Handheld for USB shutter release

[derekmitch]

Hi,

Does anybody know if it's possible to use a handheld [ Pocket PC, Linux or Palm] with a USB port to trigger the release of the shutter of a Powershot A70? For example, would Cam4you work on a Pocket PC? The applications I have in mind are time lapse photography and using the infra red port of the Pocket PC as a way of triggering the shutter via a handheld remote control. Both of these features are avaiable in the G5 but I couldn't justifying its price and so bought an A70 instead. Incidentally, apart from these limitations I'm *very* happy with my A70.

Any ideas or help on this much appreciated.

Cheers,
Derek.

[cA70]

I can't give u an answer, but i'd asume that if its a computer, i wouldn't see why not. But the actual image would be pretty small on the hand held.

The only advantage i can see is storing the images directly onto the hand held, but how much can u really store on there?

time lapse, if its because u dont want to touch the camera to move it, well bad news because ur either gonna have to sit there constantly or it the lens will retract. I've put a post on this forum trying to find an answer, and its not auto-powerdown.

Heres the post
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=17149

still no replies so i can't give u an answer.

[derekmitch]

My last time lapse film was made up of more than 2000 shots and the A70 performed perfectly, i.e. it didn't power down. I used Cam4You utilities.

I'd like to be able to use Cam4You or, something similar, in the field literally :) I need battery life of a minimum of six hours.

Linux is available for a few PDAs but I'm not sure about the USB side of things. I've got a hunch that the ports used in PDAs may not be the same type one finds in a laptop or desktop machines. If the same type of USB port is used then maybe that's the way I'll go.

p.s. I only mentioned writing to a tethered hard disk because I got some [not much] extra battery life from the A70 when I transfered the images over the USB cable instead of writing the images directly to CF card. That said, I'd be pefectly happy to be able to simply use the PDA as a remote cable release.

[cA70]

Cam4You, does this turn your camera into a sort of webcam? I don't mean continious stream but if it does the job your saying, then batteries would be the only problem. And i might have to look into it.

UNLESS your near a power outlet and get the external power source for the A70. I always though it was a waiste of money because you can buy about 6 sets of 4 bats for the same price and u can't move to far with it.

Does your camera start to heat up when it gets to 6hrs? Read the post about the turing cameras into webcams.

[derekmitch]

Cam4You allows things like picture transfer and remote shutter release. It's similar to the bundled Canon Browser/Remote software but it's a smaller, simpler more generic application. It has a Remote capture feature that allows shots to be taken at predetemined intervals or at a particular time of day.

Having the camera take a shot every 20 seconds or so doesn't seem to over heat the camera. When I remove the flat batteries after say a four hour run they feel slightly warm, but not hot, and the camera is its normal termperature.

Using the A70 as a webcam: I've used my Video-in port on my TV card [Pinnacle PCTV] as the input to "Active Webcam" from PY Software and that worked well for creating a *webpage* webcam. But to be honest it's overkill and a cheap dedicated webcam would be a more practical solution. Likewise, Cam4You works fine for capturing an image every 20 seconds, any quicker than that though and I can imagine things heating up. Note: None of these options will work with Messenger or Netmeeting, though.


I think I'm still on the path towards a cheap Pocket PC with a *host* USB, e.g. Toshiba e755 / Acer N10 or N20. And I'll investigate the SDK development route mentioned by Hitesh over at http://forums.powershot-a.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5981

[billh101]

Hmmm... this sounds very interesting. I have a color pocket pc with 64 MB of memory and a compact flash card slot, unfortunately, it doesn't have a USB port on it directly. I have to put it in the cradle to hook up to the PC, so I don't think that option would work for me. I may have to try Cam4you on my laptop though and do some timed shots with the A70.
Bill

[cA70]

If i was going to do it, i'd want at sun rise to the end of the dayt, and unless i had the external powerpack, like above the camera's batteries would cark it.

[derekmitch]

Also, watch-out because the battery compartment is blocked when the camera is attached to a tripod. So, in the films I've taken to date you can actually spot the moment [after about 1400 shots] when the batteries have been changed. To allow access I'll have to make a special fixing ring that has a chunk taken out of one side.

[cA70]

Have u made a tripod that is offcenter u mean, or taken a chunk out of the camera?

[derekmitch]

> "I'll have to make.."

I meant that I was going to have to make a special fixing disc to attach the camera to my mini tripod, but I've had a rethink and all I need do is remove the disc altogether and just screw the main thread from the tripod as far as it will go into the camera body and that should be enough to permit access to the battery compartment.

Incidentally, I'm moving away from the idea of USB shutter control because of the cost and instead will try and go for a mechanical approach to periodically depress the shutter release button.

Of course, I'm a fickle chap :) and if a cheap digital solution comes along I'm sure I'll go for that instead.