Minolta remote connector

Hi,

Does anybody knows a source for those 3 pin remote shutter connectors (for
minolta and sony alpha)? I'm thinking about making a "shutter computer"
device for my minolta and sony, but I can't find the connector. Do you have
any hint on where I could find a source?

Cheers

Padu

 

B&H Photo

Sony Alpha, but you will need to wire in mini stereo plug:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=439013&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Modified Minolta RC1000:
http://www.woodselec.com/misc_release.htm

 

"George K"

I want the connector only, not the whole remote. I'm making my own shutter
remote device with the following features:

- Operated by radio frequency, being that the remote is a little 2-button
keychain, like garage door openers. One button focuses, the other triggers
the shutter
- Timed pictures: you can program a time interval between pictures (say one
picture every half an hour)

a few others that I'm still thinking.

I find an absurd that they sell the remote for 50 plus bucks... it is just a
connector, wire and a button. Materials in this case don't go over $5 in
high quantities.


Cheers

Padu

 

$1 if you buy it all from China.

 

"Jer"

Isn't that amazing that someone has the audacy of charge $87 just for a
cable assembly that is not even shielded?

If I can find the connector, I'll maybe sell the whole device, which has
actually some meat to it, for less than $50, and that's hand made.


Cheers

Padu

 

Whatever it's worth you're paying for the costs, margin, marketing
expense and profit of everyone who touched it on the way to the store.

 

Buy a sound card cable connector wiht 4 holes and cut one of the holes
off. Just remember to keep the molded key.

http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=5434

 

"Alan Browne"

I work for a hardware/software manufacturer in the USA and some of our
products costs much more to manufacture, has a lot more components and it is
still cheaper for the consumer. We also have all these overhead costs. I
believe the margin component is way disproportionate. I don't believe it is
lack of economy of scale either... even if 1% of minolta and sony cameras
(that use such cable) come to buy one of these, it is still a lot.

 

"George K"

That's what I'm doing for my tests right now. I wanted something a bit more
professional looking. I liked the idea of injection molding though...

Thanks for the link. Really useful.

Cheers

Padu

 

Given the quite low volume of these cables that Minolta sold, the
"store" price is not surprising at all.

Of course the other issue is the lack of competition for such devices
which let Minolta (and now Sony) keep the price up.

 

If they made things like these remotes easier to hack for the hobbyist
they might open up a bigger market for their cameras and make more
money than they would ever have made selling their propriatory add-ons.
KM might have gone down that path, Sony have a track record of making
their stuff a closed shop with stuff like the Memory Stick.

 

OK I found it. Sorry thie first info was wrong. The people use in fact
the cable that connects the CDrom or DVD in your computer with the
sound cart. In fact this is the same connector, that juts need to be
slightly cut in order to connect perfectly. The you need a switch see
here for the scheme; http://www.jjmb.nl/content/content.php?Name=Remote
and the cable of cours. People use sometime the switches used for car
alarms

 

Thanks. I had figured that by myself... Now I'm working on building a
wireless remote and a timed shooter (i.e.: Take 100 pictures 45 seconds
apart)

I wonder how people who owns minolta or sony would be interested in such
device?


Cheers

Padu