OptN90s Features

The following was posted in the USENET newsgroup by Henrik Elowsson. Note that the subject line was not accorate. OptN90s is actually for DOS system, thus can be run from either DOS, Win3.1 or Win95. Click here to download from Henrik Elowsson's site. 

From: "Henrik Elowsson" (henrik.elowsson@mbox304.swipnet.se)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.35mm
Subject: Re: Nikon F90x/N90s dataview software replacement for Windows 95??
Date: 6 Jan 1997 13:34:43 GMT

This is a shareware program to control custom-functions. Only for F90x/N90s.

The CF's will probably be changable with the upcoming new version of Dataview for windows 95 called Photomanager / Photosecretary (Anyone certain of which name it'll be?)

CHANGABLE CF'S

  • Timing when using two F90's connected to each other using the MC-23 cable
  • Time meter stays on 3-63 s. (default: 8)
  • Slowest normal flashsync (default: 1/60, could be changed to anything below 1/250)
  • Bulb or Time setting for long exposures
  • Imprinting on frame 1 (for use with MF-25/6, prints roll no. chosen in dataview, this CF can also be set using Dataview)
  • DX or ISO priority. When DX is selected ISO cannot be selected manually.
  • Command dial reverse rotation (useful?)

  • Frame counter in Ps mode
  • "Delta" between Matrix and centreweighted (excellent function for us manual users..)
  • Easy compensation in A mode, rotate the command dial for exp. compensation.

  • Focus or release priority in S-focus mode
  • Focus or release priority in C-focus mode

  • Beep when in focus
  • Beep on film error
  • Beep on exposure error
  • Beep on self-timer countdown

OptN90s Usage and Future

by Dean K. Gibson

The following is the screen display message by executing the program with elp option ("optn90s ?").

OptN90s sets custom options on the Nikon F90X/N90S (but NOT on the F90/N90) camera using the Nikon MC-31 connecting cable. All of the known (to me) camera options can be set with OptN90s. As of this writing, the MF-26 databack options are NOT included, although that may change in the future (see below).

It is probably best (to avoid possible damage) to connect the camera to the computer in the following sequence:

  1. Connect the MC-31 cable to the computer.
  2. Power on the computer.
  3. Connect the camera to the MC-31 cable.
  4. Power on the camera.

When removing the camera or cable from the computer, power off units and similar circuitry; most other computing equipment, such as IBM PC desktops, laptops, modems, and printers, contain such circuitry internally.)

OptN90s will not operate (beyond displaying documentation) unless:

  1. You have specified the correct serial port that the Nikon MC-31 cable is connected to.
  2. You have a Nikon F90X/N90S (NOT an F90/N90) connected to the MC-31.
  3. The camera is powered on.
If the above conditions are met, OptN90s will display the current camera options and allow you to change them. Note that:
  1. When entering the value for an option, once you press Enter, the change is made in the camera IMMEDIATELY. If you are typing a value and then decide you don't want to change that option, press Esc, then press Enter; a blank value does nothing.
  2. As of this writing, there is no way to save your camera's options to a file (that may change in the future).
OptN90s's screens should be self-explanatory; comments are welcome (more about that later).

Ideally, the features of OptN90s (and more) should have been provided in the "DataView" software that comes with the MC-31. After all, the protocol is simple (it only took 16 hours to figure it out), and it only took another week to write OptN90s. However, for whatever reason, the current version of DataView (as of this writing) strangely does not include the ability to set camera options! Hence OptN90s.

What does the future hold for OptN90s?

  1. Nikon in the future will probably (hopefully) bring out a version of DataView that includes the ability to set F90/N90 & F90X/N90S custom options. At that point (assuming DataView is still provided free with the MC-31 cable), users may be hard pressed to pay additional money for a DOS program that does the same thing (and not as prettily).
  2. OptN90s is "shareware"; that means that if you decide to keep OptN90s, you are required to pay for it (details below). What happens to the development of OptN90s depends on YOU, the users:
    1. I already have the Sharp Wizard to do all that OptN90s does with the F90X/N90S, and more. I didn't have to write OptN90s for my own usage (although the font Nikon uses on the Sharp 9000-series Wizard is UNBEARABLY small!). If users don't support OptN90s, I will assume that they are content with the speed of availability of Nikon's software products (note that Nikon first announced DataLink with the F90/N90 camera, in the fall of 1992), not to mention the cost of the Sharp Wizard ($200+), and Nikon's MC-27 connecting cable ($100+) and AC-2E ($200+) card for the Wizard.
    2. It is mostly up to YOU what OptN90s becomes. I need to know what features and "look" YOU want. Software development takes time, and I see little point in spending time to develop features or a "look" that users do not want. I see OptN90s NOT as a competitor to Nikon's DataView, but as a simple and quick way to control the F90X/N90S: One application for OptN90s is in the field (a l the Sharp Wizard) on laptop or even palmtop computers; a simple DOS program seems (to me) to be appropriate for these applications.
Here are the features I see as possible candidates for future inclusion in OptN90s:
  1. A pull-down menu scheme (a le Windows), but DOS text-based.
  2. Setting the "leave film leader out on rewind" option.
  3. Duplicating the following functions in the AC-2E card for the Sharp Wizard:
    1. Custom reset options.
    2. Setting MF-26 options.
    3. Controlling MF-26-type functions without an MF-26.
    4. Defining custom programs.
    5. Controlling camera operations. Currently, the code in the AC-2E card takes SIX (6) seconds to trip the F90X/N90s shutter, from the time the user commands shutter release. I find that UNUSABLE, and have reduced it in preliminary testing, to under a second!
    6. Setting "shooting data options" and downloading shooting data (f-stop, shutter speed, etc) from the camera. The shooting data would be stored in files compatible with DataView's *.NKN files.
  4. Uploading, downloading, and/or logging (as appropriate) the above information to/from DOS files.
  5. Support for the Nikon F90/N90.

OptN90s is "shareware"; if you decide to keep OptN90s, please send $10 to:

Dean K. Gibson 3112 150th Place SE Mill Creek, WA 98012
Your purchase is not only a vote to continue development of OptN90s, but a vote for those features you would like.

A future, enhanced version of OptN90s will probably be $25-30; those who send money for the current version will be able to upgrade to the enhanced versions for (at most) the difference in cost.

Whether or not you use OptN90s, please feel free to distribute it freely to others.

One word about support ...

OptN90s is presently supported on PHOTOFORUM, a public forum on CompuServe. The main purpose and benefit of CompuServe forums is the PUBLIC discussion and information interchange between many members with a common interest.

It defeats the whole purpose of the forums to send a private or eMail message, if that message may be of interest to more than one individual, OR may be answered by other users. If another user has the same interest or question, neither you nor they can see my response to a private message to the other. This often means that I have to respond to the same question several times.

I ask that users assist me in this.