Ok, the nitty gritty of technical details
...
About 4-5 month ago I had the idea to make a timelapse timer because I wanted to be able to add custom functions later on, and a lot cheaper than buying one, more fun to do it myself. The timer turned out to be a simple to use and simple in functionality. It's able to record for 100 hours at an max. interval of also 100 hours
. In another 'mode' you can use it to time long bulb exposures (also up to 100 hours, camera battery allowing ofcourse).
I finally have a prototype I can use in the field (carefully). If it's done I build it into a convenient box as small as possible.
As to the how question, I've used a pic microcontroller, 16x2 lcd, a few buttons, 2 AAA size batteries, a power converter 2V-> 5V for LCD, with auto power save. LCD is backlit for nighttime photography (turns itself off after 10 seconds). All standard stuff electonics speaking. The hard part is the software for the pic though. It is a tight fit, there's little memory to make such an complex deivce possible. That's why the functionality is so basic.
It runs about 2 months off 2 batteries when constantly on (without the display lit).
I own the 350D, so that's the camera I made it for. I think the 300D and 400XTi has the same 2.5mm jack connector, so I think it'll work with those too. It probably works with all eos camera's using the proper converter, but I have no way to test it.
Here a pic how it looks at the moment, it's temporary but less prone to failure in the field:
The numbers at the top is the length of time in hours, minutes, secs. Below that the interval time in same format. 'S' for start 'X' to recall the old settings after a reset (changing batteries for example). The numbers in the right lower corner is the mode nr. 00 = Bulb long exposure mode. 01 time lapse with interval mode.
The buttons from left to right: dummy (no function yet), increase/start, decrease/stop, Set (skips through the time/options). Button below turns display on/off.
If it runs you can check its progress by pressing the display button.
That's it basically. Thanks for reading/checking this out!
How did you make your timer? And how did you connect it? And to
which camera?
Please share
Regards
Hans Eriksen
