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multiple camera sync

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multiple camera sync
« on: 05 / February / 2013, 17:45:40 »
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i want to shoot 10 canon power shot cameras simultaneously
to my understanding there are two ways to do that

1 remotely trigger them whit CHDK USB Remote Shutter Release http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqqtsRrTpgA#ws (12.20)

2 disassembled the cameras and hack the shutter control cable and  solder Shutter Release wire directly to the cameras’ printed circuit
Like this: http://imgur.com/a/i45Qv#0   


and connecting all in Parallel

my question is
: in which why the synchronizing between the cameras will bee better with Les lags between the shots???

Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #1 on: 05 / February / 2013, 18:15:52 »
my question is : in which why the synchronizing between the cameras will bee better with Les lags between the shots???
Go for the first method.  There is special code built-in to CHDK to enable precision synchronization of shots using the USB remote technique described.  And its a lot easier to setup.

Some camera's sync better than others but recently there has been work to make the sync even better.

More info here :  http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=8312.0
Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16

Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #2 on: 05 / February / 2013, 18:31:58 »
i want to shoot 10 canon power shot cameras simultaneously
disassembled the cameras and hack the shutter control cable and  solder Shutter Release wire directly to the cameras’ printed circuit

That will not give you particularly precise synch.

Some SDM users are triggering up to 30 cameras.

Yahoo SDM Group  member Will Watling has just completed this rig, ready for synch testing :-

https://picasaweb.google.com/116511132850787390723/450DLenticularRig?authuser=0&feat=directlink

« Last Edit: 05 / February / 2013, 18:39:19 by Microfunguy »

Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #3 on: 06 / February / 2013, 07:37:44 »
well what if my optional camera is not in that SMD list??   


Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #4 on: 06 / February / 2013, 09:03:31 »
well what if my optional camera is not in that SMD list??   
SDM is an old fork of CHDK.  The user interface is different as is the programming script language.  However,  both systems support the same basic functionality albeit with different features.

As far as sync for multiple cameras goes,  both systems use exactly the same mechanism.  AFAIK,  SDM is not ported to a new camera unless the port can start with a released CHDK port for that same camera supporting the necessary sync code.

So if your camera  is not on the SDM list,  you either wait for microfunguy to port that model or just use the CHDK version.  Everything you need for your application is in CHDK and the Lua scripting language is a much more powerful software tool.   You might also find the USB remote user interface in CHDK a bit earier to understand and work with.

You didn't mention what camera model you are using but here's a place to get started with CHDK : http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Downloads
« Last Edit: 06 / February / 2013, 09:06:07 by waterwingz »
Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16

Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #5 on: 06 / February / 2013, 11:22:44 »
well what if my optional camera is not in that SMD list??   

There are many more cameras that have now been ported and are being beta tested.

Which camera do you have ?


David

Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #6 on: 08 / February / 2013, 07:37:06 »
my optional cameras are sx220/230 or A2200. how can i tel which camera's sync  better? (not only this models)
can i have a link to the updated smd list
and one more thing
is that possible to use usb connection both for to the simultaneous sync shuter realice and file transferring to my pc from all my cameras at the same time?

Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #7 on: 08 / February / 2013, 08:04:28 »
my optional cameras are sx220/230 or A2200.
All supported by CHDK.  Maybe not with SDM (see below)

Quote
how can I tell which camera's sync  better? (not only this models)
I do not believe there is a list anywhere for every camera - you usually have to read the individual porting thread and maybe ask a question there.

Quote
can i have a link to the updated smd list
http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=9424.msg96743;topicseen#msg96743

Quote
is that possible to use usb connection both for to the simultaneous sync shuter realice and file transferring to my pc from all my cameras at the same time?
Sort of.  If you use chdkptp and a little scripting on its command line you can transfer files from multiple cameras and you can cause them to shoot. 

However, you won't get precision sync that way - you need to use the CHDK/SDM built-in precision sync function and a mechanical switch that controls the +5V USB line for that.  You can build something farily easily if you want - insert a switch in series with the red wire of a standard camera-to-computer USB cable and use the PC for your +5V power source.  Leave the switch in the ON position when transferring files.  I do this all the time.


« Last Edit: 08 / February / 2013, 08:16:54 by waterwingz »
Ported :   A1200    SD940   G10    Powershot N    G16


Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #8 on: 08 / February / 2013, 10:37:17 »
my optional cameras are sx220/230 or A2200.

The A2200 will be supported in the next few days.
The SX220/230 can be ported very quickly but I have no idea what the synch will be like.
Bear in mind that for cameras introduced in and after 2011 the synch may be very poor.

Also consider that I have tested the synch between two cameras.
Statistically, what is the variation of synch difference for multiple cameras ?

As well as the cameras listed on the SDM website, there are many more cameras available for beta testing here :

http://www.zenoshrdlu.com/assist/assist.html

They include :-

a490 100f
a495 100f
a800 100c
a810 100b, 100d and 100e
a1000 100a
a3200 100a and 100d
g12 100c, 100e and 100g
ixus105 100b and 100c
ixus750 100f, 100g and 100h
s95 100h, 100i and 100k
s100 100d, 100e, 101a and 101b
sx20 102b and 102d
sx130is 101c and 101f
sx210is 100c
sx230hs 101b

Quote
how can i tel which camera's sync  better? (not only this models)

I have synch tests for a number of cameras.

Surprisingly, the best synch is from the inexpensive A810.

The median value of synch difference is 1/8000 sec, the worst difference is 1/500 sec !

Re: multiple camera sync
« Reply #9 on: 08 / February / 2013, 12:15:48 »
There are implications for synch when using more than two cameras.
Let us take the synch data for 83 shots taken with the A810.

100% had a synch difference of 1/400 second or better.
So, ten cameras would (presumably) also have a synch difference of 1/400 second maximum.

90% had a synch difference of 1/800 second or better.
For ten cameras, I would think the percentage with that synch difference maximum all at the same time would be 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 = 0.43.
Let's say 43 %, or just four of your cameras.

The SX230hs had such poor synch we did not bother testing test.

I do not have synch tests for any 'SX' cameras.

For 56 shots with the G12, 100% had a synch difference of 1/100 second or better.
88% had a synch difference of 1/400 second or better.
So, I guess 36 % of your ten cameras will have that for any shot, in other words just three of them.

Just don't try to synch at too high a shutter speed.

 

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