LEGACY LENSES : Custom Sony APP to record EXIF data

vlousada · Joined: 11 Dec 2010 Posts: 345 Location: Portugal

Hi,

I would like to run a research to know which dial/dials one usualy uses for setting shutter-speed and F-stop...
Since I only had experience with 3 sony cameras, I would like to know the possibilities and commonly settings for other models (A7... and others).
Already know some sony camera has only ONE center-dial, or do not allow setup dials, but also in that case would like to know what is your configuration.

To keep this simple, please answer me these questions:

a) Model : a6300
b) Can setup center-dial and upper-dial: yes
c) Center-dial: Shutter-speed (SS)
d) Upper-dial: Aperture (F/nÂº)

Thanks in advance

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

Thanks! I'd like to know too!

eggboy · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2018 2:16 am Post subject:

Hi, posting in relation to the camera lens info file...very interesting.

a) Sony A7 (first gen)
b) can set up front dial, rear dial, and control wheel on the back of the camera
c) front dial: shutter speed (when in mode that allow controls of shutter...usually us A mode which sets speed automatically)
d) rear dial: exposure compensation when using manual lenses...aperture when using AF/ connected lenses
i)usually use dedicated exposure compensation dial tho'
e) control wheel: ISO
i) use the button in the middle of the control dial as the focus magnifier

Good luck!

vlousada · Joined: 11 Dec 2010 Posts: 345 Location: Portugal

Thank you for the detailed info about your camera model.

Tomorow, I will update the questions in this thread to match your answers... Actually, after dials config I will also need customize 4 more buttons: menu, one Fn to call lens profiles, magnification view & exit app.
With feedback for other models, I will implement those settings and then can share the APP for camera instalation and test.

I believe the app will be useful for writting exif or at least trace/log legacy lens that we use on our Sony cameras..

eggboy · Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:18 pm Post subject:

That is all awesome. I think it reasonable that you charge an appropriate small fee for this app too...I don't have a problem paying a reasonable amount for quality!

vlousada · Joined: 11 Dec 2010 Posts: 345 Location: Portugal

Thank you...
Best things must be FREE Rolling Eyes

vlousada · Joined: 11 Dec 2010 Posts: 345 Location: Portugal

Hello,

I am glad to share the beta version of a custom app for sony alphas which allows to write (or log) Exif data from our beloved manual lenses.

The app can be download here: https://github.com/vlousada/LegacyLenses22/releases/download/0.93/LegacyLensExif_0.93.apk.
The easiest way to install it is by using PMCA -> https://github.com/ma1co/Sony-PMCA-RE/releases/tag/v0.16

Please read the info to use the app and and download the template lens profile: > HERE <

I recommend you to edit that profile list with your lenses and then COPY it to your SDCARD inside the folder LLEGACY

Template: https://github.com/vlousada/LegacyLenses22/blob/master/help/profiles.xml

Please let me know how works with your camera model.

Some screenshots:

eggboy · Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2018 1:15 am Post subject:

Hello Vitor,

This is exciting...tho' I do enough beta testing at work, I should not want to do at home Smile

OK, I cannot get the app to launch.

I've installed via the Github PCMA, edited and copied over profiles.xml to the /LLEGACY folder on my SD card.

When I go to Application Menu>Application List, I do see LegacyLenses as a listed app. I select, and it seems my camera does a sort of soft restart, and returns me back to shooting mode.

Sony A7 mark 1, ILCE-7, with Ver. 1.02 firmware.

vlousada · Joined: 11 Dec 2010 Posts: 345 Location: Portugal

Hello Eugene,

Thank you for the feedback.
I had no chance to test the app in Sony A7 series, unfortunately...
(it works on my a6300 and will check also if it works on nex-6 which has almost same framework version of A7x).

-------- EDIT --------------

Sorry, my bad!!
Just tested on NEX6 and after a quick debug I found what was causing the problem*...

It shall work now with version 0.94 --> https://github.com/vlousada/LegacyLenses22/releases/download/0.94/LegacyLensExif_0.94.apk

*
(The NEX series, A5xxx, a6000 and A7x series do not have an internal library I was trying to use...
The A7II, A7RII, A7SII, a6300 and a6500 do have that library and Exif data is stored internally within the photo file)

wsalopek · Joined: 24 Feb 2020 Posts: 2

Hi vlousada,

I'm trying to figure out how to install the apk into my A7R2. I understand about the XML file and editing to my particular lenses, and installing that file on my SD card in the /LLEGACY folder, but...

But that's ALL I understand. Smile

When I download and click on pmca-console-v0.16-win.exe, a window opens up and closes, and nothing seems to happen. I also tried dragging the APK onto pmca-console-v0.16-win.exe, and again, nothing seems to happen. Of course what I am doing is probably completely wrong.

Could you please provide a step by step?

Thanks...

--

Bill

wsalopek · Joined: 24 Feb 2020 Posts: 2

I had some success...sorry for not trying harder before posting that last message, so for those who were/are lost like me. I run Windows and chose to use the GUI as opposed to what I guess is a command-line interface.

1) Downloaded the Windows GUI (the GUI is the interface to load camera apps):

https://github.com/ma1co/Sony-PMCA-RE/releases/download/v0.17/pmca-gui-v0.17-win.exe

I downloaded the legacy lenses APK from here:

https://github.com/vlousada/LegacyLenses22/releases/download/0.94/LegacyLensExif_0.94.apk

And the editable XML file (where you enter the data for your own particular legacy lenses):

https://github.com/vlousada/LegacyLenses/blob/master/help/profiles.xml

Instructions for use is here:

https://github.com/vlousada/LegacyLenses/blob/master/README.md

2) Connect the camera via USB (USB Mode - Mass Storage).

3) Run the GUI...in my case, the GUI reported "11 apps found".

4) Click the INSTALL APP tab, and then "select an APK", and navigate to LegacyLensExif_0.94.apk, click INSTALL SELECTED APP, the GUI and the camera shows that something is happening....after a few seconds, the GUI says "task completed successfully".

5) Take the SD card out of the camera, and create a folder called LLEGACY (yes, two "L's) in the root directory, and copy over the "profiles.xml" file to that folder.

Finally...

Turn the camera on, navigate to the apps, and select APPLICATION LIST, and then, LegacyLenses.

But...

I am having the same issue as EggBoy (for him, going from v.93 to v.94 fixed his issue, for me, v.94 does not work)...as when I select the app, the camera does seem to do some sort of soft reset (harmless), and returns to a normal shooting screen.

I am running Sony firmware V4.01 on an A7RII.

--

Bill

EDIT:

Found v.96 of the APK here:

https://github.com/vlousada/LegacyLenses/releases

And it works on my A7R2 with firmware v4.01

Sam Mendolia · Joined: 26 May 2016 Posts: 8 Location: Canada

I was assisting with the programmer, and found this only works on sd cards up to 32Gb.

eddieitman · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 1246 Location: United Kingdom

Installed on my A7 blooming amazing app just wish that the recording of info worked.

Does not record the aperture in the Info, as advised in the info
Could i ask if there is a way to move the magnification button to the C1 button, as currently the app maps it to C2, on the A7 i find my workflow better with C1
If you would like me to test further on the A7 please let me know

Sam Mendolia · Joined: 26 May 2016 Posts: 8 Location: Canada

eddieitman,

sent you 2 private messages on this.

eddieitman · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 1246 Location: United Kingdom