Sony Viewfinder 8-pin pinout?

F

Frame

Member
Hello,
i want to enhance my XH-A1 with a tube B/W viewfinder.
With abut 500 lines, it should give more resolution than the custom LCD-displays.
I purchased an older viewfinder (DXF-M3A) and need to know the layout and function of the 8-pin connector interface in order to hook it to the composite out of the A1 and a 12V power supply. Looks like those connectors are still used in later models like the DSR-200 or the HDW730/50.
I only found information on the web about 10 - 14 pin connectors, so any information is welcomed!
All the best, Frame
 
Hi!

I bought the same viewfinder.. I finound only one scetch for thet "sony" connector, but didn't had time to try it myself... ( I must finish 35mm adapter first ).. and I am not 100% sure which marks mean what ( those printed or those written )..

Cheers

Sucherstecker.jpg
 
Hi,
thanks guys
well, schematics.com is under construction.
Suchersstecker jpeg is 6 pins, mine has eight (looks almost the same, one more pin between D and C, one more pin in the center)
But maybe, the connections are the same...
All the best, Frame
 
Silly me.. sorry for wrong picture..

But I believe that I found the right pinout, now..

SONY DXF-M3 is viewfinder for camera sony DXC M3

Pinout for viewfinder could be the same as:

------------------------------------------------------------------

Video Viewfinder Connector eg DXC-3000, MX3
1 Gnd (12v return)
2 Rec/Tally Out
3 (spare)
4 VF Video Out (G)
5 Battery Indicator, Out
6 VF Video Out (X) 1v p/p
7 + 12v out (10.6~17v, 3A)
8 (spare

-------------------------------------------------------------------


reference ( at bottom of the page ):

http://www.filmcentre.co.uk/faqs_con.htm
 
Is the're a way to use a Sony Viewfinder DXF-801 together with the HVX? Is it an option together with 35mm Let us Extreme adapter?

Arno
 
O.K,
connected my B/W viewfinder now, works perfect with the data given, thanks leteeci!
Even though peaking and zebra are not displayed via the composite out of the A1 (The rest of the data is displayed), i have a much more sharper image to judge than with the built in LCDs.
The DXF-M3A diplays in 4:3, but inside the viewfinder is a trimmer for the horizontal size to bring it to 16:9.
Other viewfinders will probably have the same trimmer.
Be careful about that, the tube runs with high voltages!!!!
Another backdraw with the DXF-M3A is that I have to wear contact lenses now while shooting...
The next step will be to fix the DXF-M3A on the A1 hot shoe and to build a battery holder placed between camera and tripod for feeding the viewfinder and holding the interconnections...
All the best, Frame
 
very cool, i'm about to do the same. is this the round connector with 8 pins in a circle? pardon my ignorance, but which one is number one? also, where did you find a female connector to wire up as an adapter?

also, should i wire the two grounds, video and 12v, together if coming from different power sources? i can see how this could be a necessity to avoid ground faults but also a disaster if current starts flowing the wrong way. :)

/matt
 
Last edited:
Hi matt,
the connectors are called DIN-connectors, very common, at least here in Germany, and easy to find.
The numbers should be even printed next to the pins, but they are very small.
Keep both grounds seperate and leave it to the electronics of the viewfinder to connect them. Take also care of the 12V voltage. Seems like it is not always 12/13.8 V.
I blew my viewfinder with 13.8V (directly fed from a NP-1B battery pack), now got one from the very first tube based HD-Cam (HDC-100 from 1986), which runs on 9V and even works with 7,4 V. So check lower voltages first, before using 12V
Only problem is with this new viewfinder, (heavily built and very rugged) that I get the same "garbled" image, (image looks "combed" and is repeated several times along the horizontal axis), independent of the source: NTSC-SD/PAL-SD, HD1080-50I, always the same garbled image. Hope, the viewfinder was not custom made for the old HD-standard back in 1986...
All the best,
Frame
 
yes, my connector is also basically a mini din, but the pin layout is different. the pins are laid out in a circle and there's no guide pin. never seen it before and i was hoping yours was the same, but if it's a standard 8-pin din it isn't.

thanks for your help. i'll post my results if/when i get this working.

/matt
 
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