DIY cable release for Nikon D3100

For some reason or another the Nikon D3100 is real shitty as a platform for DIY modifications. Canon’s DSLRs are equipped with some really nice firmware that allows you completely control the camera from a computer. Everything from focusing, to time and aperture values can be set externally. Some models even allow you to stream the image live and save images directly to a laptop. The cable release plug is also a standard 1/8th inch stereo audio jack, making it extremely simple to make your own controller.

Nikon was so nice as to create some completely proprietary plug shape. Fuck you guys. They also password protect the goddamn user manual for no reason at all. Seriously.

So here I present to you a schematic of the plug’s pin configuration courtesy of dpreview.com. Go wild with it.

I’m mirroring the image here in case of any internetz failurez. Not that this ever happens. :D

Meaning of wires inside MC-DC2′s cable:

- Black wire (also cable’s sleeve) = “ground” of MC-DC2 wiring
- Green wire = AF
- White wire = Shutter

…when you short circuit black&green wires, camera will autofocus, and when you short circuit black, green & white wires, camera’s shutter operate.

cheers,

Ari

I’ll be trying this out soon. There are also some good looking plans over at Instructables about how to make a intervalometer on lots of different platforms. I’d love to try an Arduino one soon. Once you get an adapter built for the dumbplug, the posibilities are really open.

Have fun!