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Stop Motion Animation — Parallax Forums

Stop Motion Animation

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2013-12-30 17:10 in General Discussion
I just saw this little animation/claymation and it has me wondering about computer controlled cameras and such. With all the (cheap Ebay) cameras, servos and stepper motors about, there must be some neat automated camera opportunities staring us in the face...

At the end of the video there are a few still shots of the camera rig used. Anybody tried anything like this?

http://www.leagueofbuddies.com/

Comments

  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,107
    edited 2013-12-29 22:08
    That animation always cracks me up. While exploring their web site I found I live in the same neighborhood as their studio (about a 10-minute walk from home).

    For grins I drove by while running an errand this morning and it turns out that it's right next to Central Casting! That's funny (to me, anyway), as they don't use humans (except for voices) in their productions.
  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2013-12-30 01:26
    Funny was just on skype with potatohead chatting about video ect , I am gonna play with 4K video on my new computer . use my DLSR as a time lapse cam and have at it ! got 2 8 GB empty cards and a few batts and a nice open sky ....... Its stair time !

    That one cam with its offset lens.. I think that is a rocksoul 1080 P cam . I have one and its Sweet under low light .
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-12-30 03:55
    I spent quite a bit of time shopping for a Canon SX150 as I wanted a camera that was hackable, and that took AA cells.

    Canon has the abilty to take on an SDcard that will upgrade their cameras into doing all sorts of special effects and professional features at the cost of an SDcard and a download.

    http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

    Prior to buying the Canon, I would have used a servo and a BasicStamp to do stop action photography. Just have the servo snap a photo at a timed interval. If you want a CdS can monitor for sundown/sunrise to stop for only periods of available light. My little Canon also has a plug in for external power, so I could use a gel cell or a big car battery to have it run for longer periods of time.

    Animation can be done with the Canon feeding video to a separate monitor for confirmation of setup. It has a video port and I think it is one of the last to use NTSC -- now you may need HDMI. A remote stop action trigger is no problem as it is accomodated.
  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2013-12-30 04:48
    Loopy ..

    Here is what I dont get . I have Yet to see any point and shoot cam with built in time lapse .... I mean its a few lines of silly code to put in a menu to set a rep rate and a open time . I wonder why cams like yours a more advanced cam . and the other bridge cams Don't just have it as a option.

    I too use a BS2 at one point but I have a proper remote now .. I dont want to Fry my DLSRs with any mods. Its one thing to smoke a point and shoot . but to poof a canon 1D is a photog sin .
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-12-30 06:02
    Ummm. the Canon SX150 was a relatively cheap point and shoot camera. I paid about $200USD for it on a clearance sale.

    Prices are better in the USA, but I wasn't flying back anytime soon and shipping eats up the savings. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I6DVC0/ref=asc_df_B005I6DVC02574996?smid=AXCB29L39I26U&tag=pgmptvs-257-95-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395105&creativeASIN=B005I6DVC0

    But, the reality is the digital cameras are all pretty much the same thing but with a better case and more features as you pay more. It is a curse of the programiblity of the device. I am just happy that Canon has made their hackable by CHDK. Buy something used that is supported if you can't afford a new one.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2013-12-30 11:58
    Low end Canon cameras work great because they have this software you can load on them called CHDK.

    I used a Propeller, cds cell, and relay connected to the usb port of my camera to make my first ever stop motion video. I did not press the shutter button once. Instead I would pass my hand over the cds cell when done move parts, there was a short pause and then the shutter fired. It makes doing stop motion fun and a little more efficient.

    [video=youtube_share;SsMHk6-nueU]
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2013-12-30 12:02
    Then I built this rig for taking multiple time lapse angles with one camera

    [video=youtube_share;ozZPIc2vSiQ]

    Currently I'm working on a rig that does HDR Pano Time Lapse :) It is actually done I should post it.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-12-30 12:49
    Fantastic videos, xanadu! Parallax should absolutely put your BoeBot build video on their website.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2013-12-30 13:09
    I spammed it on their facebook a long time ago and got some thumbs up :) The about a month later they reposted it. I was honored. It does make a good assembly guide but was more geared toward the parts kinda having a life of their own.

    Wait until you see my Activity Bot stop motion! This time the parts are going to magically fly though the air like an exploded parts diagram coming together.

    I got the idea from a magic trick I bought in Vegas.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2013-12-30 13:19
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    I am just happy that Canon has made their hackable by CHDK. Buy something used that is supported if you can't afford a new one.

    I discovered CHDK by accident. I don't understand why people don't talk about it more. I love it, even if it's just to use an intervalometer for copter pics. One of the coolest things about it was that you can use the SD card write lock to turn it on and off, and when it's on it uses software to override the write lock. People are awesome for spending the time to make these things. Really unbelievable to turn $250 camera firmware into $1000+ features, plus the scripting ability.
  • David BDavid B Posts: 592
    edited 2013-12-30 14:17
    I used CHDK when I was doing some book digitization, with a $50 Canon camera I bought from eBay.

    CHDK adds additional menu options to the Canon camera firmware, including one where you can save your photograph in its full raw TIFF form, rather than in the jpeg compressed form, which is much better if you want to do post-processing on the pixels.

    It also provides options for an electrical USB-managed shutter (as well as a timed shutter) but I didn't do any experimenting with those features.

    It's pretty straightforward - you download and copy some files onto the cameras SD card, then power-up the camera using the correct sequence of commands, and the camera starts executing the modified firmware.

    The software is very definitely experimental code, but it did what it was supposed to on my camera.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2013-12-30 17:10
    For lovers of cinema stop motion, be sure to check out "Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan," available for streaming on Netflix, and elsewhere. Well done documentary. Rotten Tomatoes give it a 91% Fresh rating.

    Today, a lot of this stuff is pre-vizzed to save time and avoid mistakes (or simply done as 3D cartoons with a stop motion character look), and they just replicate what's on the rendered version. But I'm sure there are plenty that still do it the Harryhausen way, which is basically seat of the pants and hope you remember everything about the last pose! I would not be able to do it. My sword fighting skeletons would be forever walking backwards and stabbing each other, instead of the hero.
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