Shutter Release cable

Hi,

are the extensions stereo or mono? the stereo one (which is what you need) will have two insulating bands around the male jack, as there are three wires (left, right, and common) these are needed for half depress for focus, full depress for shutter release and again a common.

If you only have mono it is probably!! only going to operate the shutter, but it needs to do the half depress on the way, I think.

If you do have stereo, then check the continuity of each path with an avo meter, set to measure ohms. You should have, with only a slight change in resistance, the same reading as touching the two avo leads together. You may need to attach a needle to one lead to get inside the female end of the lead.

Cheers

Liam

They are stereo and from the looks of things I'm stuck with a bad purchase. Got to think of another way to at least test the ext cables. Nothing comes to mind right now.

Hi
Thanks for your interesting responses have now got one off e-bay.

Hi,

you can test continuity with a bulb, battery and a bit of wire. Test bulb as you would normally, by touching the ends of the wires together (creating a circuit, to make sure it works first.. ) and then test the leads by putting them in the circuit.. probably again with a needle on one end to get at the contacts inside the female connector.

Cheers

Liam

Hi Richard

I think your MZ6 uses the same expensive "Pentax Cable Switch F" as my Mz5n. I cannot see why any third party cable wouldn't work as well because after all, it is just a switch.

I cut my Pentax cable in half and inserted a 2.5mm jack and socket and then used a 25' flexible telephone cable with 2.5mm jacks for an extension cord. The 2.5mm jacks are compatible with my *ist Ds so the outfit is great for both. The critical information I don't see on the previous posts is that you must wire the jacks correctly. If you are cutting the genuine Pentax F cable for an extension cord:
Black = common = sleeve
Blue = Focus = Ring
Red = Fire = Tip
Using heat shrink sleeves make the job look neat.

I'm not sure where you would find the appropriate camera jack but if you want to go the homemade route Google "DIY cable switch" or variations. There is lots of information out there. Here is one:

http://www.digicaminfo.btinternet.co.uk/hmcablerelease.htm

Hope that helps.


Drew Peabody

Richard

Tonight I was doing research to verify my assumption that the MZ6 cable switch was the same for all the MZ series cameras. Of course...it is not. Sorry for all that irrelevant information in my last post. I did however find mention that the cable switch for the canon 300/350D is compatible???? Maybe some one else knows for sure.

OK -Back to minding my own business

Drew

Don't beat yourself up Drew. Old chinese proverb say "Man who never made a mistake . . . probably never made anything".

The cable release for the MZ6 is the same stereo jack type as the Pentax DSLR's use, the CS-205.

Cheers,

"This is the sixth book I've written, which isn't bad for a guy who's only read two."
George Burns - US actor & comedian (1896 - 1996)


Drew

Hi All

Once again i thank you all i've got one and it works fine

Richard

The cables were NOt such a bad purchase after all. I needed to completely remove the rubber cap and they work just fine.

Thanks