Samsung NX1000 wired rig After
many years of shooting digital stereo using Canon point & shoot
cameras equipped with SDM software, I have finally upgraded to a better
quality stereo rig, that promises to bring back the look and feel of
an RBT custom stereo film camera. These cameras are linked using a
mount that attaches to the lens mounting rings on the front of the
Samsung NX1000 mirrorless cameras. This mount is made by Werner Bloos
and is for sale in North America from George Themelis. Details about
purchase and use of this mount is available here.
This rig does not
have any special software required to synchronize the cameras. A fairly
simple cable, connected to the USB port of each camera allows both
camera shutters to be fired by pressing the shutter release on one
camera. Synchronization is pretty good but far from an SDM rig or a
pair of Canon DSLRs. (I'll be keeping my SDM rigs for situations requiring better synch).
A wired remote shutter release is attached to the synch
cable and is always present (clipped to the neck strap) for tripod
shots. Schematics for these cables are provided below. The brass
linkage lets the zooms be adjusted simultaneously. A brass bar with a
loop at the top also allows the neck strap to be connected at the top
of the Left camera.
A grip has been added
to the Right camera to make it easier to hold the camera rig in the
right hand while adjusting the zoom with the left hand. The plate which
holds this grip has a channel machined into the underside to contain
the sych cable. On the bottom there is a quick release tripod adapter
permanently fastened. Using the AE Bracket function you can set the
bracket order and the range as far as +/- 3EV. This allows making HDR
stereo images. Changing between single frame and bracket is fairly
quick and easy. Synchronization is usually good enough for flash
photography (using a conventional "dumb" flash, not the Samsung smart
flash, which destroys synchronization), however a fair percentage of
flash shots will result in the left camera showing a partially open
shutter. An electronic circuit is coming in the near future which will
ensure that the flash only fires when both shutters have opened.
The wiring is fairly simple and is detailed in the schematics below. I
have worked out the wire colours and the pinouts for you. I made my
cable from a Left hand and a Right hand micro USB extension cable. You
can not use a cell phone power cable since they usually don't have the
ID wire (the yellow one). Updated 12 Dec 2016.