MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences.

yanyewkay · 11th January 2006

following a recent thread about alternative GPS tagging.

I would like to ask if the MC-31 is the same as the MC-35?
It seems to me that the MC-31 uses a 25pin serial output(commonly found in OLDER computers) as compared to a 9pin serial output. That's the only diff i could spot. The other end terminates with a Nikon 10pin connecter.

On the computers, both 25pin and 9pin serial are electrically identically. Is this the same for the MC-31 with MC-35? This way I can get a 25 to 9 pin converter and use the MC-31 like a MC-35?

FYI, the MC-31 was used in the Nikon film cameras (F100) to record the camera settings when shutter was released, similiar to EXIF of today, into a PDA. My guess is that since the 2 cables conform to standard RS232 formats. They should be the same right?

Buying an old second hand MC-31 coupled with a 25-9 pin convertor might be cheaper than the MC-35.

Any inputs much appreciated! Thanks!

c_jit · 11th January 2006

Not sure if MC-31 have the same pin configuration as MC-35.

But if you have a skill, you can built your own D2X/GPS interface for less than S$20
Diagram from another site....
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6...circuit3kd.jpg

Each colors refer to each cable in the 10 pins plug which you can snip from a 2nd hand MC-31, MC-21, MC-23, MC-25, MC-26, MC-27, MC-30 or 3rd party one.

It will also maintain your remote release capability.

Originally I plan to built it but found a better solution than lugging around a GPS tethered to camera.

Of course, this is not a Nikon, so be prepared to upset some people here if you do (and I enjoy doing that too !!).

yanyewkay · 11th January 2006

thanks for the tip. the cable isn't hard to build at all.. The only hard component to come by is the Nikon 10pin plug to the camera body.

Zerstorer · 11th January 2006

If you want the original 10pin connector, you can cut it out from a MC27(US$19) or 3rd party MC30 clones on ebay.

However, I doubt you require 10pins for the GPS, maybe just Rx and Tx and ground?(guess). If that's the case you can just grab an appropriate mini-din from SLT and pull out some of the pins until the remaining ones fit the 10pin socket reasonably well.

I did that before while doing a DIY MC-30 and it worked pretty well and was a reasonably snug fit.

Zerstorer · 11th January 2006

What is missing now is for some kind soul to supply the pin-out configuration for the 10pin connector end.

c_jit · 11th January 2006

You mean like this ??
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1...incode10an.jpg

(from the other site)

However, I did try the bare wire method but it didn't work as you need power 5V. to power the unit to sync. to NMEA 0183 protocol.

Zerstorer · 11th January 2006

Originally Posted by c_jit

You mean like this ??
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1...incode10an.jpg

(from the other site)

However, I did try the bare wire method but it didn't work as you need power 5V. to power the unit to sync. to NMEA 0183 protocol.

+5V is also needed? Hmm..did you find out what's the minimum number of pins required to work? Rx,Tx,+5,GND(4 pins is still manageable for modifying a cheap mini-din, anymore and it may not be feasible.)

Hmm, are you the guy in John316 talking about this a couple of weeks back?

Right now I'm quite eager to find out if yanyewkay's assumption about the MC31 is correct as it would mean a far more robust solution as only a 25->9 convertor is required.

c_jit · 11th January 2006

Not sure how many pin required

My electrical engineer said it should be at least 4 pins to sync. correctly but I dropped the project and went the otherway (time/track method).

I talked to a lot of people and did a lot of research into this. You now have info. as good as mine.

Zerstorer · 11th January 2006

Incidentally, my shipment of Adidt MC30 clones just arrived today. Construction is good and the 10-pin plug fits very securely, but without the screw-in fastener of the original 10-pin connector.

Will find time to cut it up once I secure a cheap GPS unit.

yanyewkay · 11th January 2006

GPS modules are amazing easy to work with. Especially so when you only need the long/lat. This rids the problem of requiring software and maps.

When you chance upon the cheap GPS module do let me know as well. I'm looking for some. 12 channels SirfStar2 will do just fine for me.

Zerstorer · 12th January 2006

yanyewkay:There are plenty on ebay...all significantly cheaper than what's available locally. I won't be getting mine anytime soon as I'm doing all this in preparation for a trip planned for june. Incidentally, I have an extra MC30 clone if you are interested.

c_jit: Yep, basically I think I read the same dpreview threads as you did. The loss of precision of the GPS data is really a bummer and it's pushing me towards the time/logging solution now as well. No point splurging on a precise WAAS GPS unit only for Nikon to truncate the precision in the EXIF. Hope that this is something resolvable in firmware.

DeusExMachina · 12th January 2006

Guys, pls take note, not all GPS units speak NMEA0183, look for one that does. Most big brands like Garmin and Magellan produce units that speak a variety of protocols, NMEA0183 being one of them. I've got a Garmin GPS76 and its a rugged little device that hooks up to the D200 just fine.

11th January 2006	#1
yanyewkay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cons digger. Posts: 4,046	MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences. following a recent thread about alternative GPS tagging. I would like to ask if the MC-31 is the same as the MC-35? It seems to me that the MC-31 uses a 25pin serial output(commonly found in OLDER computers) as compared to a 9pin serial output. That's the only diff i could spot. The other end terminates with a Nikon 10pin connecter. On the computers, both 25pin and 9pin serial are electrically identically. Is this the same for the MC-31 with MC-35? This way I can get a 25 to 9 pin converter and use the MC-31 like a MC-35? FYI, the MC-31 was used in the Nikon film cameras (F100) to record the camera settings when shutter was released, similiar to EXIF of today, into a PDA. My guess is that since the 2 cables conform to standard RS232 formats. They should be the same right? Buying an old second hand MC-31 coupled with a 25-9 pin convertor might be cheaper than the MC-35. Any inputs much appreciated! Thanks! __________________ “How fortunate for leaders that men do not think.” - Adolf Hitler

11th January 2006	#2
c_jit Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 196	Re: MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences. Not sure if MC-31 have the same pin configuration as MC-35. But if you have a skill, you can built your own D2X/GPS interface for less than S$20 Diagram from another site.... http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6...circuit3kd.jpg Each colors refer to each cable in the 10 pins plug which you can snip from a 2nd hand MC-31, MC-21, MC-23, MC-25, MC-26, MC-27, MC-30 or 3rd party one. It will also maintain your remote release capability. Originally I plan to built it but found a better solution than lugging around a GPS tethered to camera. Of course, this is not a Nikon, so be prepared to upset some people here if you do (and I enjoy doing that too !!).

11th January 2006	#3
yanyewkay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cons digger. Posts: 4,046	Re: MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences. thanks for the tip. the cable isn't hard to build at all.. The only hard component to come by is the Nikon 10pin plug to the camera body. __________________ “How fortunate for leaders that men do not think.” - Adolf Hitler

11th January 2006	#4
Zerstorer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,610	Re: MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences. If you want the original 10pin connector, you can cut it out from a MC27(US$19) or 3rd party MC30 clones on ebay. However, I doubt you require 10pins for the GPS, maybe just Rx and Tx and ground?(guess). If that's the case you can just grab an appropriate mini-din from SLT and pull out some of the pins until the remaining ones fit the 10pin socket reasonably well. I did that before while doing a DIY MC-30 and it worked pretty well and was a reasonably snug fit.

11th January 2006	#5
Zerstorer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,610	Re: MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences. What is missing now is for some kind soul to supply the pin-out configuration for the 10pin connector end.

12th January 2006	#11
Zerstorer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,610	Re: MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences. yanyewkay:There are plenty on ebay...all significantly cheaper than what's available locally. I won't be getting mine anytime soon as I'm doing all this in preparation for a trip planned for june. Incidentally, I have an extra MC30 clone if you are interested. c_jit: Yep, basically I think I read the same dpreview threads as you did. The loss of precision of the GPS data is really a bummer and it's pushing me towards the time/logging solution now as well. No point splurging on a precise WAAS GPS unit only for Nikon to truncate the precision in the EXIF. Hope that this is something resolvable in firmware.

12th January 2006	#12
DeusExMachina Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 227	Re: MC-31 and MC-35 cable differences. Guys, pls take note, not all GPS units speak NMEA0183, look for one that does. Most big brands like Garmin and Magellan produce units that speak a variety of protocols, NMEA0183 being one of them. I've got a Garmin GPS76 and its a rugged little device that hooks up to the D200 just fine.