I'm almost finished with my Nerdkit Intervalometer. (An intervalometer is gadget used to take time lapse videos.) I've been working on it for the last 3 or 4 weeks. My goal was to create a project that one could go out and build cheaply and maybe even turn it into a functional gadget. My intervalometer works with Nikon cameras and can be used to take time lapse photos or as a plain old remote control. The only part you'll have to buy besides the Nerdkit is an IR LED ($2.00 or less).

The code is hacked together with pieces I took from the tempsensor and traffic light project. For now, the project only works with Nikon cameras, but I've written some code that should work with Canon cameras. I just didn't have one to test it with. The code is available on my blog, but I'll post it here if anyone wants it.

Here is a link to the write-up:

http://thedavisblog.com/blog/?p=708

I'm working on a video of it right now.

Cool project and great idea. What ya going to be time-lapsing??? Rick

I wanted to do some sunrise/sunsets. I've already done a few. I posted them on youtube. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at it yet. I'm sure they'll get better with practice.

Youtube Sunset

I like it. Kind of neat to see.

Rick

I updated my blogpost to add the video. Still at http://thedavisblog.com/blog/?p=708

Very nice video presentation. You've got a lot more courage than me to get in front of the camera!

FWSquatch, I didn't know what an Intervalometer was until I took a look at your blog. Your idea is awesome! Too often we build something and people seem somewhat indifferent to our projects (I'm currently working on a model rocket launcher for my son) because electronics can do so many things today. They don't realize the sense of accomplishment we gain from finishing a project that actually works. To that end, great work, keep it up!!!

Chris B. n3ueaEMTP

"They don't realize the sense of accomplishment we gain from finishing a project that actually works." Well said - it's only when we try to do something ourselves that we can truly appreciate the skill and elegance of other peoples work. I remember being overjoyed when I first made an led flash!

This is a great project. Very impressive. You also have done a really good job with the vid and the writeup on your blog to show off your achievements.

I don't actually own a Cannon camera, but I do know a bloke who does a lot of digital photography using a Cannon EOS 50D. So I may get myself a IR LED and try this bad boy out.

Great work!

Looking at the specs - the EOS 50D doesn't have IR sensor for triggering - ah well.

FWSquatch-

This project is the coolest! I'm definitely building it soon. I have a Nikon D40 and just having the remote ability would be cool, much less the time lapse stuff. Awesome!

Ted

I just finished my version of this project, kind of, I was after the time lapse and didn’t care so much about the camera. So I started with a 5 year old camera that has some problems (looses date and time every power down among other things). I took apart the case and soldered wires onto the shudder button and where the battery connects to the main board. I can’t show pictures for oblivious reasons. So at this point I can externally power the camera by supplying 3.9V to the battery and take picture by shorting the other wires together. I came up with this circuit:

I don’t know if it’s the proper way to use a 2N7000 but it works. All the wires where getting cumbersome, and figured I will keep this project so I went all out and made my first prototype board:

pic is before cutting to size. I still need to find a power supply exclusively for this that is 6V or more and 500mA. I had a 200mA supply and the voltage would drop too much when the flash capacitor tried to charge and the whole thing would shut down.

So now I just turn the camera on point it somewhere, put it on the lowest quality setting and press the start button, then when I’m done I press the stop button and load the pictures on my computer. I downloaded a free program photo Lapse 3 which works well at turning pictures into a time-lapse video. All I have so far is an hour of people walking around outside by the bus stop compressed into 57 seconds.

Things I probably won’t do but would be cool, slowly rotate the camera on a stepper motor, or a motion detection trigger.

For completeness the code:

// Time lapse program Capture.c
// for NerdKits with ATmega328p
// Send signal to camera to take picture at set interval

// PIN DEFINITIONS:
// PB2 -- To indication LED
// PB1 -- To camera shutter transistor
// PC4 -- Button input to trigger start and stop

#define F_CPU 14745600

#include <stdio.h>

#include <avr/io.h>
#include <avr/interrupt.h>
#include <avr/pgmspace.h>
#include <inttypes.h>

#include "../libnerdkits/io_328p.h"
#include "../libnerdkits/delay.h"

/// How often to take a picture [sec] ///
#define FREQ 5

volatile short Count;
volatile int TolCount;

int main()
{
    cli();                          // Start with interrupts off

    // PB1 & PB2 outputs //
    DDRB |= (1<<PB2);               // Make PB1 an output for showing state
    PORTB  &= ~(1<<PB2);            // Start with LED off
    DDRB |= (1<<PB1);               // Make PB2 output to shutter transistor
    PORTB  &= ~(1<<PB1);            // Start with shutter off

    DDRC &= ~(1<<PC4);              // Set pin PC4 as input from button
    PORTC |= (1<<PC4);              // Turn on PC4 pull up resistor

    //Interrupt setup //
    TCCR1B |= (1<<CS12) | (1<<CS10) | (1<<WGM12);
    TIMSK1 |= (1<<OCIE1A);
    OCR1A = 14400-1;                //Interrupt timing 1Hz

    Start:
    // Initialize variables //
    TolCount = 0;
    Count = 1;
    /// Flash LED to show ready ///
    while(1)
    {
        PORTB  |= (1<<PB2);
        delay_ms(750);

        PORTB  &= ~(1<<PB2);
        delay_ms(50);
        if(!(PINC & 1<<PC4))        // Press button to start
            break;
    }

    // clear timer and allow interrupts //
    TCNT1 = 0;
    sei();

    while(1)
    {
        if(!(PINC & 1<<PC4) && TolCount>2)   // Break out if at least two pic and button is held
            break;
    }
    cli();                          // Turn off interrupts

    goto Start;

    while(1);
    return 0;
}

// One second timer //
ISR(TIMER1_COMPA_vect)
{
    --Count;

    /// Make MCU 'press' button ///
    if(!Count)      // Take the picture
    {
        ++TolCount;
        Count = FREQ;

        PORTB  |= (1<<PB1);
        delay_ms(100);
        PORTB  &= ~(1<<PB1);

    }

    PORTB  ^= (1<<PB2);

    return;
}

Great job! I love your project. Glad to see others do this sort of thing. I wish I hadn't got rid of my Nikon cameras or I'd still be playing with mine.