Multiple Camera Time Lapse Photography - questions

[ricman3]

Hi

I want to set up multiple DSLRs, fire them all simultaneously at 1 second intervals and have the images saved directly to my computer. Is this possible?

I know the Canon EOS Utility software allows tethered shooting options, but I believe that the minimum time interval is 5 seconds, and that only one camera can be used at a time(?).

I know Breeze Systems provide software that can do this, but you have to buy a copy of the software for each camera which will be quite expensive.

I think the best option is to use the remote shutter release socket on the cameras, connect them all to a master switch, and then fire the switch with some sort of timing circuit/intervalometer every second. But then how do I save the images straight to my computer? Can DSLRs save directly to a computer, bypassing the memory card completely? Are there any cameras that can do this?

Any advice would be very helpful!

Many thanks
Richard

 

[johnh2005]

I think your master remote idea is a good one. I do not even know if someone makes something like this. It is probably something you will have to have custom made. As far as saving all of the shots to the computer... Maybe the wifi SD cards can do this I am not sure.

If you are familiar with the Breeze Systems software I would maybe try contacting them directly and see if they can offer a multiuse discount or something. They might even have something in the works for something like this and they might be willing to work with you on the price if you are willing to test it out for them. Also, they might be interested in making a deal for the software if you agree to let them use the time lapses. Just food for thought.

 

[mjhoward]

I'm currently developing software that will do exactly what you are asking for, as well as with streaming live view and simultaneous capture. Just how 'simultaneous' has yet to be tested, but I'm certain it will do better than the 1/6th of a second between cameras that the Breeze Systems will do (probably in the order of 1/100's). The software isn't finished yet and I've had to delay completing development of it to finish up another project but we'll be picking back up on it soon.

 

[mjhoward]

Tested this out today for 2 cameras and both 'stopped' a running stopwatch on the same 1/1000th of a second (MUCH better than the 1/6th that Breeze Systems is getting). So pretty simultaneous. If you'd like, I can let you know when we complete this application. I might also want to reference you for some functionality questions when we get closer to completion, for example some features you or someone doing similar work would want to see in this type of software.