[...] video shows 4 hours of clouds at dusk, compressed to 45 seconds; it was taken with the Intervaluino on my Canon EOS 400D (manual focus, manual exposure/f-stop [...]

[...] I’ve posted circuit schematics, component list, code, photos, and an explanation on my blog – Intervaluino: A DIY Intervalometer for your Canon SLR Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Arduino | Digg this! Source: MAKE [...]

Thanks for writing this up.

I have been thinking about doing this for my nikon. I have an extra Arduino laying around, too.

One thing I was thinking about was using a transistor/diode pairs instead of a relays. Out of curiosity, why did you opt for relays?

@Matt: I took relays because I didn’t know how else to approach it – what I needed was a component that connects the focus/shutter contact with the camera ground without having additional current going through it. If there is a way around relays, I would be very interested in it.

i made a similiar Arduino based device for my Olympus E510 DSLR.

with 2 optocouplers instead of reeds

and combined with an serial LCD and a nunchuk and a motorized panoramahead

Try optocouplers instead of relays. I’m working on a same kind of project and I’m using a couple of 4N35′s, haven’t tested them yet but they should work.

just use chdk custom firmware it is much easier and much better works with nearly all canon digital cameras. You can then make your own scrips for timelapse work. I also increases iso shutter speed gives zebra mode and better video compression all in one. Take a look I highly recomend it. Also it dose not impact or alter official firmware and canon also said it dose not void warrent.
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Downloads

somebody knows someone working on a nikon solution??

A neat project and a nice write-up. I’d recommend either going with an optoisolator (as already mentioned) or adding a few more parts to your relay circuit. You’re safer driving that relay via a NPN transistor (ex. 2N2222) and having a protection diode across the relay coil.

It’s because the relay, being an electromagnet, acts as an inductor. When you turn the power off it dumps some current, which could make its way back to the Arduino and make it unhappy. Check out the Arduino Playground entry on Relays, it has a pretty clear schematic. My guess is that the protection diodes built into the Arduino, and the small size of the relays, are keeping things from popping.

Regardless, I really appreciate the clear write-up and the photos. I wish more people took the time to so carefully document their projects. Keep up the good work.

@Paul: Sounds interesting and far more advanced than what I’ve done so far – especially the motorized panorama head. Do you have any documentation or pics?

@Aki: Thanks, I’ll take a look at optocouplers

@arnookie: I had looked at the chdk firmware, but I don’t think it works with the SLR series (EOS, DigitalRebel). Let me know if I’m mistaken.

@ed: I don’t know what kind of remote Nikon uses, but if it’s electronic, it can’t be much different from Canon – it’s just a connection between either focus and ground or shutter and ground, probably with a different jack.

@Ron: Thanks! Took me some time, but it was fun, and I like sharing. Also thanks for the tip regarding relays – I wasn’t aware of that danger. In my next version will probably look at a different way to connect the camera circuit.

[...] Intervaluino: A DIY Intervalometer for your Canon SLR at The Honey Jar (tags: electronics arduino photography hardware) [...]

Very cool writeup!

I built an intervalometer for my astrophotos. It doesn’t set the focus/exposure (doesn’t need to) but could be modified to do so using a PC827 dual opto instead of the 4N36. Optos are much simpler to use than relays.

http://ozastro.dyndns.org/avr_timer.html

You, sir, have moved into ubergeek in my estimation. A photo geek, who not only custom builds a tool, but custom codes the programming for the tool, too?! In the words of the great Wayne & Garth, “We’re not worthy… We’re not worthy…”

Great idea! I picked up all the parts, but I have a quick question about the relays:
Does only the center pin on each relay need to be connected to the Arduino pins?
I’m not sure how to read that…

Thanks!
Joe

If you program the stop feature via an interrupt, won’t that take care of the delay when pressing the stop button? I’m new to Arduino, so I haven’t tried this yet, but I thought that was the idea of using interrupts.

(third attempt at posting… have to keep typing this over and over… Recaptcha sucks)

Cool. I like the opto isolator option. I just wired up a circuit to test using a couple of Darlington npn transistors, but didn’t get it to work. I’m planning on a similar project for the Nikon D80. I’m guessing it is because the shutter and focus have negligible voltage, that wasn’t enough to break through the transistor’s small resistance?

@michaelr
How is that plan to try this with a Nikon D80 going?

Where can I find some specs for the canon interface to the 2.5mm stereo jack? Is there a document somewhere describing what the camera is expecting through the stereo cable, and what it will do given certain inputs?

I went to my local electronics shop and couldn’t get all the parts for this project, but I managed to get the 2.5mm jack. So, as soon as I got home I wired up the ground and shutter to a button and I was amazed how exciting it was to hear the shutter fire! I guess I associate that noise with pushing the shutter release on the camera, to hear it without doing the motion was a combination of exhilarating and astounded. Thanks, you really made my day!

[...] now this hardware is just for an intervallometer. Beyond this, there are many shields in the Arduino universe and my intention is to use a few of [...]

Thank for implementation. How cost of this set?

Very cool! I am having a problem with the code though… I copied and pasted from the website but I get the message

“error: stray ‘\’ in the program”

Do you have any suggestions?

#
// Intervaluino
// this code programs the Arduino as an intervalometer for a Canon EOS camera, using two relays and a push button
// this enables you to create time-lapse movies with your camera.
// change the variables “full_time” and “short_time” to automatically calculate the right time interval (based on 25 frames per second)
// upload the code via USB, fire up the Arduino, plug it into your camera’s remote shutter release, and press the Intervaluino push button.
// press the button another time to stop the sequence (doesn’t work that well if your interval is long)
// make sure to turn on single shoot
// (c) Lord Yo 2008 (intervaluino a_t sporez do:t com)
// Licensed under a Creative Commons (Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike) license

/////////// Change these variables according to your needs

long full_time = 14400; //full length time to cover (in seconds)
long short_time = 120; //length of time-lapse movie (in seconds)
int shutter_on = 200; //time to press shutter, set between 100 and 300
int shutter_wait = 5000; //initial time to wait to begin sequence
int wakeup = 300; //time to activate wakeup (focus)
int wakewait =200; //time between wake and shutter
long shutter_off = (40 * full_time / short_time) – shutter_on – wakeup – wakewait; //time to wait between shutter releases;

int outpin = 11; //output for shutter relay from pin 11
int wakepin = 8; //output for focus relay from pin 8
int switchpin = 2; //input from button from pin 2

int val; //value of button press
int buttonState; //check variable for change of button press
int on_off = 0; //state of sequence (turned on, turned off)

/////////// Setup ////////////

void setup() {
pinMode(outpin, OUTPUT); //outpin gives output
pinMode(switchpin, INPUT); //switchpin receives input
pinMode(wakepin, OUTPUT); //wakepin gives output

buttonState = digitalRead(switchpin); //read value of the button
}

/////////// Loop ////////////

void loop(){

val = digitalRead(switchpin); // read button value and store it in val

if (val != buttonState) { // if the button state has changed…
if (val == LOW) { // check if the button is pressed…
if (on_off == 0) { // if the sequence is currently off…
on_off = 1; // turn the sequence on
delay(shutter_wait); // wait the initial period
} else {
on_off = 0; // turn the sequence off
}
}
}

buttonState = val; //switch the button state

if (on_off == 1) { //while the sequence is turned on…

digitalWrite(wakepin, HIGH); //turn wakeup/focus on
delay(wakeup); //keep focus
digitalWrite(wakepin, LOW); //turn wakeup off
delay(wakewait); //wait
digitalWrite(outpin, HIGH); //press the shutter
delay(shutter_on); //wait the shutter release time
digitalWrite(outpin, LOW); //release shutter
delay(shutter_off); //wait for next round
}

}
#

@Melissanthi: Looks like you have a wrong backslash character somewhere in the code. Search for “\” in the arduino code editor, and check it against the original code posted. Can’t think of anything else that causes this.

[...] by the intervalometer project at the Honey Jar, Dan Bridges produced a motion activation control to use with his Canon SLR camera. [...]

[...] Intervaluino este es un aparato similar a photoduino en cuanto al objetivo del proyecto pero con menos funciones que el anterior.Usa .NET y Netduino. [...]

[...] DIY Intervalometer for a Canon SLR camera [...]

[...] DIY Intervalometer for a Canon SLR camera [...]