NX500/NX1 - customizing function of keys

[otto k]

While NX1 has a solid amount of programmable keys, the NX500 is limited to just few that can perform only a small subset of operations. For example, in order to have a video preview (Movie STBY) you have to assign it to DEL (Custom/Trashcan) button but that means you cannot use a single click to switch to RAW shooting.

This is frustrating.

There are also some other illogical choices like:

• Having to choose between delay timer AND bracketing is just silly.
• Reseting power zoom lens to 16mm every time the camera powers on ...
• Not being able to quickly switch from AF-S and Single-shot to AF-C and Continuous-H ...
• ... whatever irks you ...

Fret not, here is the solution:

1. Go to following address and follow instructions

https://github.com/ottokiksmaler/nx500/blob/master/Customizing keys.md

Alternatively, just unpack sd.tar from here to the root of SD card and use it in the camera. Then try it out.

Use any of the key combinations, like:

1. EV+HalfPressShutter -> take a shot after roughly 10s (with blinking lights) - any shot including bracketing and burst
2. Double click EV (exposure compensation button) -> switch between AF-S/S and AF-C/C-H
3. EV+AEL (Press EV - click AEL - release EV) -> switch between SuperFine JPEG and RAW (not RAW+SF)
4. EV+OK -> (16-50pz only) zoom to 50mm and iZoom to 2.0x
5. EV+MOBILE -> (connect to wireless before clicking this) start telnet server and display IP address for 30s on screen

"Wow, this is nice, but could you implement *this** shortcut?

No.

But you can

In scripts directory on SD card there is a bunch of shell scripts called EV_EV.sh, EV_OK.sh, EV_AEL.sh and the like. They are called when corresponding combination of keys is pressed. You can freely alter their contents (you should first test interactively via telnet - it's easier that way). You can also create other files for other key combinations.

Possible key combinations (shell script names) on NX500:

• EV_EV.sh - double click EV
• EV_MOBILE.sh
• EV_AEL.sh
• EV_S1.sh - EV + half press the shutter
• EV_S2.sh - EV + full press the shutter
• EV_OK
• EV_UP
• EV_DOWN
• EV_LEFT
• EV_RIGHT

Please try it out, have fun and report back if anything is amiss.

 

[StenM]

Otto K, pls enable (on the NX500) 3K 4:3 2880_2160 - with Anamorphic 2x lens - 6K 5760_2160 (KINEMAX)

 

[parakalien]

You deserve a standing ovation from everyone who owns an nx500!

Thanks for all the work you've done so far and I'm sure you'll come up with some great stuff in the future.

 

[arfoga]

Otto k you are doing a great job. I'm not a Linux user. Can i do this in windows? If not, do i need a specific linux distribution? Or, can i do it with any distribution?

Thanks for your work

 

[otto k]

I think you can unpack sd.tar with winzip, 7zip or anything similar. You don't need to do anything special. Just copy the extracted files to sd card.

 

[schex86]

You don't need linux to run a telnet client. Just type in telnet and the camera's IP address from a command line. You'll then have a remote terminal on the computer for the linux system running on the camera.

 

[BeardedManMatt]

Thank you for all the work you do, I haven't used much of it but it's nice to know it's available.

I haven't known where to ask this, is it possible to make the NX500 keep the selected focus mode when switching into video? For example if I'm using the 30mm in MF mode and switch to video it automatically goes to CAF which drives me crazy. It would be awesome if there was a fix for that.

Thanks again.

 

[Lawrence Norman]

You don't need linux to run a telnet client. Just type in telnet and the camera's IP address from a command line. You'll then have a remote terminal on the computer for the linux system running on the camera.

Does this work i.e. have you successfully telnet-ed into your NX?

Best Regards

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." -Albert Einstein

 

[schex86]

Actually no, but this is because I just ordered an NX500 a few day ago and haven't received it yet. As soon as I get it, one of the first things I'll do is telnet into my new camera.:-D

 

[otto k]

Yes, that's how I develop everything I post here.

TLDR:

1. Unpack SD.zip to SD card (so that SD card root contains info.tg and scripts directory)

2. Power on the camera with SD in it. You will see a row of green dots on ethe left for a second or two.

3. Connect to your Wifi

4. Press EV, click MOBILE, release EV

5. Camera will start telmet client and display its IP address on the screen in green for 30s

6. Open any telnet client to that IP (like putty or even command line from windows and then type telnet 192.168.1.44 or whatever the IP of the camera is).

telnet 192.168.1.44
Trying 192.168.1.44...
Connected to 192.168.1.44.
Escape character is '^]'.

************************************************************
* SAMSUNG LINUX PLATFORM *
************************************************************

drime5 login: root
[root@drime5 ~]#

 

[stf1x]

Can this be used to implement true back button focus functionality to completely remove AF activation from the shutter in C-AF ?

 

[otto k]

As there seem to be a numerous versions of bbaf could you precisely describe how it should work?

 

[otto k]

People asked about possibility to switch between EVF and LCD during video (apparently not working on NX1). Since I have NX500 I cannot really switch anything but what is described here works as described

st app bb [lcd|evf|tv][on|off|osd|video]

For example, to show only clean video on back LCD: st app bb lcd video

To show only OSD (without video): st app bb lcd osd

To turn it off completely: st app bb lcd off

To show everything as normal: st app bb lcd on

Now, someone with NX1 could try and report back if these things work and if this can solve the problem of switching the LCD/EVF during video.

https://github.com/ottokiksmaler/nx500_nx1_modding/blob/master/Control_LCD_EVF.md

 

[Tomasa]

People asked about possibility to switch between EVF and LCD during video (apparently not working on NX1). Since I have NX500 I cannot really switch anything but what is described here works as described

st app bb [lcd|evf|tv][on|off|osd|video]

For example, to show only clean video on back LCD: st app bb lcd video

To show only OSD (without video): st app bb lcd osd

To turn it off completely: st app bb lcd off

To show everything as normal: st app bb lcd on

Now, someone with NX1 could try and report back if these things work and if this can solve the problem of switching the LCD/EVF during video.

https://github.com/ottokiksmaler/nx500_nx1_modding/blob/master/Control_LCD_EVF.md

Otto-as always -with simple and great ideas Otto but if i use this commands with Bluetooth mod -does it makes camera slower like factory mode?? i think it's good hack to switch of lcd while recording lets say on tripod and no need to look at what you're recording-saves battery. But i guess this is pretty rare scenario in life

 

[otto k]

No, the camera works normally.

 

[stf1x]

As there seem to be a numerous versions of bbaf could you precisely describe how it should work?

hi otto,

This is how it should work (on the NX1):

Currently the shutter button does

metering + focusing + OIS + capturing

I wish the shutter button could do

metering + OIS + capturing (No more focusing)

I want to be able to disable the focus function from the shutter (as I have it on the AF-ON button at the back).

see post from wpstf in "True back button focus - still not possible?" He descibes it to the point.

Tony Northrup describes and demos the a use case here:

 

[otto k]

Essentially, while af-on is pressed af-c works, when it's released it switches to manual af?

 

[stf1x]

Essentially, while af-on is pressed af-c works, when it's released it switches to manual af?

Correct!

Using the AF/MF switch (on the lens) is actually the only way to imitate this feature but it’s not ideal since it means fiddling with multiple buttons and multiple actions

Furthermore, re-focusing (with autofocus) requires 3 steps:

• re-enable AF with the switch

• half-press shutter button (or AF ON button)

• switch off AF again

If you are in S AF and have a AF ON that activates (C-AF) autofocus whenever you press (and hold) it, then you have both advantages from S AF and C AF combined. Pressing that focus button on the back once and releasing it will focus once (like S AF on half-press of the shutter button). Pressing the AF ON button and holding it will make the camera behave like in C AF mode. Of course, the shutter has to be disabled from focusing for that feature to be complete.

While the AF ON button does what it should on the NX1, pressing the shutter button in C-AF mode overrides the previously set focus by refocusing.

 

[otto k]

I will see what I can do, the main problem being me not having nx1 but I'll try to imitate it via EV button or similar. Whether this works depends fully on how fast I can switch AF modes from program. I am personally interested in this as well as I did use it on D300 in such manner and sometimes miss it on nx500.

 

[otto k]

So, I have no way to test this on NX1 but could you try replacing your keyscan binary with this one https://github.com/ottokiksmaler/nx500_nx1_modding/blob/master/keyscan_bbaf and adding fourth parameter to script file that calls it so it looks like this

/mnt/mmc/scripts/keyscan /dev/event0 /dev/event1 /mnt/mmc/scripts/ bbaf

Or, put it as keyscan_bbaf on SD card folder scripts and from telnet session do:

killall keyscan

/mnt/mmc/scripts/keyscan_bbaf /dev/event0 /dev/event1 /mnt/mmc/scripts/ bbaf

BB-AF ON <- it reports this on startup

A report back if it works?

On NX500 there is no AF button so I have to also simulate half-pressing the shutter, but I want to avoid that for NX1 as it just takes another ~second to do (as well as simulating release...)