Motion trigger for flash

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Fretsaw

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David
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Anyone got any info on a motion sensor to trigger a flash. A bespoke unit or a circuit diagram to construct one. I think it would be possible to construct a fairly simple circuit. Found this for Canon.

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I don't want to fire it via the camera and anyway don't know if it would work with Nikon. Bit expensive to experiment with as well.
 
You can make one quite easily with an Arduino. I used a photoresistor in this one, with polling for the value, but if I was doing it now, I'd use a phototransistor and make the code event-driven:-

I later added a knob to dial in a delay and a screen to show the value of the delay.
 
It could be as simple as a PIR module and mosfet (and a couple of resistors and capacitors), or other detection and an Arduino as mentioned above (I still use PICs not usually Arduinos)

The problem with a PIR is that it may not fire as immediately as you want all the time. And they won't trigger on some size objects,
Detecting light change may work if there is enough light, or a light beam if the moving object will cross it, and ultrasonic would work if the object was within range and of a suitable size.
I don't know what the range or detection sensitivity is of the project in the link above

The most reliable would be a camera based system (similar to how CCTV motion detectors work) but in comparison, very complex, and expensive.

Using a small PIR module, you could build it dead bug style, so construction could be simple.

Maybe you could describe how it is going to be used, and what the desired features are, would help to give a better answer. You mention triggering the flash, what would trigger the camera? Or won't there be a camera?
 
Apologies for adding no value to this thread. Just thought I'd let @Scooter & @Sangoma your replies are very informative but I must confess it may aswell be in a foreign language to me.

All clever stuff by the sounds of it.

Gaz
 
Thanks for replies some good prompts there. Have heard of Arduino but that is it. Is it a long learning curve? Was actively doing circuits prototyping on breadboards in the 70's but apart from making the voltage regulator about 20 years ago not done anything since on that sort of scale so have not kept up with any of the development since then. Ideally finding a circuit diagram I can follow would do me. Will have a more detailed look at what you have sent me sounds like what Owen has made would do the trick as would need a delay adjustment to fine tune. The camera would be on bulb and everything (apart from me) in the dark. Had the idea many years ago of catching flying insects but never did it because of the cost of film involved in getting it perfect. With digital giving immediate result, the project is looking more feasible particularly now got my flash working. Was inspired by Steven Dalton. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Dalton_(photographer)
 
Counts out simple solution I can think of, unless they are very big insects :)
 
Sangoma said:
Counts out simple solution I can think of, unless they are very big insects :)
Click to expand...
lol! I did consider a beam-breaking trigger system to take a picture of a diver.

I found a few:

laser beam break camera trigger

laser beam break camera trigger system
www.versatrigger.co.uk www.versatrigger.co.uk
sabre-switch.co.uk

Triggersmart Camera Trigger

Enhance your photography with this camera trigger system to capture anything from water droplets to wildlife. Photograph almost impossible images using Triggersmart , Triggerscout or Triggerbeam . The newly released is the Triggersmart Mk2 includes a wireless multi sensor ( WMS ) option. The...
sabre-switch.co.uk sabre-switch.co.uk

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In the end I managed without.
 
Thank you, Simon, the versa trigger looks like what I want ready-made and affordable.
 
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