Sony NEX 5N Prototype Video Setup

R

richg101

Well-known member
I have been developing a prototype housing to act as an external case for the Nex 5n. to allow fan assisted cooling to be added to keep the camera cool during prolonged video shooting. I will be adding an arri PL mount lens adapter to allow use of Panavision lenses, the case will add additional harbor points for the PL mount adapter to remove stress on the delicate emount from the heavy anamorphic lens. additionally it will add additional protection from light rain, and drops (the camera floats within the housing). Finally, I wanted an industrial look to the housing. the consumer design of the NEX 5N's means they have not taken seriously by some people during events we have used it at. From now on we will just reply with 'its a new prototype we are working with' when people start asking questions.

A lot have suggested we should have gone the dslr route, but i know of not one dlsr with continually auto focusing lenses during video mode. nor do i know of a video camera with as big sensor. The added bonus of OSS on the upcoming 50mm f1.8 emount lens will render most other lenses null and void for most of our low key work.

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I still have to do some more filling and sanding, but it functions really well. the fan is a 30mm 12vdc fan, running from a single 18650 lithium ion cell. noise is very low, but we record audio separately. i am soon to add a 3.5mm stereo jack, to allow external stereo mic input via the Nex5N accessory port.
 
i might make a batch of 10 or 20 of these cases, cast from abs style resin in vacuum cast machine. id imagine they will sell for about £150-200 on ebay. so might not be cost effective.

thankyou so much for the pin outs! will make it a lot easier and cheaper.
 
That is awesome! I´m extremely interested if you manage to add a 3.5mm stereo jack, to allow external stereo mic input via the Nex5N accessory port. Do you need any beta testers? You can put me down as number one :)
 
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nearly there. notice the fan on the underside. this pulls air in and forces it out of the slats around the rear screen cover. it runs from an internal 18650 lithium cell. re. the mic input.... I have modified a nex kit flash with trailing wires coming from the correct pins on the connector - very fiddly! awaiting some mic inserts to see it it works. if not it will have to be a modified sst-1 mic. once i know external mic's will work i will add a pair of 3.5mm jack sockets onto the main body to act as a mic docking area. now, if only the hacker of the gh1/2 would give us a hack of the sony nex range. allowing clean hdmi output, 720p recording, and higher bitrate in 1080p
 
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Does the nex5n have manual audio control? If it does it might be awesome to integrate an XLR input/preamp or two.
 
I'd be extremely interested in a microphone adapter for the NEX-5N, with or without the external case you've made.
 
Will Turner said:
Does the nex5n have manual audio control? If it does it might be awesome to integrate an XLR input/preamp or two.
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no manual control. unfortunately. i think i can handle this. the internal processing and limiting isnt very harsh on the signal.

if needs be, the case has room for the internals from a zoom h2 (just about). id have to use a 3.5mm jack - the xlr connector might not fit:(
 
WOW
I love the little Box look.
Can i be notified when your product is ready
i will take one and maybe 2
you were also talking about PL mount !! is this idea still in the air ?
1/8 input is good since i thin the idea woud be to do the sound in double system but still have a clean backup

You make my day !!!
 
This is so freaking awesome. I've been wondering when someone would do something like this ever since HDSLR's became popular (would have done it myself but I have neither the expertise nor the equipment).

This is so cool! ARGH! If only you had one for the GH2 :(
 
Jester2138 said:
This is so freaking awesome. I've been wondering when someone would do something like this ever since HDSLR's became popular (would have done it myself but I have neither the expertise nor the equipment).

This is so cool! ARGH! If only you had one for the GH2 :(
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I have been looking at the cost of arri 16mm lenses (perfect for gh2 sensor....) i think gh2 would be a possibility for future enclosure:) it would be a bigger case, and would not need the cooling, so benefits of the case would be less of a selling point, but the form factor then makes the GH2 camera more serious looking - good for cast and crew moral if they are in front of something which looks less consumer grade i guess:)

I am working on the interior right now. ready to accept silicon tooling in a few weeks i hope:) then the cases will be available in any colour you wish. PL is possible via emount to pl adaptor - it will fit:)
 
ps. though pl is something many look up to, i think it is a wise move to maybe go for contax fitment. contax ziess are a lot more suited imo
 
First, i really love what do you are trying to do here, but have some questions:
1- The fan does not produce some kind of vibration?
2- How is the temp behavior with the fan?
3- The AF lamp is closed?

Cheers.
 
xenogears said:
First, i really love what do you are trying to do here, but have some questions:
1- The fan does not produce some kind of vibration?
2- How is the temp behavior with the fan?
3- The AF lamp is closed?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Hi there. very good points. this is still in development, af lamp compatibility has not yet been implicated. this will probably be handled by some type of fibre optic path and a second lens which allows the af lamp to exit the enclosure. i will need to combine the outer lens to also provide a pathway for the infra red remote control aswell - not too much of a challenge when using fibre optics. this has been overlooked so far due to my non regular use of e mount af lenses. thanks for reminding me!

The fan cooling directs 1cu-ft of fresh air per/minute over heatsinks on the back face of the nex camera, under the lcd screen. airflow is also directed over the e-mount ring - which is another hot spot. i am looking into some type of ring heatsink (made in 4 parts) that will stick over the emount ring edge, retrofitted by the end user if required, attached using thermal tape. without the emount ring heatsink, the camera runs cooler than without the fan. id imagine the best way to describe the cooling is that the camera works as if it were outside in a cool breeze instead of with no airflow and lots of people within a conference centre. i have yet to do scientific tests however.

the fan runs very slow, and floats on a neoprene mount. therefore no rumble, and almost inaudible. there is a switch to allow it to be turned off of required. assuming it was used on set, normal human breathing of the crew will be louder than the fan is. in a event environment the fan wont interfere with even the built in mics on the nex 5n. lets be honest, the 5N clicking issue makes these null and void anyway!

cheers for your interest
 
xenogears said:
Great, thanks for your answer.

I don´t know if you already see this, but is a nice study and findings about Nex overheating
http://moreissaidthandone.blogspot.com/2012/03/sony-nex-overheating-final-tests.html

Keep the good work.
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Im excited by his graphs. in particular the use of pro duo sticks and external psu. this suggests a dummy battery (hollow) could be used, with a bank of 2 batteries mounted externally within this enslosure - similar to a battery grip add-on. the graphs show that the heat goes up as the battery lowers in charge stage (and therefore lowers in voltage) id imagine the ac psu he used feeds the camera a high voltage than the battery provides, thus lowering the current through the boards, and the heat created.

the careful airpath i am working on will ensure each of the hotspots of the camera (back panel under lcd, and the emount ring will see continuous forces airflow over them. indefinite removal of overheating is a fantasy if you ask me. we should be happy we dont have maximum 12minute recording times like canon. if i can ensure the camera doesnt overheat after 2x 30 minute sessions i'll be happy with my outcome.

thanks for the link. i beleive i read sme of his earlier findings a few months ago. this is a lot more black and white
 
I would be willing to buy a few of these as well....I am getting ready to setup a 20 camera "bullet time" setup with the 5N.... this would be a great look for our clients.
 
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