A DIY Cable Release Adapter for Sony NEX-7

dan_ · Expire: 2016-12-19

A known issue of the Sony NEX-7 camera is that you cannot use the remote Cdr. or the Self- Timer with Auto-HDR or Auto Bracketing. That’s annoying because both Auto-HDR and Auto Bracketing functions are really well implemented after the recent firmware update and using them while shooting the camera with your finger may cause unwanted shake even on a tripod. As it looks like Sony has no intention to fix this issue in a resonable time I decided to solve it myself somehow.

By looking at the camera I first thought that a mechanical cable release adapter could be mounted starting from the camera’s flash mount. I found a cheap Chinesse shoe-mounted spirit level and tried it out. I built something like this (not completed):

This first attempt proved to be unsuccessful because the spirit level body is made of hard rubber and not metal. Because of this it is not enough rigid for the purpose. I still believe that this could be done with a sort of metal shoe-mounted adapter, but I couldn't find any.
At this point I was nearly giving up but I remembered that some time before I wanted to build a L bracket to use my Nex on both portrait and landscape orientation on a tripod without blocking the LCD screen rotation (another NEX-7 issue). So, why not a L bracket with a cable release adapter?

I bought a cheap Chinese DSLR pair of L-shaped brackets and one of them proved to have the threaded wholes at just the correct position for my purpose. I made some cuts (it was way too long), mounted the cable release adapter thread supported by a thin brass pipe and painted it black.

It came out quite nicely, is very rigid and, very important, it doesn't block any of the camera’s buttons. Now I can use the Auto-HDR and Auto Bracketing functions of the camera without fear of unwanted shake.

I wanted to share this with you folks thinking that it could be of some help to someone. It would be interesting to know if any of you has addressed this issue of the camera as well and how you did it.

fuzzywuzzy · Expire: 2013-11-30

Good idea, really well executed.

dan_ · Expire: 2016-12-19

Thank you fuzzywuzzy.

ForenSeil · Joined: 15 Apr 2011 Posts: 2726 Location: Kiel, Germany.

dan_ · Expire: 2016-12-19

Thank you ForenSeil.

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4745 Location: Cheshire, England

I've looked at a way to do this but as you say with your first one it wasnt sturdy enough have you got a picture of the original bracket so We can see precisely what you've done.

Good project, I really could have done with one of these last weekend

dan_ · Expire: 2016-12-19

I don't have a photo of the original bracket but the one I've used is the one in the right in the second photo from this seller's post:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-L-Shape-Flash-Bracket-Holder-Mount-for-Canon-Nikon-Speedlite-DSLR-Camera-/160985153624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item257b768058
The cuts I've done to it are marked in my second photo.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Somewhere, in one of the many boxes of 'stuff' that I have, is a velcro strap that goes around a camera - over the shutter button - and has a fitting for an old style cable release. The cable release just pushes the camera button.
I got it for my old film Canon EOS600 and it worked perfectly. I'll try and find it.

dan_ · Expire: 2016-12-19

I have never seen such a a velcro strap.
Now, that you mentioned it, I did a quick Google search and found this:
http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/kaiser-strap-on-cable-release-adapter-point-shoot-cameras-without-a-reviews
If it can be cut in such a way not to block the camera's buttons I think that it could be the most simple solution to the NEX-7 problem. Smile

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

That's exactly the thing, I used one for years because my EOS didn't have the old style shutter button and I was too mean to buy the cable remote. Laughing

It works a treat, I'd forgot about it but I'll find it for my NEX.