Can a PC headphone/audio output trigger a Canon T5's 2.5mm remote shutter port?
Asked 2/28/2017
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I have a Canon T5 with the 2.5mm remote shutter release port. Can a PC's audio/headphone output trigger the shutter directly by playing a beep or tone, or do these connections work differently? If not directly, what kind of interface would be needed?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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Since the other answers suggesting using an interface such as triggertrap don't address the specific question to your satisfaction: No, this is very, very unlikely to work. Despite the plugs being similar, they serve very different purposes. The camera release is basically an open circuit with a voltage potential (measured at 3v on mine) waiting to be closed by a switch, either mechanical (a simple button or slide switch) or electronic (as in the case of audio triggers, intervalometers, etc). An audio output is designed to present a fluctuating voltage across a load, not to close a circuit.
Given that there's a certain threshold resistance below which the camera will decide that its circuit has been "closed", and that audio outputs of the sort that you describe may very well present a resistance in that range, there's a reasonably good chance that simply plugging the two together will trigger the release.
Even if the shutter doesn't release just from plugging the two together, playing a sound is unlikely to do any triggering, since it doesn't do anything to close the circuit. Your audio output may even have a capacitor inline blocking the DC from the camera (and if it doesn't, it might not be very happy to have the voltage applied to it). Sorry! You can probably find some DIY interface projects out there, if you just can't resist the mad science. (See Chris H's answer for an example of just how simple of an interface you might be able to use.)
Originally by user37649. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user37649
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Not directly, in most cases. The camera’s 2.5mm remote port is essentially expecting a switch closure on its shutter/focus contacts, while a PC audio output sends an AC audio signal meant to drive headphones or speakers. Even though the plugs may look similar, they do different jobs.
A simple beep from the sound card is therefore very unlikely to trigger the shutter reliably or safely by itself.
If you want to use audio as the trigger source, you’d typically need an interface circuit, such as an opto-isolator (or relay/transistor circuit), to convert the audio signal into an isolated switch closure for the camera. That usually also involves rectifying/conditioning the audio signal.
A more practical alternative is to control the camera over USB using Canon EOS software or the Canon SDK, if your goal is computer-based shutter control rather than specifically using the audio jack.
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