DIY Nikon cables by Avi - Cable color mapping

Building Interface cable by Avi

WARNING : The information presented here describes my own experience.
It is NOT in any way an official suggestion nor instructions to be followed.
Using this information is on your own risk !!!

First task was to understand the F100's 10 pin connector and get a 10 pin plug.
This connector is a custom one and I couldn't find any second source for it.
Some newsgroups posts and sites suggested various ways of how to build your own plug
based on a PS2 plug or making a mold over pins for example. Seeing those fragile and insecure
solutions I thought this is too risky and decided to use an original Nikon plug.
I purchased a used MC-22 cable, split it and used the original Nikon 10 pin plug and cable.
(you can probably do the same with any Nikon cable that has a 10 pin plug)

I started by mapping the F100 receptacle (on camera) and plug (MC-22)

Please note that Nikon located the connector on the camera rotated and as soon as I realize I should place "virtual" axes on the images (and on my mind), it became very clear and readable.
(My guess is that Nikon placed the camera connector that way because the designers wanted to use an existing plug and this orientation was best from ergonomic point of view of the F100. Well, we got a plug that fits several cameras but we also got a strange orientation and not so convenient usability of it as well.)

On the left is an image of F100 with a plug connected.

So, one axis was placed over the 2 recess on connector sides (that accepts the small guide ribs of the plug)
and the other axis was placed over the top recess that also accepts a mating rib of the plug.
HINT : Your job will become easier if you'll refer to the pins arrangement as to 4 slices of a circle !
Each slice has 2 pins in it and 2 pins are in the center.

Here are the mapping of pins and wires colors.
Both images are FRONT view and represent real orientation of connector and plug.

And now from theory to practice. I soldered all 10 wires of the plug to the DB-15 connector in the same
order mapped above (pin #1 of MC-22 to pin #1 of DB-15 ...) so I know exactly where is each wire on the
interface connector. Connecting all 10 wires assures that I'll be able to connect to any combination of pins
for any future accessory I might want to add.


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