CameraShutter

Arduino UNO

Standard LCD - 16x2 White on Blue

<blockquote >v1.1.x: Depends on TimeAlarms.h (hence TimeLib.h) library for Timer purpose (intead of TimerOne.h lib). And on LcdProgressBarDouble.h (hence LiquidCrystal.h) library for progress bar display</blockquote><blockquote >v1.2.x: Depends on (+ v1.1.x deps) AnalogMultiButton.h to provide values jump, a single input for 2 buttons and code easier to read</blockquote><h3 >What is CameraShutter?</h3>Yet another Remote Shutter for a DSLR? Yes but... you no longer need any program compilation to change the duration and interval... happy?!<h3 >Genesis</h3><ul ><li >First step, a big wish to get a cheap remote for my DSLR... and a bit of fun as well! So I started mine, based on a website. Could be this excellent <a href="http://www.end2endzone.com/diy-remote-trigger-shutter-release-cable-for-your-canon-dslr-camera/">DIY remote trigger shutter</a> page.</li></ul><figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/78acfc1f-c552-4168-9e51-766281314112.JPG /><figcaption>DIY remote shutter (manual!)</figcaption></figure><ul ><li >Second step: the optocoupleur 4N35 CI found in the <a href="https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoStarterKit">Arduino Starter Kit</a>, and a google search on it showed me... so many remotes for my DSLR!</li></ul><figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/4f243567-c1e6-4879-a5e8-8feddfc43bb9.jpeg /><figcaption>You know what?! I'm happy!!</figcaption></figure><h3 >How to use it?</h3><div class="se-component se-video-container __se__float-none" contenteditable="false" style="width: 100%;"><figure style="width: 100%; height: 56.25%; padding-bottom: 56.25%; margin: 0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/scdxvptYVJw" data-proportion="true" data-percentage="100%,56.25%" data-size="100%,56.25%" data-align="none" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" data-index="0" data-file-size="0" data-origin="100%,56.25%"></iframe><figcaption contenteditable="true"><div>Usage demo</div></figcaption></figure></div>Buttons * SwitchMenu/Stop. Goes through the menus such as:<ul ><li >Status: Press Minus or Plus switched to start.</li><li >Delay (seconds): delay before starting the shutter.</li><li >Duration (minutes): how long to take pics?</li><li >Interval (seconds): how long between 2 pics?</li><li >Autofocus (yes/no): if yes, engage the focus before shooting (only once).</li><li >Reset (yes/no): when pressed, reset the default values.</li></ul>* SwitchMinus: decr the value. Hold 1/2s to decrement by 5. Hold 2s to decrement by 20.* SwitchPlus: incr the value. Hold 1/2s to increment by 5. Hold 2s to increment by 20.* LCD trimmer: adjust the LCD contrastIndicators<ul ><li >Yellow LED: focus indicator</li><li >Green LED: shutter indicator</li></ul><h3 >Problems faced (and resolved!)</h3><ul ><li ><code >millis()</code> function is not that accurate so I used the TimerOne library.</li><li >How to ensure the DSLR to be electrically independent with mine? 4N35 CI is the solution!</li><li >Sequential programs with long delays (for the camera to shoot) made tricky to handle the stop via the buttons. Event based program based on hardware interruptions was the clue.</li><li >The software debounce was no longer available (the <code >delay()</code> function is voided during an event is triggered... took me hours to figure it out!) so I use a RC circuit to provide a hardware debounce (got the clue in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Arduino-Techniques-Engineering-Wizardry/dp/1118549368/">Exploring Arduino book</a>).</li><li >Nice indicators with progress bars of duration spent and intervals representation... I wrote <a href="https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/wloche/lcdprogressbardouble-707d5c">LCDProgressBarDouble </a>library!</li><li >How to easily provide some value jumps when holding the button for 1/2 seconds or 2 seconds: <a href="http://damienclarke.me/code/analog-multi-button">AnalogMultiButton</a><a href="http://damienclarke.me/code/analog-multi-button"> </a>is a right and easy solution :).</li></ul><h3 >Program</h3>Depends on:<ul ><li ><a href="http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_libs_TimeAlarms.html">TimeAlarms.h</a>, and hence <a href="http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/td_libs_Time.html">Time.h</a></li><li ><a href="https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/wloche/lcdprogressbardouble-707d5c">LcdProgressBarDouble.h</a>, and hence <a href="https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/LiquidCrystal">LiquidCrystal.h</a></li><li ><a href="http://damienclarke.me/code/analog-multi-button">AnalogMultiButton.h</a></li></ul>Warnings<ul ><li >Arduino UNO only supports Pin2 and Pin3 for hardware interruptions. Check your model!</li><li >TimerOne requires Pin9 and Pin10 (PWM~) to be unconnected.</li></ul><h3 >Shopping list</h3><ul ><li >1x Electrolytic Capacitortension 6.3V; 10µF</li><li >1x LCD screenbroches 16; type Character</li><li >1x Yellow LED</li><li >1x Green LEDboîtier</li><li >2x 1kΩ Resistor</li><li >5x 220Ω Resistor</li><li >1x 100Ω Resistor</li><li >1x 10kΩ Resistor</li><li >1x Trimmer Potentiometer 10kΩ</li><li >3x Push button</li><li >2x Optocoupler 4N35</li><li >1x Arduino Uno</li><li >1x Jack male 2.5mm</li><li >1x MC14584B (Hex Schmitt Trigger)</li></ul><h3 >What next?</h3>Use a tiny board (e.g. <a href="https://www.adafruit.com/product/2000">Adafruit Pro Trinket</a>), redesign the PCB around it and 3D print a beautiful box... would need a 3D printer for that... will ask my wife whether it could be part of a Christmas wishlist!Of course, one day or one another I'll get a new camera body with embedded WiFi... in the meanwhile, I'm enjoying my toy!And of course... test it on Chicago sunsets :).

CameraShutter

Control your DSLR to take a picture every x seconds for x minutes, fully configurable via LCD menus.