NEX-5R Smart Remote Control App in Action

NEX-5R Smart Remote Control App in Action from IDG

Use your tablet or phone as a viewfinder.

Here is a better look at the Smart Remote Control App for the new Sony NEX-5R. The app is available via the PlayMemories App store for the NEX-5R. The matching app will be available on iTunes and the Android Market for your phone or tablet.

Wireless Sony NEX Video Record via Infrared

NEX-7 Video Record via Infrared Remote by Lucky Luke

One thing missing from the Sony NEX remote is the ability to trigger video recording on the camera. Well a few people have found solutions. Below is eglijeg's solution using a Harmony Remote. He outlines the steps and they have been confirmed to work by other people. We do not have a Harmony Remote to test it, maybe someone can find a solution for a Comcast Remote.

I got this to work fantasically with a Harmony 890 though.

Some of you have figured out, there is already the NEX-5 as a device in the Harmony programming software. It is under VCR. This has all of the standard remote buttons programmed in it. Add this device to your remote in the harmony software program (don't update your remote yet though if you want the record feature to work)

Next, in order to get the video record button log into

http://members.harmonyremote.com first, then go to

http://members.harmonyremote.com/EasyZapper/Infrared/ManualInfrared.asp?ReturnUrl=ShowInfrared%2Easp

Now, select "manual" for the key code entry type

enter the code below for the movie record button in the "data value" field under the pronto data type:

0000 0068 0000 0015 0060 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0018 0030 0400

Then set the add this code to the "VCR" device.

Now you can go back into the Harmony software and you can assign a button to start recording video. I renamed the VCR to "NEX"

Update your remote and you should be good. Excellent!

Here's a remote code posted by hot. We are not sure how to use this.

SONY code for

0000 0001 shutter
0011 0110 2sec shutter delay
0001 0010 video on/off

Thanks eglijeg, hot, and lucky luke!

Sony NEX-7 Wired Shutter Release Mod

Sony NEX-7 Wired Shutter Release by Trunk at GetHypoxic.com

Trunk contacted us again with his new mod. This time it's a wired shutter release for the Sony NEX-7. It was about a year ago that we posted Trunk's wired shutter release for the Sony NEX-5.

If you are using the NEX-7 in modes other than P,S,A, or M the wireless Sony NEX Remote will not work and the Self-Timer is also inaccessible.  Trunk has the solution for the NEX-7.  He goes through a step by step procedure on modding the NEX-7 for a wired shutter release.  The process is very complex and will void your warranty.  Do it at your own risk or contact Trunk as he may offer the modification service.

 Check out gethypoxic.com for Trunk's NEX-7 wired shutter release.  Here are some pictures by Trunk showing the insides of the NEX-7 and the finished product.

Images by Trunk at GetHypoxic.com

Thanks Trunk!

NEX Intervalometer via MP3 Player

A Russian blog, habrahabr.ru, has posted an very interesting DIY intervalometer remote for the Sony NEX-5. The intervalometer uses an MP3 player which has an infrared dongle to transmit the shutter command for the NEX-5. Remember that only the NEX-5, which has an IR receiver, can use a remote to control the shutter.

You can then modify the MP3 file to create an intervalometer out of the MP3 player by adding gaps between the shutter release signal.

Create an IR transmitter for your MP3 player. Set the NEX-5 to remote shutter mode. Play the MP3 file and the shutter of the NEX fires.

We have not tested it. Check out habrahabr.ru for full instructions.

MP3 Player with Infrared Transmitter

NEX-3 NEX-C3 Intervalometer from ByMac Inventions

ByMac Inventions sent us an email informing us of their new creation. It is an all mechanical intervalometer which is perfect for the Sony NEX-3 and NEX-C3. The NEX-3 and NEX-C3 do not have infrared remote capability, which previous NEX-5 intervalometers used to control the shutter.

The Tempus ALL uses a servo arm to press the shutter button. It will work with the NEX-3, NEX-C3, NEX-5 and many cameras that it can be properly attached to.

An all mechanical intervalometer like the Tempus All has several advantages on the NEX cameras.

• The NEX can go to sleep and have it's LCD off to preserve battery life.
• The NEX can be in any shooting mode. Set the NEX to HDR mode and you can create an HDR time lapse movie.

The Tempus ALL Intervalometer will be released on July 19th at a price of $149.

Time Lapse Video with Sony NEX-5 and Pclix XT

Time Lapse Video with Sony NEX-5

Here's another time laps video with the Sony NEX-5. This video was created by myreiseblog. The NEX-5 was triggered via infrared using a Pclix XT intervalometer.

The images from the NEX-5 were edited and the cool zooming effect was done in the video editor. We can see the Sony NEX's auto-HDR being utilized.

Thanks myreiseblog!

Tempus NEX Sony NEX Intervalometer Remote

Here is the Tempus NEX, an intervalometer infrared remote for Sony Alpha cameras including the NEX. The Tempus NEX was created by bymac.org and will be available on June 15th according to the Tempus NEX website. The Tempus NEX will cost $69, we're not sure if that includes worldwide shipping, it is being made in Portugal. Send an email to tempus@bymac.org if you are interested in this intervalometer for time lapse movies.

Here is a sample time lapse movie by bymac.org made with the Tempus NEX and a Sony NEX-5. The Tempus NEX will work with Sony Alpha cameras with IR remote receivers, e.g. A900 and SLT-A55.

Unfortunately the NEX-5 does not go into sleep mode when it is in Remote Shutter mode. The screen will be on and draining the battery while waiting for the IR signal. Have extra batteries ready when doing intervalometer shots.

We are hoping that the next firmware will allow us to turn off the screen as an option.

NEX with Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M Lens Test

Sony NEX-5 with Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M Lens

Here is a quick lens test of the Minolta 90mm f/4 Rokkor-M on the Sony NEX-5. In 1981 Minolta announced the Minolta CLE, the most advance Leica-M camera until the release of the Leica M7 in 2001. Minolta updated the Leica 90mm Elmar-C to produce the 90mm Rokkor-M for the CLE.

The 90mm Rokkor-M is very light and small for a telephoto lens which is perfect for the Sony NEX system. The lens is mounted to the NEX using a Leica M to E-mount lens adapter. The lens produces an equivalent field of view of 135mm when used with the NEX's APS-C sensor. This makes for a capable portrait lens.

The samples below are JPGs straight from the camera with very minor tweaks and resized before posting.

The Sony NEX-5 was placed on a table and a remote trigger was used to avoid shaking. The ISO was set at 200 and Aperture Priority mode was used.

Image 1. Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M at f/4.

Image 2. 100% Crop of Image 1 Lower Left.

Image 3. 100% Crop of Image 1 Focus Point.

Image 4. 100% Crop of Image 1 Right Center.

Handheld shots with Shutter Priority at 1/250.

Image 5. NEX ISO 1250 and Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M at f/4.

Image 6. NEX ISO 800 and Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M at f/4.

Image 7. NEX ISO 400 and Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M at f/4.

Here is the Freedom Tower being built on the former site of the World Trade Center Towers.

Image 8. NEX ISO 200 and Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M at f/5.6 .

Image 9. NEX ISO 200 and Minolta 90mm Rokkor-M at f/4.

Sony NEX Wired Shutter Release

Sony NEX Wired Shutter Release Interface

Trunk from Get Hypoxic emailed us about his NEX hack. He disassembled the NEX to add a wired shutter release for his camera. The starndard infrared remote for the NEX-5 is too slow for certain applications and a hardwired remote is the solution. A hardwired remote is also the only way to trigger the shutter release for the NEX-3, which does not come with an IR receiver.

Watch the video of the disassembly, wiring, and assembly of the NEX-5 at gethypoxic.com.

Trunk testing the NEX shutter release

The NEX disassembly and assembly is for experts, and wiring a shutter release is a notch above that. Contact Trunk at gethypoxic.com if you're interested in a wired shutter release for your NEX camera.

Sony NEX-5 iPhone Remote Shutter App

bikr posted a proof of concept for Apple for the upcoming Sony NEX-5 remote shutter release app for the Apple iPhone.

The App sends the Sony NEX-5 an IR signal through a transmitter connected to the iPhone. Two shutter release signals can be sent, immediate release and with a 2 second delay. The Sony NEX-5 remote below has the same capability.

The Sony NEX-5 iPhone Remote Shutter App should also be able to control other Sony Alpha cameras with IR receivers. The NexRemote App will be in the iPhone App Store soon.

A suggestion would be to make it an intervalometer App for time lapse photography.

Sony NEX-5 gentLED Auto Intervalometer

Sony NEX-5 Time Lapse Video using gentLED Auto Intervalometer by xironmonkyx

Here is another intervalometer for the Sony NEX-5 for creating time lapse videos. It is a gentLED Auto infrared trigger. Here are the main features of the gentLED Auto:

• Variable delay from 2 seconds to 30 minutes
• Built-in on-off switch and battery (included with unit)
• RED LED indicator when the unit has triggered the camera
• Weighs only 0.6oz, 18g (including battery)
• Comes complete with velcro pads, and Operating Manual - all you need to take picture

Here is the operating manual for the gentLED auto. Check out Gentles Limited for more info on the gentLED auto.

Unfortunately the NEX-3 does not have an IR receiver.

DIY Sony NEX Intervalometer

hel1x sent us info on his "do it yourself" intervalometer for the Sony NEX-5 using a generic wireless infrared remote. He was trying to decipher the switch-science intervalometer website but decided that he can build his own time lapse controller for the NEX-5. The circuit controls when the shutter button is depressed, by shorting the connection. The interval can be between 6-14 seconds.

Here are some pictures of his device. This also works for other Sony Alpha cameras not just the NEX.

Generic Remote for the NEX-5

Thanks hel1x! Maybe he can send us the wiring diagram? :D

Sony NEX-5 Time Lapse Videos

Here are 3 time lapse videos taken with the Sony NEX-5 using the Switch Science Remote Intervalometer we posted back in July. The results look great.

Thanks OkometubuY and ienaga045 for the great shots and editing!

Sony NEX-5 Intervalometer for Time Lapse Photography

One major difference between the NEX-5 and NEX-3 is that the NEX-5 has a sensor for wireless triggering. The Sony NEX User Manual mentions remote capability of the NEX-5 but it doesn't mention which remote works. We are assuming that the Sony RMT-DSLR1 Remote Commander but we can't confirm that.

It looks like some ingenious person has figured it out for us. The video above shows an infrared remote controller triggering the NEX-5's shutter. It also allows for intervalometer shooting for time lapse photography, but the intervals are limited. Google translate says "Seconds can be set from 1 to 16 as in the range of 37 seconds." Please let us know if you have a better translation.

Check out switch-science for more info. Buyer beware.