Homage to Jacko & Rackat - DPChallenge Forums

02/07/2005 08:15:26 AM · #26

I am back from visiting my new granddaughter

in the USA, pictures here and will do as I promised about some building instructions this week.
I was given a model helicopter for my 60th birthday while away and it is competing for my time!
However, here is some good news. I discovered that you can buy a laser transmitter, ready to use, without modification. Hardware stores are now offering laser spirit levels, complete with push on/push off switch. Harbor Freight in the USA are doing them for only $7.99!!!

Take the black cover with lens in it off to produce a spot.
I cut mine down - instructions to follow - don't pull the laser end out or it will break!

Got to their website and see. I don't know about availability elsewhere but go look!
I have just uploaded a revised schematic of a slightly simpler design, without the integrated circuit

which makes it an easier project to build. As soon as I have built the new version, already tested as a bread board, I will write instructions for you, complete with parts list and a user manual.
Thank you for your patience,
Hugh
PS Forgive me if I bump this a few times, but the west coasters aren't up yet!

02/07/2005 05:07:39 PM · #27

Bump for the East Coast afternoon!

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

02/18/2005 04:39:27 AM · #28

I am trying to find a way to publish the beam breaker build instructions as part of the tutorial on DPC. Until that problem is solved, you may reach the draft here. The build instructions come at the end of this version of the tutorial.

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

02/25/2005 08:11:41 AM · #29

I received your PM Hugh. Thanks very much. The tutorial is excellent. When time permits I'd really love to build the beam breaker.

blindjustice

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/25/2005 09:39:28 AM · #30

You really are into this stuff. you should volunteer your time researching a cure for cancer- youv'e gotten way too elaborate on a set up for a glass splash photo. a photographic super hero like yourself must follow the old addage. An outrageous rube goldberg you have created!

"never use your powers for self gain"

great tutorial- sorry for the stupid post.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

02/25/2005 09:49:48 AM · #31

Can this be done without the beam breaker?

I quickly read through the tutorial so I couldn't extract all the info but I've been seeing drop/pour/slpash etc shot all over the place and wondered HOW????

Does it simply take multiple, multiple tries?

Message edited by author 2005-02-25 09:50:30.

brockmd

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/25/2005 10:16:34 AM · #32

this is a really great tutorial. I am jazzed to try something like this now.

Thanks

Dean

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

02/25/2005 03:45:39 PM · #33

Originally posted by pawdrix:

Most of the splash shots seen in DPC were taken without the benefit of a beam breaker - the photgraphers just had plenty of patience and persistence.
It still requires a bit of patience when using the beam breaker but once it is set up, you can try a whole host of variations (lighting, speed, aperture, DoF, angle, composition and so on), knowing that the drop/pour/splash bit will always be spot on cue.
It adds to the fun - try it!
Hugh

langdon

Canon EOS-20D

02/26/2005 12:26:55 PM · #34

This has been update and now includes a second page detailing the beam breaker.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

02/26/2005 02:00:45 PM · #35

Originally posted by hughletheren:

Originally posted by pawdrix:
Can this be done without the beam breaker?

I quickly read through the tutorial so I couldn't extract all the info but I've been seeing drop/pour/slpash etc shot all over the place and wondered HOW????

Does it simply take multiple, multiple tries?

Most of the splash shots seen in DPC were taken without the benefit of a beam breaker - the photgraphers just had plenty of patience and persistence.
It still requires a bit of patience when using the beam breaker but once it is set up, you can try a whole host of variations (lighting, speed, aperture, DoF, angle, composition and so on), knowing that the drop/pour/splash bit will always be spot on cue.
It adds to the fun - try it!
Hugh

I'm too busy, and too un-handy, to make my own. Want to make me one and sell it to me (for some profit is ok!)?

02/26/2005 04:06:18 PM · #36

Hi Hugh,

just thought I'd let you know that I'm now well into the build for the beam breaker, which is going well. Here is the parts list from Maplins (UK) with part numbers if anyone is interested (the resistors arn't included, but everything else is there I think).

2AAA Battery Box JB83E 3621 Â£0.39
Stereo Plas 3.5 Plug HF98G 0 Â£0.79
Ster 3.5mm Ch Jk Skt FK03D 0 Â£0.99
Stereo Plas 3.5 Skt RK51F 268 Â£0.79
Box PB1 Black LH14Q 428 Â£3.98
Sub-Min Toggle C FH02C 411 Â£2.98
Sub-Min Toggle A FH00A 463 Â£1.49
Sub-Min Toggle A FH00A 463 Â£1.49
SP Slide FF77J 502 Â£0.49
SFH300-2 NP64U 1768 Â£0.49
2mA 3mm Green LED CJ56L 2613 Â£0.16
Keychn Laser Pointer L99AC 1481 Â£9.99
Dble Sd Foam 12x10 N91AL 176 Â£1.99

I've got the transmitter built and working, I've hacked the remote switch cable, just waiting on the phototransister and a couple of switches to come back into stock.

Must say Hugh, your instructions are pretty clear and easy to follow - many thanks

Falc

Message edited by author 2005-02-26 16:26:24.

03/01/2005 04:09:38 AM · #37

Thank you Falc for taking the trouble to list the parts with Maplin part numbers and prices; very helpful for anyone in the UK. Good Luck with the final build - looking forward to seeing some results.

I have responded to nshapiro by PM. I did think briefly about making this into a marketable product but the investment required , even for something as simple as this, is significant. And it would take up valuable photo taking time. . .

As Langdon has pointed out, the DPC tutorial now includes the build instructions. There is a later version here, updated to include some input from Falc. This will be updated on the fly until the bugs are at an acceptable level, when I will ask Langdon to do a final update on the DPC version.

03/12/2005 01:36:16 PM · #38

Just to let everyone know I am now the proud owner of a working 'HughLetheren' Beam Breaker. It works fine and has been fully tested.

With the build I had a few issues, but more down to my terrible eyesight and bad soldering than Hugh's instructions.

Transmitter. Nothing really to go wrong here, just working out how to keep the little switch closed to allow the lazer to fire. I ended up hitting it quite forcefully with a centre punch. It appears to have done the trick. The other trick I used was to drill a slightly smaller hole than required to take the lazer pointer, then soften the case with the soldering iron slightly. Pushing the pointer into the soft plastic has provided a very stable fix. It also allowed me to 'level' the beam whilst the plastic was still soft. Be careful though its easy to melt too much.

Receiver. OK I had a bit of fun here. First of all I fixed the battery holders upside down - doh!!, but having worked that out managed to wire everything up pretty easily. Again using the melting plastic trick to screw in the switches , socket, led and photo transister. In Hugh's build notes he mentions getting the LED wired in upside down - I did that and had to unsolder the LED, unfortunately in the process I melted the leg off the phototransister too - double doh !!

Anyway, after ordering the new parts I very quickly checked the polarity and soldered them in. No problem.

A big thanks to Hugh for the tutorial, well worth the effort Hugh, much appreciated.

I plan to have this breaker set up across the flight path of nesting blue tits in the spring - so no need to watch the birdie ;-)

Once again thanks Hugh, I'm sure we will see many other DPCers with these pretty soon.

Falc

Message edited by author 2005-03-12 13:37:27.

03/12/2005 01:40:16 PM · #39

One thought about an enhancement:

How difficult would it be to have the breaker auto-reset ?
So every time the beam was broken the camera would fire. I'm thinking that getting out to the proximity of the nest box to reset may be disruptive to the birds. However, if its going to be way too difficult then thats what I'll have to do.

Falc

ralph

Nikon Z9

03/12/2005 01:50:22 PM · #40

here is a
timer based beam trigger ...
i built two years ago -- see also
drips which i should redo
also great for fine grained changes

(hmmm wonder what this will do to my server ;)