Propeller Camera Controller

adri · 2010-11-08 10:45

Hi

I've got an Olympus PEN Camera and came across these gadgets the other day...

http://www.cameraaxe.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

http://www.bmumford.com/photo/camctlr.html

The Camera Axe and the Time Machine.

They are intervalometers and Camera Shutter/Flash Controllers for 'High Speed' Photography

In steps the Propeller Demo Board. Tony has supplied me with a board with Opto-Couplers (Shutter Release) and Opto-Triacs (Flash Release).

So far I've got control of the flash and shutter. Here's the first shot my first playing about popping a balloon. The camera was in bulb mode with the flash being triggered by the electret mic on the demo board.

Not being a Propellor Head I'd certainly be interested in any comments/suggestions as to how a Prop version of the Camera Axe could develop.

Cheers

Adri

JonnyMac · 2010-11-08 14:27

I am in the process of "upgrading" my SX28-based intervalometer...

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=819481

... to the Propeller. Perhaps we can exchange ideas as we both move forward with our respective projects.

I'd love to see the code you have if you're willing to share.

adri · 2010-11-09 01:37

Sounds interesting John.

So far the code is just a minor modification to the mic to LED code here

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?t=118061&

I've just added in a conditional and if the balloon popping loudness is high enough then it sets pins 6 & 7 to high thereby triggering the shutter and flash via the opto-couplers/triacs.

What I'd like to look at now is adding other sensors and getting the delay from sensor detection to shutter release/flash down as much as possible.

Cheers

Nick

Ragtop · 2010-11-09 04:22

I just used a camera control for a recent Halloween project.

I wanted the program to take pictures at specific times during it's run through and I also wanted to be able to take pictures with a key fob remote that I got off Ebay.

So the main program has this program as an object. It uses the start method to run the camera program in a separate cog to constantly check if the remote button has been pressed or if it has received a command from the main program to trigger the camera.

Pub Start
  command:=1
  cognew(TakePicture,@Stack)   


PUB TakePicture

   dira[2]~  'sets b pin from remote to input
   b := blast := 0    'button a not pressed
   repeat
      if RemoteBtest == 1 or command == 1
         dira[15]~~
         outa[15]~~
         waitcnt(clkfreq/2+cnt)
         outa[15]~
         command := 0

Pub Click
    command := 1

Pub RemoteBtest
    b := ina[2]
    if b == blast
      result := 0
    else   
      result := 1
    blast := b

RemoteBtest is in there because of how the remote button works. It toggles the state of the pin with each press instead of just when pressed. So I have to check for changes of the state instead of the value of.

Pin 15 ran to two optoisolators for the camera's focus and shutter.

Ragtop · 2010-11-09 07:26

This is the remote I got off ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/433MHZ-4-Channel-RF-Radio-Wireless-Controller-Remote-/320517571450?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa056037a#ht_5523wt_901

adri · 2010-11-10 06:23

Anyone know how fast the Parallax Sound Impact Sensor (#29132) can be sampled ?

So if I'm polling say every 100 microseconds the pin it's attached to is that beyond it's capabilities?

Oh you can SO tell I know nothing about electronics...

TIA

Nick

adri · 2010-11-27 01:22

hi,

latest test using the sound impact sensor. looks like it's more responsive than the previous method.

Now going to try a photogate for water drop detection etc.

I'm also looking for code for a 4 button control w LCD. If there's anything out there any pointers would be most welcome.

TIA

Adri

Propeller Camera Controller

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