Digital cameras (AGFA, Olympus) to PC (COM)

RS-232C serial interface used by Agfa ePhoto and Olympus CAMEDIA cameras, connecting a 2.5 mm stereo plug to a DB9 COM port for image transfer.

camera connector or camera cable scheme

UNKNOWN connector at the camera

9 pin D-SUB male connector diagram 9 pin D-SUB male connector at the computer

PC
Pin name
PC
Pin
Directiondigital cameras AGFA and Olympus
Pin
digital cameras AGFA and Olympus
Pin name
Description
1-
2OUT1left
3IN3ground
4-
5IN/OUT2right
6-
7-
8-
9-

Agfa ePhoto and Olympus CAMEDIA cameras from the late 1990s use a proprietary 2.5 mm sub-mini stereo (TRS) plug on the camera body, labelled “Communications connector” on Olympus models, to carry a three-wire RS-232C serial link for image transfer to a PC. The PC side terminates in a DB9-F connector, connecting to a standard COM port running Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 or the Macintosh serial port via a separate adaptor. Only three conductors are used: TxD, RxD, and signal ground; hardware handshaking lines are absent from the cable and, where required by software, are looped on the DB9. Agfa ePhoto cameras share the same cable as the Olympus DCS-3 accessory, confirming a common physical interface across both brands.

Notes

  • pin 5 on com must be also connected to shield
  • The camera-side connector is a 2.5 mm sub-mini three-conductor (TRS) stereo plug: tip = RxD (DB9 pin 2), ring = GND (DB9 pin 5), sleeve = TxD (DB9 pin 3).
  • The OEM cable for Olympus CAMEDIA models (C-2000 Zoom, C-2020 Zoom, C-2500L, C-3000 Zoom) is the Olympus DCS-3, a 6 ft cable with ferrite core and gold-plated connectors; the Agfa ePhoto 780C cable is interchangeable with this part.
  • Direct USB connection is not supported by these models; RS-232C is the only transfer interface.
  • If the host software requires hardware handshaking, loop DTR (DB9 pin 4) to DSR (pin 6) and RTS (pin 7) to CTS (pin 8) on the DB9 end.

References

Category:Digital Camera Connectors