Automatic shutter activation? every so often?

[superstat]

Hi I have a 40D and wondered if there is anyway of getting it so I can leave the camera and it will take a picture every 30mins or so...

I know as standard the camera won't do it but just wondered what options I have?

Cheers

AJ

[CT]

You can have a look at the Canon remote controller which will do what you want up to a maximum of 99 exposures.

CLICKY (http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1856)

[superstat]

ooo looks good....is there a cheaper way? possibly with a laptop and some software or something?

[CT]

Quite possibly, but this has to be the most portable and convenient - it will keep going till the battery fails in the camera or it uses up 99 exposures, although you could reset the exposure timer if you wanted to take more exposures.

[Les McLean]

ooo looks good....is there a cheaper way? possibly with a laptop and some software or something?


Yes you can- you need to 'tether' it to the laptop.

This explains how-the 40D has other variations

http://www.jibble.org/canon-tethered-shooting/

[superstat]

Thank you CT and Les.....i'm only doing it so i can see a building project commence and then animate it...so the less money the better really as its just a project on a whim..

[wack61]

Yes you can- you need to 'tether' it to the laptop.

This explains how-the 40D has other variations

http://www.jibble.org/canon-tethered-shooting/

I love this forum, something else I've found to keep me away from the DIY :thumbs:

[King_Boru]

Thank you CT and Les.....i'm only doing it so i can see a building project commence and then animate it...so the less money the better really as its just a project on a whim..

If thats the case you want to do it every hour. My entry to Uni was a time elapsed sequence of the same subject, though I did it using a borrowed Nikon F6, a timer and a bucket load of cheapo Kodak 200 film over the space of 7 days. I planned the shoot with a local contractor. They provided a secure, untouched location for me to mount the camera. I was quite lucky in the end as they commissioned the final product which paid for the bucket load of film and partial tuition fees.

Remember, when you sample the photographs together there will be either 25 or 12.5 (double the length each image is displayed on screen, which in turn interpolates to 25) frames for every second (fps) of animation. For the moving image to work you are going to need at least 25 seconds (thats 625 captured images at 25fps or 312.5 captured images at 12.5fps).

Now you need to plan your composition, exposure set up, developing method (best shooting jpeg to minimize post production), camera placement, you will need a tripod, secure location (if not out your window).

Well, what I am trying say is, BE PREPARED, BE PATIENT.

Good Luck.

EDIT: I majored in Computer Animation (CGI) so if you need any help with that drop me PM.

[markp]

I've built a timer that will do this. Costs about £15 and I think the maximum delay is around 30 seconds. You'll need a wired remote control that has a 2.5mm socket on it as I can't get hold of the Canon N3 connectors.

PM me if you're interested.