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on Aug 1, 2020 13:17:02 GMT
Posted: Aug 1, 2020 13:17:02 GMT
On the bottom of the Kyocera Yashica Z & ZL (and undoubtedly the Z2 & Z2L, and probably the X3.0 & X4.0) there is a small, oblong “tab” next to the tripod socket that covers up three electrical contacts. I can find no information that these contacts are used by any accessory, so I ask, “What are they for?” Any ideas?  ?? |
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on Aug 1, 2020 15:43:43 GMT
Posted: Aug 1, 2020 15:43:43 GMT
I think the truthful answer is that no one knows outside Kyocera's former R&D department.
It was provided for a dedicated accessory linked to the release terminal which is the three contacts to which you refer. That would suggest a remote switch of some sort though it would have had to have been supplied with a plate that screwed into the tripod socket, providing an offset tripod socket of its own, otherwise, when using the switch you could not mount the camera. I suspect it was never developed.
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on Aug 1, 2020 19:43:52 GMT
Posted: Aug 1, 2020 19:43:52 GMT
If there's no known accessory, they might be a set of diagnostic testing points or service contacts, if the electronics can be adjusted by sending signals from outside the body. Those would be more prevalent on electronic devices than cameras, but the service manuals or assembly guides might help to identify them. Does anyone have one or the other?
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on Aug 1, 2020 21:22:18 GMT
Posted: Aug 1, 2020 21:22:18 GMT
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on Aug 1, 2020 22:15:55 GMT
Last Edit: Aug 1, 2020 22:20:30 GMT by xkaes
For me the question is ''Were the contacts for an accessory or for some "system diagnostics/testing" ??" Both of these seem odd to me, but then I SEEM ODD TO ME! |
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on Aug 2, 2020 21:07:52 GMT
Posted: Aug 2, 2020 21:07:52 GMT
And the answer is... From pages 7 & 8 in the Z/ZL instruction manual, it's the contact panel for a flash adapter. Adapter SM-S2 allows the connection of a flash via a standard flash shoe. The adapter attaches with a thumb screw that uses the tripod socket as the anchor point. It doesn't look like it has a passthrough for the tripod, so it seems to be for handheld use only. A pic of the adapter is on page 82. |
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on Aug 3, 2020 15:28:52 GMT
Posted: Aug 3, 2020 15:28:52 GMT
We are getting things confused here. There are three electrical contacts on the TOP of the Samurai Z/ZL, and there are three electrical contacts on the BOTTOM of the Samurai Z/ZL.
The three electrical contacts on the TOP of the Samurai Z/ZL are for the Flash Adapter SM-S2 which allows an accessory flash to be attached.
That has nothing to do with the three electrical contacts on the BOTTOM of the Samurai Z/ZL. I have not idea if these contacts are on the bottom of the X3.0 or X4.0.
The contacts on the BOTTOM are normally covered with a black plastic tab right next to the tripod socket.
Those are the contacts I am wondering about.
Does anyone have a SENSIBLE guess?
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on Aug 3, 2020 22:01:49 GMT
Posted: Aug 3, 2020 22:01:49 GMT
Then I swapped what was the bottom for the top, which I think is understandable as I don't have a Samurai to check and am going by the cartoonish pictures taken from the manual.  The answer is in the same manual I linked to, and on the same pages... but noted as an accessory remote. |
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on Aug 4, 2020 1:09:41 GMT
Posted: Aug 4, 2020 1:09:41 GMT
OK, but it still makes no sense to me. The manual says "Do not remove this cover unless you are using a dedicated accessory via the release terminal." What the hell does that mean? ? |
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on Aug 4, 2020 6:41:54 GMT
Posted: Aug 4, 2020 6:41:54 GMT
That means, that there was no such accessory available for the public at the time, the manual was printed.
Maybe there was an accessory for technicians.
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on Aug 4, 2020 14:48:04 GMT
Posted: Aug 4, 2020 14:48:04 GMT
It may well have been some sort of diagnostic access. Who knows? Do other cameras have similar electrical diagnostic contacts? I don't know of any.
My main reason for asking was to see if there were some other accessories for the camera -- one that needed electrical contacts. I don't know of any, but there was not very much that they could have added to the Z camera anyway. It's pretty complete, as is.
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on Aug 8, 2020 12:31:11 GMT
Posted: Aug 8, 2020 12:31:11 GMT
A member of the FLICKER Samurai Board asserted that it is a shutter release -- without any evidence. That could well be, because the camera lacked a remote release -- except for the built-in timed shutter release. I have my doubts about this suggestion only because the contacts are so close to the tripod socket. A camera being used with a cable or electronic remote release would undoubtedly be on a tripod -- which would cover up these contacts.
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on Nov 22, 2021 14:20:19 GMT
Posted: Nov 22, 2021 14:20:19 GMT
A member of the FLICKER Samurai Board asserted that it is a shutter release -- without any evidence. That could well be, because the camera lacked a remote release -- except for the built-in timed shutter release. I have my doubts about this suggestion only because the contacts are so close to the tripod socket. A camera being used with a cable or electronic remote release would undoubtedly be on a tripod -- which would cover up these contacts. Which is why there would be another tripod bushing on the connector. “Release terminal” is obviously a remote release terminal. Diagnostic port/points are on the inside. I’d love to hear the pin out and voltages that would be safe to probe the port with. It would be absolutely fantastic for doing stereo (and more) pairs with. A bit more ambitiously, It could also be used to add the much needed focusing pilot IR light Kyocera stupidly left out. |
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