NX Mini with legacy manual lenses?

I'm using a lot of old manual-focus lenses on Sony E/FE bodies, but I have some lenses where the 18mm flange distance is just too big -- so I'm very curious about the NX Mini. I've been designing and 3D printing my own lens adapters, so I'm not too worried about being able to mechanically fit these lenses on an NX-M mount, but a few questions:

• Are there detailed specs for the NX-M mount anywhere? In particular, what is the flange distance? 3D printing allows me to make adapters by reverse engineering from a lens combined with trial and error about the flange distance, but I'd prefer to build from real specs....
• Is there any problem with using lenses that have no electronic coupling?  For example, many cameras require "shoot without lens" or somesuch to be enabled or only work in certain exposure modes.
• Are there any adapters around? I know there is an NX-M to NX from Samsung, but I'm wondering about others. I'd probably start with a dumb adapter for Sony E-mount, because I already have a fleet of adapters putting manual lenses on E.

I don't want to buy one just to answer those questions.  

ad 1) the tech specs just list the dimensions : 27.5 x 69.5 x 57.5mm

ad 2) there is no issue as such but I believe there will be similar PIN based solution in that NX-M adapter to detect the state= ens attached. (this is often an issue with low quality spec'd adapters preventing the NX to detect the lens)

ad3) I have not seen anything other than the NX-M one

Epoca Libera wrote:

Hi ProfHankD ,

I own a samsung nx mini and I will try to help with my notes:

1. Samsung nx mini will not work without lens in any mode, which means it will not work with an adapter without pins.

So as the only adapter on the market now is the genuine nx-m mount to nx, I was thinking that I could use the genuine adapter and after add in-line another adapter eg: Nx to nikon.

So i could attach a nikon glass to the NX mini body.

So the question is: will the camera work or i will get the "no lens" error? I think theoretically it should work but I have not find a practical answer from someone who has tested this yet.

Interesting. However, I'm not sure that implies unchiped lenses would work.

2. Please note that the genuine nx-m mount to nx adapter has 11 pins from the side of the nx mini body and only 8 pins from the side of the nx lens to be mounted on the adapter, with everything that this could mean: (may be there is a coupling on the adapter).

Could be circuitry inside, or just extra power lines ignored...?

3. Theoretically it is possible and also it would be interesting to see an adapter with speed booster for the samsung nx mini mount on the market.

Yup.  I have to say, given the specs, I'm shocked at how little interest there seems to be in this. Perhaps the NX mini really is seen as "entry level" and not sold to many enthusiasts?

ProfHankD wrote:

Epoca Libera wrote:

Hi ProfHankD ,

I own a samsung nx mini and I will try to help with my notes:

1. Samsung nx mini will not work without lens in any mode, which means it will not work with an adapter without pins.

So as the only adapter on the market now is the genuine nx-m mount to nx, I was thinking that I could use the genuine adapter and after add in-line another adapter eg: Nx to nikon.

So i could attach a nikon glass to the NX mini body.

So the question is: will the camera work or i will get the "no lens" error? I think theoretically it should work but I have not find a practical answer from someone who has tested this yet.

Interesting. However, I'm not sure that implies unchiped lenses would work.

2. Please note that the genuine nx-m mount to nx adapter has 11 pins from the side of the nx mini body and only 8 pins from the side of the nx lens to be mounted on the adapter, with everything that this could mean: (may be there is a coupling on the adapter).

Could be circuitry inside, or just extra power lines ignored...?

3. Theoretically it is possible and also it would be interesting to see an adapter with speed booster for the samsung nx mini mount on the market.

Yup. I have to say, given the specs, I'm shocked at how little interest there seems to be in this. Perhaps the NX mini really is seen as "entry level" and not sold to many enthusiasts?

Why doesn't someone just test if it will fire without a lens?  Look for a silver push pin inside and push that down and hold it while triggering the shutter.

The extra pins are probably for additional functions of NX-M lenses, maybe to do with the collapsing or something.

NX-Mini, I don't think the issue with it was that it was entry level.  It was marketed pretty strongly as a selfie camera, which probably did help its overall sales but likely decreased them among enthusiasts.  Also, admittedly, the ergonomics are not good and it has very few physical controls.

ttbek wrote:

ProfHankD wrote:

Epoca Libera wrote:

Hi ProfHankD ,

I own a samsung nx mini and I will try to help with my notes:

1. Samsung nx mini will not work without lens in any mode, which means it will not work with an adapter without pins.

So as the only adapter on the market now is the genuine nx-m mount to nx, I was thinking that I could use the genuine adapter and after add in-line another adapter eg: Nx to nikon.

So i could attach a nikon glass to the NX mini body.

So the question is: will the camera work or i will get the "no lens" error? I think theoretically it should work but I have not find a practical answer from someone who has tested this yet.

Interesting. However, I'm not sure that implies unchiped lenses would work.

2. Please note that the genuine nx-m mount to nx adapter has 11 pins from the side of the nx mini body and only 8 pins from the side of the nx lens to be mounted on the adapter, with everything that this could mean: (may be there is a coupling on the adapter).

Could be circuitry inside, or just extra power lines ignored...?

3. Theoretically it is possible and also it would be interesting to see an adapter with speed booster for the samsung nx mini mount on the market.

Yup. I have to say, given the specs, I'm shocked at how little interest there seems to be in this. Perhaps the NX mini really is seen as "entry level" and not sold to many enthusiasts?

Why doesn't someone just test if it will fire without a lens? Look for a silver push pin inside and push that down and hold it while triggering the shutter.

The extra pins are probably for additional functions of NX-M lenses, maybe to do with the collapsing or something.

NX-Mini, I don't think the issue with it was that it was entry level. It was marketed pretty strongly as a selfie camera, which probably did help its overall sales but likely decreased them among enthusiasts. Also, admittedly, the ergonomics are not good and it has very few physical controls.

The shutter will only fire when the lens is completely twisted in. I have the nx to nx-m adapter and legacy lens will work on top of that however, so obviously there is some electrical connection in the nx-m adapter, probably just a simple signal indicating the lens is connected.

Here one from a Russian lens block PO4 35mm f2

I haven't bought an NX Mini yet, but the only thing to keep in mind is that it is rolling electronic shutter only, it has no mechanical shutter.  This is a problem if you want to sync flashes, and moving subjects could be distorted.

Eric

ChuckTa wrote:

ttbek wrote:

ProfHankD wrote:

Epoca Libera wrote:

Hi ProfHankD ,

I own a samsung nx mini and I will try to help with my notes:

1. Samsung nx mini will not work without lens in any mode, which means it will not work with an adapter without pins.

So as the only adapter on the market now is the genuine nx-m mount to nx, I was thinking that I could use the genuine adapter and after add in-line another adapter eg: Nx to nikon.

So i could attach a nikon glass to the NX mini body.

So the question is: will the camera work or i will get the "no lens" error? I think theoretically it should work but I have not find a practical answer from someone who has tested this yet.

Interesting. However, I'm not sure that implies unchiped lenses would work.

2. Please note that the genuine nx-m mount to nx adapter has 11 pins from the side of the nx mini body and only 8 pins from the side of the nx lens to be mounted on the adapter, with everything that this could mean: (may be there is a coupling on the adapter).

Could be circuitry inside, or just extra power lines ignored...?

3. Theoretically it is possible and also it would be interesting to see an adapter with speed booster for the samsung nx mini mount on the market.

Yup. I have to say, given the specs, I'm shocked at how little interest there seems to be in this. Perhaps the NX mini really is seen as "entry level" and not sold to many enthusiasts?

Why doesn't someone just test if it will fire without a lens? Look for a silver push pin inside and push that down and hold it while triggering the shutter.

The extra pins are probably for additional functions of NX-M lenses, maybe to do with the collapsing or something.

NX-Mini, I don't think the issue with it was that it was entry level. It was marketed pretty strongly as a selfie camera, which probably did help its overall sales but likely decreased them among enthusiasts. Also, admittedly, the ergonomics are not good and it has very few physical controls.

The shutter will only fire when the lens is completely twisted in.

Well that's true of the regular NX mount as well normally, because that twisting in all the way is what pushes down the silver pin.  So you're saying there is no such pin in the NX-M mount?  Looking at pictures I can't seem to find one, so yeah, guess it may need some electronics for a direct adapter.

I have the nx to nx-m adapter and legacy lens will work on top of that however, so obviously there is some electrical connection in the nx-m adapter, probably just a simple signal indicating the lens is connected.

Have I told you how awesome you are?  You're pretty awesome.  ^_^.

Epoca Libera wrote:

I managed to shoot without lens with the NX mini, by connecting (short circuit) the two electric pins shown in the picture below: the 2nd and the 11th pin clockwise.

OK! That shouldn't be too hard (there's a similar issue on some Pentax bodies), although it is a tad touchy to do with a 3D-printed adapter. I'd probably try using a piece of aluminum duct tape in a channel to make the contacts, although a little PCB would probably be a better answer. Do you know if shorting out more (e.g., all) the pins works without harm?

I'd probably aim for making C->NX mini and Sony E->NX mini adapters; C to directly accept all those tiny lenses with the smallest possible final size and E so that cheap adapters for just about everything else could be used with the NX mini. The catch is that the Samsung NX mini isn't cheap enough for me to grab one (with a lens and a reference mount) just to be able to make an adapter: it still seems to be $200+. I will keep an eye out for cheaper stuff on eBay. I don't need a pristine body + lens to make adapters, but I do need something to be able to measure and test fit....

Pentax Q?

Epoca Libera wrote:

My ideas that may help:

- For the mount you can use a Body Cap (US $1.99 on ebay with Rear Lens Cap included). This cap could be used for turning the NX mini into a pinhole camera also.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171480520186

Excellent! It would be easy to take dimensions off that. It probably doesn't lock, but close enough. A couple of those and a body would probably be enough to work-out and test the design. However, I still haven't seen an NX mini body cheap enough to just grab one... I will start watching more carefully.

- For the pins you have to make or modify something like the "AF confirm Chips for Canon Eos" they sell on ebay for US $4)

No. Despite the low cost, those are actually processors on shaped little boards. The cost would be a lot more for just a simple shaped board in low quantity unless it could be milled on a hobbyist CNC router (which it probably could be, but I don't have one of those quite yet... I'll probably be getting one within the next month or two).

Now for more pins: If accidentally you connect (short circuit) pin1+pin2+pin11 (clockwise) camera will turn off and this is not a good sign. From my tests only pin2+pin11 work and I discovered this by searching for short-circuity connections on the mount of the nx-mini lens (I used a multimeter on the "audible continuity test" mode).

Sounds like short of power and ground isn't happy. Oh well.  It would have been easier to just have a continuous metal strip over all the pin contacts (or any contiguous set of pins), but I still think shaped metal duct tape spanning the appropriate contacts is the right way to go for a simple 3D-printed adapter. I have a 2D programmable paper cutter, so it shouldn't be hard for me to use that to cut a precisely-shaped pattern out of the metal duct tape. The other possibility would be conductive paint, but that is more likely to have wear issues.

I have another idea, how about directly using the NX-M body cap and remove the center part for the mount and combine this with a grind down C or D mount adapter from Pentax Q. Both parts should be grind/sand down to the required flange distance and combine with screws or glue together.

For shorting the pins, how about just typing a thin piece of copper wire on to the 2 pins directly on the camera?

ChuckTa wrote:

I have another idea, how about directly using the NX-M body cap and remove the center part for the mount and combine this with a grind down C or D mount adapter from Pentax Q. Both parts should be grind/sand down to the required flange distance and combine with screws or glue together.

For shorting the pins, how about just typing a thin piece of copper wire on to the 2 pins directly on the camera?

Maybe... but you would not want to use a jury-rigged thing like that for much. For example, tape coming off could result in the wire hitting your sensor. A 3D-printed adapter like I'm talking about could be usable with ordinary care, pretty much like any other adapter.... It is also likely to be much more precise in the lens positioning.

ProfHankD wrote:

Epoca Libera wrote:

My ideas that may help:

- For the mount you can use a Body Cap (US $1.99 on ebay with Rear Lens Cap included). This cap could be used for turning the NX mini into a pinhole camera also.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171480520186

Excellent! It would be easy to take dimensions off that. It probably doesn't lock, but close enough. A couple of those and a body would probably be enough to work-out and test the design. However, I still haven't seen an NX mini body cheap enough to just grab one... I will start watching more carefully.

- For the pins you have to make or modify something like the "AF confirm Chips for Canon Eos" they sell on ebay for US $4)

No. Despite the low cost, those are actually processors on shaped little boards. The cost would be a lot more for just a simple shaped board in low quantity unless it could be milled on a hobbyist CNC router (which it probably could be, but I don't have one of those quite yet... I'll probably be getting one within the next month or two).

Maybe pm ihkim and ask what he uses, since I think he has actual pins. Or maybe you and google translate can figure it out from his blog, here's one post about the extension tubes he's been working on: http://www.mydiyworld.net/?p=1877

Now for more pins: If accidentally you connect (short circuit) pin1+pin2+pin11 (clockwise) camera will turn off and this is not a good sign. From my tests only pin2+pin11 work and I discovered this by searching for short-circuity connections on the mount of the nx-mini lens (I used a multimeter on the "audible continuity test" mode).

Sounds like short of power and ground isn't happy. Oh well. It would have been easier to just have a continuous metal strip over all the pin contacts (or any contiguous set of pins), but I still think shaped metal duct tape spanning the appropriate contacts is the right way to go for a simple 3D-printed adapter. I have a 2D programmable paper cutter, so it shouldn't be hard for me to use that to cut a precisely-shaped pattern out of the metal duct tape. The other possibility would be conductive paint, but that is more likely to have wear issues.