Work in progress set of tools to use the Nikon DataLink remote control protocol present on the Nikon N90/N90s (F90/F90x).

Install the libserialport (https://sigrok.org/api/libserialport/unstable/index.html) lib on your computer, then checkout the repository:

git clone --recursive https://github.com/rhaamo/pikon/
# or
git clone https://github.com/rhaamo/pikon/
cd pikon
git submodule init
git submodule update

Using GCC:

make

Using Clang:

make CC=clang   CXX=clang  

• Nikon INQUIRY (camera identification)
• 9600bps switch (check is deactivated, but the switch works)
• Fire shutter (tested on N90s)
• Settings retrieval:
  • only the first setting (see broken)

• Sending focusing command (does nothing, sessionError)
• Everything else
• sending multiple sendCommand (settings/status retrieval) only the first one works
• Settings retrieval
  • iso, focale, etc. everything returns 0 ???

• Focus, commands, etc. (might be N90s only, waiting to receive it for testing)
• Export of the 'exif-like' datas (the memo I think)
• Setting various camera infos (exposure, ISO, etc.)
• Library should return custom structs with raw and human values alongside

See the folder docs/.

• Text files about the DataLink protocol (packet format, etc.)
• N90 Buddy for Palm Souce source code for a PalmOS 3.x app

Example doing camera identification (N90) and triggering the shutter.

nikon@ubuntu-shared:~/pikon$ ./pikon fire_shutter
11:47:17 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:36: Starting session.
11:47:17 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:133: libserialport version: 0.1.1
11:47:17 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:134: Port name: /dev/ttyUSB0
11:47:17 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:135: Description: FT232R USB UART - A50285BI
11:47:17 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:169: Identifying camera...
11:47:17 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:170: Sending wakeup string...
11:47:17 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:181: Sending nikon inquiry string...
11:47:19 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:181: Sending nikon inquiry string...
11:47:19 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:57: Camera is a N90s/F90x
11:47:19 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:644: Triggering shutter
11:47:19 INFO  src/nikonDatalink.cpp:79: Ending session.
nikon@ubuntu-shared:~/pikon$

You don't need the Nikon DataLink cards, they were designed for old Sharp Organizers.

The 10 pin connector exposes serial, 1200bps 8n1 with 9600bps negotiation possible.

Pinout is here: http://www.avernus.com/~gadams/photography/nikon/datalink-protocol/MC31.pdf

Front view from the camera, you need to wire pin 5 and pin 4 to TX/RX and pin 6 (or 7) to GND, directly to a FTDI and that's it. (no need for pin 3 ! RX/TX/GND are sufficient.)

dashie (at) otter (dot) sh

Everything under docs/ are under their own and out of the scope of the utils.

Everything under ext/ are external libraries not packaged that we uses.

For our code:

• MIT licensed
• Some files has been used from 'N90 Buddy for Palm' by Ken Hancock