appears to sense as a partially pressed shutter button.

But really, without having access to the technical details of what the camera actually ouputs at the socket and/or expects to see, its all conjecture.
godfather (25)
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