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Replacing shutter switch with jack?

Chieh:
Another problem has arisen. Most of the cameras -- 6 megapixels or
larger -- are too compact , once the case is removed, to attach jack
wires (forget an internal jack).

To solve this space problem, can the shutter release button (switch)
be removed and replaced by a 3/32 sub mini jack or equivalent? I can't
find that operation covered in your book.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Scott Bruce
Thu, 13 Apr 2006 10:45:58 -0700

I'm hoping a 2.5mm jack can replace the shutter button/switch on this camera, which i bought on sale today:

Stylus 800 Digital Specs

Think it's possible? Any thoughts about this camera?

Scott Bruce
Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:24:03 -0700

Yes, Scott, it's highly probable that you can replace the shutter button with the mini jack. A mini jack and a remote switch are electrically equivalent to a shutter button on most consumer cameras.

If you would like to preserve the shutter button on your compact digital camera, you might consider installing an external mini jack. A little bit of 5-minute epoxy will glue the jack to the camera.

Another option is to look for a smaller interface than the mini jack. The mini jack is probably one of the most popular and the most convenient interface out there, but there are other, smaller interfaces that may fit in the compact case. The other interfaces may be harder to install neatly, but if you got the patience and the motivation to install it, it's a good way to go. Look around your local Radio Shack store.

I have never done anything with the Olympus Stylus 800 digital camera before. But I suspect it's possible to install a jack/switch on it. For one thing, Olympus did just that with the shutter button, right? ;-)

Good luck.

Chieh Cheng
Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:24:18 -0700

Chieh:
I did finally succeed attaching external jacks to several digital cameras so I can use them with my friends bite switches. Thanks for your help. Is that type of alternative shutter-release circuit patented? We were thinking of approaching an obscure -- Chinese -- camera maker about factory wiring such jacks into one of their camera models but don't want to walk into a legal propellor. What do you think?

Scott Bruce
Tue, 06 Jun 2006 22:45:55 -0700

Hi Scott,

First of all, I think it's great that you have an opportunity to provide some design ideas for a camera manufacturer. You will be doing a wonderful thing for photographers. I have wished all cameras come with external trigger jacks.

However, I can't tell you whether the alternative shutter-release circuit is patented or not, nor give you any legal advice to that matter. You may want to do a patent search with the help of a patent lawyer or a Patent Office staff.

I can paint you a picture of the camera industry with regards to external triggers. All camera manufacturers have designed shutter-release circuit into their high-end SLR cameras. They just all use different connectors. Most of them are proprietary. Only Canon uses the mini-audio jack on their low-end SLR cameras. Canon uses its proprietary N3-connector on its high-end SLR cameras.

I hope this help. I look forward to hearing the progress on your venture. Good Luck.

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 09 Jun 2006 10:05:24 -0700

we do sony cameras all the time add ing a external trigger jacks 2.5mm of running them

mdel747
Sun, 18 Jun 2006 14:08:45 -0700

here is a pic if the mod if this will post

Attached Image:

P32a.jpg

mdel747
Sun, 18 Jun 2006 14:42:33 -0700

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