Zenmuse Z15 with Sony A6000

[Jumpy07]

Finally got around to fitting Sony A6000 to the Zenmuse Z15N.  This gimbal was never designed for the A6000, but as the camera is same format as NEX range it does fit..


You will however need a Mini HDMI to Micro HDMI converter.. only one I could find that looked light enough was from USA http://aerialpixels.com/shop/audio-video-cables-accessories/hyper-thin-micro-hdmi-mini-hdmi-female-flat-ribbon-cable-4-10cm/


I am using the Sigma 19mm F2.8 Lens on A6000, removed plate on bottom of the gimbal that had recess for Nex 5N..  bottom of A6000 is flat.


I didnt have to re-balance gimbal surprisingly...


Shutter trigger works fine.. had to move the IR board slightly to line it up with IR rx on camera..


Next job is test flight.. will post a few pics when I have min...


The A6000 has the fastest AF available at the moment.. along with 24mp sensor and 4k stills..   video is 1080p 50 though.. no 4k video.. but stills are superior to GH4 ..  so pros and cons..  as I had Zenmuse for Nex already it was logical upgrade for me.

[ashutchy]

Glad to hear the new camera balanced okay for you. Must be such a relief not having to set the zenmuse up again.

I';ve just got the a6000 too with a view to mounting it on a gimbal once my 680 is finished. The camera is amazing. So many features and that autofocus, wow. I';ve always shot with Canons in the past, a 60D being my last but already I';m wondering how I managed without the Sony. ::)

[Jumpy07]

Short clip of first video test..Aperture Priority, Auto AF..  rest default settings..A6000 Zenmuse Z15 - First Test

[Jumpy07]

Just been looking at the weights of the various Sony NEX format camera and popular lenses



A6000 Body with SD card and Battery: 344g


Nex6 Body with SD card and Battery: 286g


Nex7  Body with SD card and Battery: 353g


Nex5N Body with SD card and Battery: 275.2g


Sony F2.8 16mm Lense 70g
Sigma F2.8 19mm Lense 139g
Sony 16-50mm OSS lense 116g

[Jumpy07]

Glad to hear the new camera balanced okay for you. Must be such a relief not having to set the zenmuse up again.

I';ve just got the a6000 too with a view to mounting it on a gimbal once my 680 is finished. The camera is amazing. So many features and that autofocus, wow. I';ve always shot with Canons in the past, a 60D being my last but already I';m wondering how I managed without the Sony. ::)

Last night was first time I have flown trying the AF.. all I can say is WOW..  really quick.. major upgrade from my Nex5N..  think the 19mm Sigma has also something to do with it though. But good upgrade for anyone who has the Nex..   needs a very fast SD card though..  24mp and I shoot raw and jpg at the same time..

[dockman]

I use the 19mm sigma with my a6000 as well, and you are right the AF is stupid fast.  I have been able to use continuous AF while shooting video without issue.

[cukhoaicodon]

ANSWERS PLEASE HELP
I can use S800EVO Nex + A6000 + SEL1018?
sorry for my bad english

[Jumpy07]

ANSWERS PLEASE HELP
I can use S800EVO Nex + A6000 + SEL1018?
sorry for my bad english

What gimbal ? , should be ok on Z15 but you will need to rebalance the gimbal.. also don';t think the lens clamp will fit.

[Jumpy07]

Found cheaper source for HDMI cable for Zenmuse Z15  to micro HDMI

http://www.goodluckbuy.com/dji-z15-gimbal-fpv-upgrade-hdmi-adaption-cable-micro-hdmi-interface-gh3-4-compatible-30cm.html

[Jumpy07]

Update.


Kept breaking the HDMI adapters for the Z15..  so was looking for alternative.. decided to try the BMPC Micro HDMI cable for the Z15 but was not sure it would work...


Fitted it this morning.. and all ok... this is a much more elegant solution.. and more robust..


Remove the 4 screws from the HDMI board under the gimbal.. remove old cable.. and insert new one.. job done..




http://www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk/dji-zenmuse-bmpcc-hdmi-cable.html

[Jumpy07]

DJI took over three weeks to reply to my question asking if the A6000 would fit the Z15N...    their replay was "no you have to buy another gimbal"... usual crap service from DJI..  I was actually asking for the Nex 6 bracket that came supplied with the Z15N..     but three weeks to reply.. and downright unhelpful..   I am glad there is more choice these days.. as would really need to be convinced to buy more DJI kit...  especially as you end up beta testing it for them most of the time..


Just to prove them wrong.. see below..

[Scott H]

Hello every one first post for me.

I have an a6000 ( great camera)  and was looking to buy a z15 along with a s9000 and was wondering if you guys know if the z15n would fit the a6000 with its stock lens 16-55mm? it has a power zoom switch on the left side of the lens and I was looking at your photos Jumpy07 and it looks like the lens ring could be an issue.

Also Jumpy07 do you have anymore footage using this combo?

Regards
Scott

[Jumpy07]

Hello every one first post for me.

I have an a6000 ( great camera)  and was looking to buy a z15 along with a s9000 and was wondering if you guys know if the z15n would fit the a6000 with its stock lens 16-55mm? it has a power zoom switch on the left side of the lens and I was looking at your photos Jumpy07 and it looks like the lens ring could be an issue.

Also Jumpy07 do you have anymore footage using this combo?

Regards
Scott

It won';t balance properly or work with the power zoom.. it just hangs out to far.. would recommend the Sigma 19mm F2.8


I have loads of footage but not on line.. if I get time will post some

[Scott H]

Ok thanks for that! I picked one up off Ebay and a Circular Polarizer Filter for $180.00, I also ordered that $10 HDMI cable for Zenmuse Z15  to micro HDMI from goodluckbuy, looking at the image of that cable, the door on the camera looks like it will get in the way, did you have any trouble with that?

If you get a chance to upload more footage that would be great!

What machine do you use to lift your z15n?

Regards
Scott

[Jumpy07]

Video is still AVCHD on A6000 same as Nex.. so limited to 28Mbs 1080 50p etc


Where the A6000 comes into its own.. is the stills quality and the speed of the AF..   6000 x 4000 pixels, RAW+JPEG at same time.. way better than GH4

[cukhoaicodon]

Dear Mr Jumpy07 and other members,
I'm using S900 -  Zenmuse Z15-N - Sony A6000 – remote Futaba T10J, pls help me to set up Camera Wiring/Shutter Control and help me to set and to operate the fly mode POI ( Point of Interest) or give me the link on Youtube guides about that. In my town people used to use Zenmuse Z15 + Canon – GH4, there are nobody using Sony so i couldn't find any supporting here.
Thanks a lot for your kindly help!

[Matias]

I´m planing to buy this gimbal and this camera for Aerial photogrametry but i couldn';t find the option in the Sony A6000 (internet) for taking pictures in interval or lapse time. i need to make a flight and the camera have to take photos all the flight. have anione now how can i do this, can I use the IR in the gimbal and the RC control?

[Jumpy07]

I you are using WKM or A2 with iOSD you can trigger using the Photogrammetry tool on the DJI ground station.

I am using a GPS datalogger on the aircraft and adding the GPS data to the exif data on the ground.

You could use one of these http://tempus.bymac.org/

[Matias]

Thank you very much for the help, I';m planing to use A2 so i will check that function in Ground Station in a few weeks wen i get the all the parts and i will post the results, I';m thinking to buy Sony 35mm f/1.8  for the A6000. anyone knows how is the balance for this lens. or which lens recommends for photogrametry

[Matias]

I have been reading and it look is not possible to use A2 and  "Shooting action" for DJI Ground Station, there is any option or solution to use this option with the Zenmuse Z15 and the A6000?

[Jumpy07]

It does work with A2.. just a bit buggy and hard to use..

I am using a Sony GPS Camera Datalogger and triggering shutter manually  .. then on the ground GEO tagging the EXIF data from the PC

[Matias]

i wont to be able to take pictures every 2 seconds for example,  for survey, I have to use an automatic shooter.   i was thinking to use the  TEMPUS you recommend  but it will not feet into the  Zenmuse and the balance will be affected too. the only option is with WOOKONG!? or is another way to do it?

    I have use Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS and then much the time of the pictures with the data of the GPS and i get all the information coordinate and height of each picture.-

    but i was thinking to us de IOSD to do it more easy now

[bigandy]

Hello Jumpy07.

Apologies if I have missed this in this thread, but can you tell me which version of the Z15 gimbal you started with?  Was it the one for the Nex5n/r/t or the Nex 7n?

I';ve just upgraded my nex 5r to a a6000, and I';m researching gimbal options at the moment.  using a zenmuse would be ideal though :)

Andy

[Jumpy07]

Andy,

Z15N (for Sony Nex 5N) .. the gimbal originally came with an optional bottom plate for the Nex 6

[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=4]

[bigandy]

Ah brill, cheers for that.

I assume the newer Z15 for the NEX 5 don';t come with that plate anymore

Cheers
Andy

[Jumpy07]

Not sure Andy.. think DJi list different gimbals for the Nex 6 and & these days.. that said should be too difficult to make a small plate up..

Note: added pics to my previous post

[grisou]

Hey Guys,

I';m owning an S800evo+ Z15N + A6000, and I can';t have the transmission video on my screen, I can the info of flight but no image from the camera. 

The main problem is focused on the plug micro HDMI of the A6000 and the mini hdmi from the Z15N, I try to use that cable but doesnt work (http://www.flashrc.com/dji_innovations/16239-cable_hdmi_pour_zenmuse_z15_gh4_dji.html), and i also made it with adaptors... but still with black image.
 
Hope you guys solved that issue before. 
thanks! (Hope my text is quite clear in english)

[Jumpy07]

Not sure if GH4 cable works..as the GH4 HD gimbal used a different HDMI board.......  I used the the BMPCC cable... http://www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk/dji-zenmuse-bmpcc-hdmi-cable.html which I can confirm works..

Is this a new build.. ? as the iOSD has two video inputs.. so you need to make sure you have switched to the one connected to the Zenmuse..

Also camera needs to be set to 1080i....

[bigandy]

Good news!  I got hold of a Z15 gimbal, and I';ve been modifying it to work with an A6000 and 20mm F2.8. I bought the NEX 7 version of the gimbal, and the supplied adapter plate for the base of the camera does not fit the A6000.  The camera is a mm or so wider than the NEX7 at the base, and the lens barrel is slightly higher.

I have just installed the camera to the base of the gimbal, without the adapter plate installed.  I have a mark for lining the camera up.  The gimbal balance was a fair bit out in the roll axis, and elevation axis.  So, I';ve marked the positions of everything before doing any adjustments, and I have started to balance each axis out, starting with the roll axis.  It is a bit of a tedious job, but hopefully worth it.

I';ve got hold of one of the BMPCC camera leads for a zenmuse, and it seems to work fine :)

Andy

[roschko]

Hi,

would it work with a bigger lens too ?
for example with the Zeiss Touit 12mm ?

thanks