Shoestring camera control

[mickw]

program needs to understand this feature

Thanks Mark, mind now at ease - the software does it, or should (Nebulosity).
and it's a 400D

[MarkS]

I'll bring my 12v soldering iron and digital meter to UDSC just in case we need a Saturday afternoon project

Mark

[mickw]

Maplins have got the wrong part as an opto isolator (locally anyway)

Sold me a DC-DC converter - Output 24v, now that would have warmed the place up - the camera anyway.

Should have left it to Chris 

[MarkS]

This is what you want: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2198&C=14880

The quad opto isolator is apparently in stock in Orpington & Bromley (but not the dual version).  Go along to Bromley - visit the the OAS display in the library and then pay a visit to Maplin!

Mark

[mickw]

This is what I've been looking at
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=2223
It's a quid cheaper  

On the dual module there doesn't appear to be a connection for the base of the phototransistors  

OK, I just read the notes 

[MarkS]

That should do the trick.

[Mac]

well the Pic's and IR diodes have turned up.
I'll have a go over the next few weeks at getting the remove for the D70 working via software.

Mac.

[Mac]

Well 1st of all, i've managed to get the pic working fine transmitting the IR code,
Cant test it yet as i've not got an IR camera, but you can see the led flashing.

As there is also a huge amount of spare capacity on the pic i've decided to add

a three button long shutter function as well, for when you dont have your laptop.

Button one, chooses the number of exposures 1 - 10
button two chooses the length of exposure from 30s to 5mins in 30 secs.
the third button starts the remote, after a delay of 5 secs.

Fingers crossed i'll have it finished by thursday.

[mickw]

Mac, for a while I was thinking you'd gone nuts as I have a Canon 

Then I realised it was Simon that asked about the Nikon 

[Mac]

Mac, for a while I was thinking you'd gone nuts

I have, years ago..

[mickw]

 

[Mac]

Well the project is finished,
Just need to test the IR part, everything else is working ok.

Simon are you local? if you fancy testing your camera.

The box as it will stand will have the following.
3 buttons
2 D Plugs
IR Diode.
2 LED's

It works as follows. Stand alone (No computer)

Button 2 increases the number of photos to be taken. max 255
After each press, the number of shots is flashed on one of the led's

Button 3 increases the length of the photo in 30s increments. max 16
After each press, the length in multiples of 30s is flashed.

Button 1 Starts the timer and takes the selected number of photos for the selected length of time.
This pulses the IR output, as well as providing an output to the other Dplug for conventional Nikon and Canon cameras.

after each photo, the remaining number of photos left is flashed on the led's delay between photos is about 10s (can be reduced if you want)

All i need now is to test the IR on a D70.

to stop the photos mid shoot, press 2 & 3 together.

Computer operation.

As soon as it detects an input from the computer on the 9 pin plug,
it latches to the computer control section.
it sends this out to the other 9pin D plug as well as the IR code for the nikon.
so long as there is an output from a pc, the IR transmit will work.
This should work with out any problems on most of the software programs that there are.


Timing was pretty spot on
2 seconds out on a 10 min test

The only problem i can see is if i have to pulse the IR code, as this will need a re-tweek for the timing.
Mac.

[mickw]

Bugger 
Nebulosity does not recognise the adapter despite the PC doing so.
This is the drawing I used (The DSLR Focus version - except used 4N25 opto coupler/isolator)
http://www.beskeen.com/projects/dslr_serial/dslr_serial.shtml

I'll check it all again tomorrow but don't know if it's the serial/USB adapter or something I've buggered up 

Time for a beer

[MarkS]

Mick,

The USB-Adapter will appear like a COM port.  You need to find the COM port number (go to ControlPanel|System|Hardware|DeviceManager) and tell Nebulosity to use that COM port (and not the USB).

Try it out with this software first:
http://www.stark-labs.com/DSLR_Shutter.html

Mark

[mickw]

Thanks Mark, I'll have a tinker tomorrow