Connecting Cameras

[c-george]

I need some advice.

I'd like to have two D30s (or simular device) take a picture at exactly the same time (from 2 different angles of course).

What's the best way to do this? Is there some controller to link the two commercially available? Do I need to rig something myself? Anyone out there done this already?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Darryl]

How far apart are the cameras going to be from each other?

[Roger_Cavanagh]

Have you checked if the LC-4 wireless controller will operate two cameras? Apparently, it works up to 300ft away.

Cheers,

[c-george]

all cameras will be within 20 ft of eachother.

This will be in an enclosed, controlled space.

Looking at a single (maybe dual) subject from different angles.

what do you think?

[c-george]

In all the information I've found there is no mention of linking the one control device to multiple cameras.

I was hoping someone here had some experience with doing it :)

[chris maddock]

I suppose you could use two remote release cables, suitably modified to get the distance, possibly operated by a multi-pole switch.
All they are is three wires, of which two are shorted together when the shutter button is half-pressed and all three when it's fully pressed.
I'd opt for a multi-pole switch, simply to avoid shorting the contacts together of two different cameras, although it really oughtn't to have any risks.

It's just a pain that they used a proprietary connector, meaning that you "have" to buy the pukka article. The cheaper EOSs (eg Rebel 2000) use a standard 2.5mm stereo jack plug for their remote.

KRs
Chris

[Darryl]

If you do not want to get into rewiring, I'd simply make a device that would simply press the shutter button on two remotes at the same time.

I currently do not own one so I am strictly speaking from photos I have seen of the remotes, but it would seem to me that you could make a device that would hold both remotes firmly in place. Ad a lever that would contact the shutter releases at the same time, and hinge it to your device. When you are done you still have two remotes unaltered in any way.

[chris maddock]

Or you could just hold and fire one remote in each hand?

KRs
Chris

[c-george]

thanks all for the info so far..

so what about the "Shutter release time lag of just 55 ms" could this cause a discrepency in the photos? (as far as being taken at different times). I am planning to wire together the multi-release cable trigger that you described Chris.

any more advise?

[chris maddock]

I don't think that the 55ms would be the problem "per se", what you need to know is the tolerance on that figure (perhaps plus or minus 10%?). Therefore your difference would be a maximum of twice that - 11ms if the 55ms and my guess of 10% were correct.

Out of curiosity, what are you hoping to photograph that even 55ms difference would cause a problem?

Another thought - is the subject small and close enough to illuminate solely by flash? If so, you could set both cameras up with their shutters open (say, 30sec setting) in a dark room, and fire a flash at the subject, at settings previously determined to give correct exposure. You'd definitely have synchronised exposures then, subject to differences in camera-subject distance.

KRs
Chris

[c-george]

I'll be lighting it all w/out a flash. (kinoflo's mostly)

This may sound strange but I am getting simultaneous stills while shooting DV.

If you want more info email me off list.


rob
rob@verbalnet.com