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NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

Started Jun 24, 2011 | Discussions
PeteGanzel
PeteGanzel Senior Member • Posts: 1,417
NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

NEX Smart Connector Pinouts;

Pin 2 is a data clock
Pin 3 is Serial I/O

Pin 5 is a logic level flash trigger.
Pin 6 is a dedicated ground for this pulse.

8 through 11 are external MIC.
Not sure on the levels though these pins go to an audio amp.

Pins 13 and 14 identify the accessory connected.

This connector probably not designed for video unless it can be streamed over the serial port.

Pete

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snoozy355 Junior Member • Posts: 26
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

Where did you get this from? Is there any way to confirm it?

Using this, could possibly wire up a make-shift hot-shoe. Probably not with levels etc, but just the trigger alone would be worth it!

davect01
davect01 Veteran Member • Posts: 9,266
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

Sounds really promising,if a bit over my head.
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seachicken2000
seachicken2000 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,242
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

snoozy355 wrote:

Where did you get this from? Is there any way to confirm it?

Using this, could possibly wire up a make-shift hot-shoe. Probably not with levels etc, but just the trigger alone would be worth it!

My thoughts exactly. If I undertand it correctly, it's probably straightforward to make a flash trigger.

Pin 5 is a logic level flash trigger.
Pin 6 is a dedicated ground for this pulse.

My guess is you'd just connect these pins to an optoisolator (via a current limiting resistor), and the other side of the optoisolator to a flash.

The problem is that the camera also needs to know that there is a flash attached so that it can set the LCD to show you a reasonably bright view of the world.

I am guessing this latter issue is a problem, otherwise eBay would already be full of NEX "hotshoes". Very annoying that Sony hasn't released an accessory hotshoe. I'd buy one in a er.. flash. I guess their mind is on selling their own flashes.

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seachicken2000
seachicken2000 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,242
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

Pins 13 and 14 identify the accessory connected.

Perhaps this is how the NEX knows that a flash is connected.

2 pins seems to indicate a maximum of 3 or 4 possible accessories.

LOW LOW = accessory 0 (=no accessory?)
HIGH LOW = accessory 1
LOW HIGH = accessory 2
HIGH HIGH = accessory 3

Also even if you can build a flash trigger, the camera probably signals the pre-flash first (unless the flash is smart which I doubt) then the real flash. So you'd need to ignore the pre-flash pulse, and trigger the flash at the start of the second pulse 160ms later.

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stengerse New Member • Posts: 14
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

From what I have learned from using my Arduino I suspect you are not quite right about what data can be delivered over pin 13 and 14. States can change fairly fast and give you a whole array of different possibilities. Designing something for it should be quite easy the only hurdle I see is prototyping with the small connectors.

Jogger
Jogger Veteran Member • Posts: 8,441
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

seems like its expecting input from a 3 capsule electret condenser type mic like the sst1. the camera is doing the actual processing of the signals into stereo channels. doesnt seem feasible to simply rig up a standard 3.5 mm mic jack and have it work.

PeteGanzel wrote:

NEX Smart Connector Pinouts;

Pin 2 is a data clock
Pin 3 is Serial I/O

Pin 5 is a logic level flash trigger.
Pin 6 is a dedicated ground for this pulse.

8 through 11 are external MIC.
Not sure on the levels though these pins go to an audio amp.

Pins 13 and 14 identify the accessory connected.

This connector probably not designed for video unless it can be streamed over the serial port.

Pete

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seachicken2000
seachicken2000 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,242
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

stengerse wrote:

From what I have learned from using my Arduino I suspect you are not quite right about what data can be delivered over pin 13 and 14. States can change fairly fast and give you a whole array of different possibilities.

True, but if it were something more complex it could be done with a single pin and ground, or even over the existing serial connection without the need for any additional pins. The fact that there are 2 ID pins makes me suspect it's something simple. Just guessing though.
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mjkerpan Junior Member • Posts: 46
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

Only one signal pin plus a ground for the flash? Looks like it's transmitting some sort of complex data stream rather than anything that could be easily translated into a simple X-sync...

xcubitor New Member • Posts: 6
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

How many would be interested in such a device (flash trigger) and at what price??? Is it possible to make a poll in this forum??? I am thinking 60-80 USD… Is this a fair price???

GodSpeaks
GodSpeaks Forum Pro • Posts: 14,708
$20 max (nt)
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GodSpeaks
GodSpeaks Forum Pro • Posts: 14,708
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

mjkerpan wrote:

Only one signal pin plus a ground for the flash? Looks like it's transmitting some sort of complex data stream rather than anything that could be easily translated into a simple X-sync...

My thoughts too. Maybe a spinoff of the LANC controller.

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little mizzi New Member • Posts: 5
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

Yes, 60-80$ is a reasonable price. The only problem is to address this to all people interested in it. There is no forum not complaining about the absence of a standard flash interface. It is even discussed in this forum many times.
kindest regards Mizzi

lzi New Member • Posts: 7
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

Guys,

Why don't disassemble one nex 5n flash unit, search on the analog side for the trigger line, and interconnect this wire and the gnd with a radio trigger module to drive an external radio flash unit. In this case the camera recognise correct the attached accessories, and you don't have any trouble with complicated digital signals.

nick18k
nick18k Regular Member • Posts: 138
Re: NEX Smart Connector Pinouts

lzi wrote:

Guys,

Why don't disassemble one nex 5n flash unit, search on the analog side for the trigger line, and interconnect this wire and the gnd with a radio trigger module to drive an external radio flash unit. In this case the camera recognise correct the attached accessories, and you don't have any trouble with complicated digital signals.

Hey guys, I think we got a volunteer his name is "lzi". For most of us it way to expensive to disassemble the flash and then get something working on top of that. When you try using DIY stuff on your equipment, your running the risk of destroying it. I would rather go flashless then having to spend a extra $500, because I broke my camera body.

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