Owner`s manual

3.7. REMOTE RELEASE CORD 23
Anyway, for the connector, I had another solution from the news : It’s to buy the cord which connect
the camera to the IC R1 infrared remote device. The only problem is that this device only deal with the
shutter release and I’m afraid that this cord only have two pins connected.
November 2002, Csaba JOZSA adds: I would like to add a comment: on the Dynax cameras (at least
on the Maxxum/Dynax 5) the shutter release works only if the focussing is not switched off. Thus, the
procedure is: connect focus pin to common – focussing – , connect shutter pin to common without discon-
necting the focus pin – exposing –. It’s a bit unhandy, since you are obliged to always focus before shutter
release, aldo, if you focus with AF and then switch to MF mode, the camera won’t change the focus setting.
(On switching back to AF, he will.)
3.7.2 Building your own Remote Cord (v.2)
[Author(s): Scott Kimball, taken from Minolta AF FAQ [4].]
The question was asked, Did I find a switch like Minolta uses, or did I use 2 switches.
The answer: I used 2 switches in the following way:
A push-on, push-off single pole, single throw switch enables focus. A momentary single pole, double
throw switch de- activates focus and activates the shutter with one push.
(Pins are drawn in F C S
incorrect order | | |
for ease of |--/--| | |
drawing -- (foc) |SPST | ___|
C F S is the |--------|_|_|?
correct order) SPDT
(shutter)
Please forgive the crude drawing. Wired this way, using autofocus mode, you can first press the focus
button to enable the autofocus. Then, when the camera has focused, press the shutter release button (the
SPDT button) to switch instantly from “focus” to “fire” (and back again if you use the momentary switch).
If you are manually focusing, you need not first press the focus button, and the shutter will still trip when
you press the shutter release. If you do first press the focus button and the camera is in manual focus mode,
nothing happens because autofocus is not on.
In a way, I like a 2 button setup better than a 1 button setup, because there is less chance of accidently
firing off a shot. The only thing this doesn’t have is a locking feature to lock the shutter open, but it
shouldn’t be hard to come up with a mechanical method of locking the button down.
As far as experimenting with this and the possibility of damaging the camera, as long as you don’t
introduce any current into the circuit there won’t be a problem. The only other damage you could do is
bending or breaking a pin in the camera socket if you make a connector that doesn’t fit well and try to force
it.
3.7.3 Building your own Remote Cord (v.3)
[Author(s): Dario Piantanida, taken from Minolta AF FAQ [4].]
(Using an audio cable for the internal connection of CD-ROM drives...)
First cut che cd-rom connctor on the cd-rom side, to have a 20-30cm wire for the RC: on this side you’ll
mount the button or the switch (or both). On the audio card side you’ll find a 4 pin plastic connector made
like this:
1 2 3 4
r - w s