Hi all,
Inspired by Peter's thread ( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=8417298 ), I decided to build a remote control for my A1 today.
Basically, it consists of a hacked about PC CD-ROM audio cable, a switch, a button, some plastic and some wire. Its very simple to make. On the back of the A1 is the remote cord port (just below the Anti Shake hand button). You need to mess about with a plug on one end of the CD cable to get it to fit those three prongs you see.
For me, this entailed slicing off one of the sockets from the plug (mine had 4 sockets in a row instead of three) - this is easy done with a stanley knife. Then, you have to file, sand and cut the plug around so it fits the hole and the pins correctly. You also have to cut a V shaped groove between the second and third pin on the top of the plug to fit the shape of the cameras socket.
Once you've done this (and it is a fiddle), chop the plug off the other end of the cable, and strip the wires back a bit ready for soldering. It probably makes sense to work out now how youre going to mount the controls. For my prototype, I decided to use just a strip of plastic, but it would be better inside something like a Mini-DV cassette case. Now, ready for some more handywork - heres the schematic:
Here, 1 is the switch that you flick to activate the autofocus and 2 is the button you press to take the picture. This setup works quite well - you point your camera at what your after, flick the switch to focus, then press the button to take the picture. You have to remember to flick the switch back to its rest position afterwards or you wont be able to do much! If it would suit you better, you could replace the switch with a button - I thought it might be a bit too much trouble having to hold 2 buttons at a time
Next - you need to mount your switch and button in whatever you want to hold them with. I used a flat piece of plastic. Now to connect the wires. Connect the C + F wires to the first and second pins on your switch. Connect the S wire to either pin of your button. Now all you need to do is run another bit of wire from one of the pins of your switch to the other pin of the button (this is the yellow wire in the schematic above).
Give it a test to make sure it works alright, then solder the connections (i had to cover the connections in hot glue from a glue gun to stop them touching together).
If youve done everything, you should now possess a nice remote control for your Minolta - total cost? About £2 at most!
Heres how mine ended up. I will be rehousing it into a better casing when I buy one, and perhaps adding a longer wire:
(The remote in all its glory)
(Side view - note the sloppy glue work
(In hand - it fits the curl of my finger pretty well!)
Hope this has helped. Thanks to Peter for giving me the original idea. Its not hard folks honestly, if youve got the bits, give it a shot. Shouldnt take you more than 2 hours work.
Matt
Inspired by Peter's thread ( http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=8417298 ), I decided to build a remote control for my A1 today.
Basically, it consists of a hacked about PC CD-ROM audio cable, a switch, a button, some plastic and some wire. Its very simple to make. On the back of the A1 is the remote cord port (just below the Anti Shake hand button). You need to mess about with a plug on one end of the CD cable to get it to fit those three prongs you see.
For me, this entailed slicing off one of the sockets from the plug (mine had 4 sockets in a row instead of three) - this is easy done with a stanley knife. Then, you have to file, sand and cut the plug around so it fits the hole and the pins correctly. You also have to cut a V shaped groove between the second and third pin on the top of the plug to fit the shape of the cameras socket.
Once you've done this (and it is a fiddle), chop the plug off the other end of the cable, and strip the wires back a bit ready for soldering. It probably makes sense to work out now how youre going to mount the controls. For my prototype, I decided to use just a strip of plastic, but it would be better inside something like a Mini-DV cassette case. Now, ready for some more handywork - heres the schematic:
Here, 1 is the switch that you flick to activate the autofocus and 2 is the button you press to take the picture. This setup works quite well - you point your camera at what your after, flick the switch to focus, then press the button to take the picture. You have to remember to flick the switch back to its rest position afterwards or you wont be able to do much! If it would suit you better, you could replace the switch with a button - I thought it might be a bit too much trouble having to hold 2 buttons at a time
Next - you need to mount your switch and button in whatever you want to hold them with. I used a flat piece of plastic. Now to connect the wires. Connect the C + F wires to the first and second pins on your switch. Connect the S wire to either pin of your button. Now all you need to do is run another bit of wire from one of the pins of your switch to the other pin of the button (this is the yellow wire in the schematic above).
Give it a test to make sure it works alright, then solder the connections (i had to cover the connections in hot glue from a glue gun to stop them touching together).
If youve done everything, you should now possess a nice remote control for your Minolta - total cost? About £2 at most!
Heres how mine ended up. I will be rehousing it into a better casing when I buy one, and perhaps adding a longer wire:
(The remote in all its glory)
(Side view - note the sloppy glue work
(In hand - it fits the curl of my finger pretty well!)
Hope this has helped. Thanks to Peter for giving me the original idea. Its not hard folks honestly, if youve got the bits, give it a shot. Shouldnt take you more than 2 hours work.
Matt
