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10/26/2004 08:35:17 AM · #1 |
Hiya
I'm looking into the idea of making my camera do a few things that are not included in the orignal design.
Firstly I want to use an external flash, I read a few things about a digital slave unit which is triggered by the camera's built in flash, also I'm considering the feasibilty of opening up my camera and spuring off the built in flash to make a trigger for an external unit. Has anyone had any experiences with a slave unit or possibly any better ideas than my homebrew surgery?
The other project in mind is a remote shutter release, the best approach to this seems to be using a cable release unit and building some kind of mounting for my camera - any other suggestions or techniques would be most appreciated.
Has anyone else done much in the way of homemade accessories - would be great to hear of other potential projects that I can inflict on my camera :)
Cheers
Darren |
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10/26/2004 08:42:25 AM · #2 |
hehe, bit on the crazy side.
Be sure to post pictures of your monstrosity when done.
the remote shutter release you are probably best of the version that pushes out a pin and just have to build the mounting for the camera.
I would just buy another camera. |
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10/26/2004 08:42:35 AM · #3 |
| how bout sound trigger for flash.. |
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10/26/2004 08:45:20 AM · #4 |
| out of curiousity why would you want an external flash.. if you're using external lighting anyway ? |
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10/26/2004 09:50:19 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by colda:
Firstly I want to use an external flash, I read a few things about a digital slave unit which is triggered by the camera's built in flash, also I'm considering the feasibilty of opening up my camera and spuring off the built in flash to make a trigger for an external unit. Has anyone had any experiences with a slave unit or possibly any better ideas than my homebrew surgery?
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Just a word of caution about remote triggered flashes. You must have an option in your camera to turn pre-flashes off (red-eye reduction, meterings etc). These preflashes causes these remote triggered flashes to fire at the metering time, before the exposure (which is logical, of course).
Why not to build a cap around your built in flash, place some optoelectronics inside that and have a cord to trigger remote flash trough ISO shoe? That would be compatible with all ISO flashes and your internal flash would not interfere with the scene. If you need more challenge, replace the cord with IR or radio-waves. And write a howto for public use for people around the world to create similar tricks ;D.
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10/26/2004 09:59:30 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by lode:
Originally posted by colda:
Firstly I want to use an external flash, I read a few things about a digital slave unit which is triggered by the camera's built in flash, also I'm considering the feasibilty of opening up my camera and spuring off the built in flash to make a trigger for an external unit. Has anyone had any experiences with a slave unit or possibly any better ideas than my homebrew surgery?
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Just a word of caution about remote triggered flashes. You must have an option in your camera to turn pre-flashes off (red-eye reduction, meterings etc). These preflashes causes these remote triggered flashes to fire at the metering time, before the exposure (which is logical, of course).
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So called "digital" slaves are available for just that reason, they will ignore any pre-flash and will only fire the slaved unit when the main flash fires. |
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10/26/2004 10:50:10 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by colda:
Firstly I want to use an external flash, I read a few things about a digital slave unit which is triggered by the camera's built in flash, also I'm considering the feasibilty of opening up my camera and spuring off the built in flash to make a trigger for an external unit. Has anyone had any experiences with a slave unit or possibly any better ideas than my homebrew surgery? |
Just a word of caution on this one - if you have an electronics background and know what you are doing in terms of safety, have at it, but electronic flash units, even the built in ones, can pack quite a charge so you need to be careful with them.
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10/26/2004 11:06:52 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by colda:
Firstly I want to use an external flash, I read a few things about a digital slave unit which is triggered by the camera's built in flash, also I'm considering the feasibilty of opening up my camera and spuring off the built in flash to make a trigger for an external unit. Has anyone had any experiences with a slave unit or possibly any better ideas than my homebrew surgery? |
Just a word of caution on this one - if you have an electronics background and know what you are doing in terms of safety, have at it, but electronic flash units, even the built in ones, can pack quite a charge so you need to be careful with them. |
I have to second Gordon's warning to be careful. The capacitors in flash charging circuits can still deliver a significant jolt even if the unit is powered off and the batteries are removed. I have seen people get nasty electrical burns from messing around with a small flash unit from a disposable camera. |
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10/26/2004 11:26:52 AM · #9 |
there have been deaths reported due to shock from a desambled disposable flash units. so watch out.
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Originally posted by Gordon:
Originally posted by colda:
Firstly I want to use an external flash, I read a few things about a digital slave unit which is triggered by the camera's built in flash, also I'm considering the feasibilty of opening up my camera and spuring off the built in flash to make a trigger for an external unit. Has anyone had any experiences with a slave unit or possibly any better ideas than my homebrew surgery? |
Just a word of caution on this one - if you have an electronics background and know what you are doing in terms of safety, have at it, but electronic flash units, even the built in ones, can pack quite a charge so you need to be careful with them. |
I have to second Gordon's warning to be careful. The capacitors in flash charging circuits can still deliver a significant jolt even if the unit is powered off and the batteries are removed. I have seen people get nasty electrical burns from messing around with a small flash unit from a disposable camera. |
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10/26/2004 08:08:28 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by siggi:
I would just buy another camera. |
I second this motion.
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