Time lapse with a D50

Panzerbjorn

Panzerbjorn

Suspended / Banned
Messages
159
Edit My Images
Yes
Lo all,

I'm taking some time lapse with my D50 and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for remote triggering the shutter every minute or so.

I've got the ML-L3 remote but it still requires me to push the button every minute.

I've found a couple of devices that can do it but they all cost about $150 and can only be bought from the states.

I was wondering if I could rig up a digital timer unit to fire the ML-L3 every minute but I wouldn't know how to go about it. I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron but all of my electronics knowledge came from GCSE Systems and Control (almost 6 years ago) and I've forgotten most of it.

Anyone done anything similar?

Cheers

Panzer
 
Cheers Jimmy I'll take a gander at that.

Someone on another forum just mentioned about Nikon Camera Control. I can't really afford it and at the moment I can't put my computer near the camera, just thought I would mention it if anyone was going to suggest it.

:)

Panzer
 
Didn't someone say that Nikon's have an intervalometer built in?

Either way, if your ML-L3 has a 2.5mm jack socket on it then one of the timers I made will work fine. I'm about to put together another order for parts so let me know if this is of use to you. They're £15 delivered with a battery.
 
Thanks for the info Mark,

The ML-L3 uses an infra-red signal to trigger the shutter rather than a plug you can put in the actual camera. The D50 doesn't have a wired shutter release. However if the timer just fires a signal through the circuit I'm sure I could just bypass the button and use the signal to fire the ML-L3.

Panzer
 
Drop me a PM if you're still interested, definitely sounds achievable but I can't believe the D50 doesn't have a remote socket?!
 
uh......I use Nikon Capture Camera Control, it comes with Nikon Capture 4 and NX, you are ofcourse tethered to the pc, but thats what its for, let the pc control the camera:thumbs:
And may I say, its a blinding bit of software, I've no clue what anyone shooting studio regularly, uses instead..
 
Cheers mark and joxby for the input. Like I said in the OP I don't have a computer I can hook it up to just yet. Going to be a couple of weeks before I have the laptop and then there's the price of the software.

I bought myself a spare ML-L3 in case I break it and I've got a 'universal start/stop timer' which I'll put together tomorrow.

The only issue I can see is the contact on the ML-L3 is a bit odd:

ML-L3.jpg


I'm assuming I can just join the in/out from the timer to either end of the 'snake like' contact. Failing that I'll have to unscrew the pcb, flip it over and see if there's an obvious + and - that I can solder to, to bypass the switch completely.

Panzer
 
Just realised I've gone and bought the wrong circuit kit.

Can anyone confirm that I can use a 555 Astable Switch Kit:

• Provides a timed output pulse at regular intervals
• Adjustable pulse duration and cycle time
• Period from 1 second to over 1 minute/ pulse time from less than 0.5 seconds to over 5 seconds
• Single pole changeover relay rated at 24V 10A (not suitable for direct switching of mains voltages)
• Requires a 12V power supply

I'm assuming that the timed output pulse is enough to trigger the ML-L3. The kit I'm looking at triggers a buzzer/speaker but I don't see why the contacts can't be adapted to fit to the ML-L3.

Cheers

Panzer
 
It works by joe!

It starts out with these:

Tools.jpg


And these:

Bits.jpg


It starts going together like this:

PCB.jpg


And with a bit of this:

Hands.jpg


Ends up looking like this:

Completed-PCB.jpg


Then you attach it to the ML-L3 and it looks like this:

Finished.jpg


That's it. :D

I've now got a fully working adjustable time laps controller :D

Panzer
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top