Comments on: How to Make a Remote Shutter Release from a Doorbell [DIY SPECIAL]

By: sebastian

sebastian — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:59:55 +0000

Hello . i’m from Romania .
What about triggering a flashgun with that metode.
How fast is ? i’m worry about sincronization time 1/60minimum.
thx!

By: John

John — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 06:44:42 +0000

I agree that the DIY project was a great contribution. I have made up the DIY project and it works well! In choosing a doorbell system there were several choices, the cheapest had no LED, but the next cheapest did and was quite satisfactory. I have a nocturnal possum coming to my feeding table and I have ordered a beam-break system to detect its presence and I will need to interface this to the doorbell shutter system. I think my only concern will be the width of the pulse out of the beam-break system, wide enough to trigger the doorbell sytem and hence the c amera shutter. I may have to fatten the pulse, either by increasing the RC time constant or interfacing an intermediate pulse width conversion.

By: Madhav

Madhav — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:07:00 +0000

A great contribution.

For rest of you guys, who feel that they might damage the cam, rest assured.

On the other hand, you are here by your own choice, if you are not confident of being able to DIY, then dont build one. Your suggestions of IR based systems or other stuff available at cheaper prices are unwarranted. If you can appreciate, good, if not , go elsewhere.

By: John

John — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:16:14 +0000

I have had discussions about that aspect, but the conclusion was that any movement in the vicinity of the target area could trigger the camera shutter. A beam break system can be concentrated on the area of interest more accurately.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:08:59 +0000

Hi,
Has anyone made similar device but using a movement sensor as used in home alarm systems and outdoor security lights? now that would be useful for catching wildlife shots etc
great site!
Brian

By: John

John — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:16:07 +0000

There is a possum here in South Australia that comes regularly each night in the early hours to take its bread from a feeding table at my home. I would like to have an automated shutter release activated by the animal breaking an IF or similar beam.
Do you have or know of a beam-breaking system that can be allied to your wireless remote DIY?

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 05:33:16 +0000

@nalfonso: The MOC is an optocoupler, and it's purpose is to ensure the two sides if the circuit are electrically isolated - ie, the electronics of the doorbell are not directly connected to the electronics of the camera, but use a optical signal. @Ashfaq: as far as I can tell, the Kodak z8612 doesn't have any connectivity options for an external shutter release. If you wanted to use an external shutter release, one option is to open up the case, and wire in your own socket for an external shutter release, wiring it in parallel with the camera's shutter release button. Alternatively, you could use a remote-control servo to physically press the camera's shutter button. That's how KAP (kite aerial photography) hobbyists typically remotely trigger their cameras. Google for "kap shutter release servo" for more info and photos of people's rigs.

By: Ashfaq

Ashfaq — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:09:31 +0000

Any idea how can this stuff be implemented in a Kodak (EasyShare z8612 IS)?

By: Nalfonso

Nalfonso — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:03:34 +0000

What is the fuction of the MOC? Thanks-

By: CheekyGeek

CheekyGeek — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:37:19 +0000

This is great. Just what I need for pole photography!