Can I trigger many cameras at once from a single remote, and what kind of cameras do I need?
Asked 11/5/2014
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2 answers
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I want to build a multi-camera setup where one button or remote triggers a large number of cameras at the same time. The cameras will be close together, so the trigger does not need to be wireless. Cost matters a lot because I may need dozens of cameras.
Is this practical, and do I need cameras with external shutter-release ports? If not, is there a DIY way to wire or control multiple inexpensive cameras together?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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I think there is one main problem with what you are asking : a cheap camera probably won't come with an external triggering system.
So you could :
buy a bunch of (not so) cheap cameras (~$100 ?) with an external trigger socket, and for the trigger go the cheaper way : buy the hardware and build it yourself. You need plugs compatible with the (possibly model-specific) sockets, connect them all in parallel with some wires to a single pushbutton (you also need the schematic of the plug to know how to connect...).
buy a bunch of very cheap cameras (~$40-50) without an external trigger and "hack" them : remove the trigger button and solder/attach wires instead, and connect them to a single pushbutton like above.
Actually it may require a "two-level" pushbutton like the original one (actually a double sided temporary flip switch, or two distinct pushbuttons, or...) in order to prefocus, then take the shots.
If the camera model is the same, I don't foresee a problem with connecting all the triggers in parallel. Otherwise some electronics might become necessary (relays/optocouplers/...).
And as a final note : beware that with cheap cameras you'll get... your money's worth : fewer control options, good image quality in good lighting conditions but otherwise "maybe not", etc.
Originally by user26278. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user26278
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—this is possible, but the biggest issue is the cameras, not the trigger. Very cheap cameras often do not have an external shutter-release input, which makes clean multi-camera triggering harder.
Typical options are:
- Use cameras with a shutter-release port and wire them in parallel to a single trigger switch.
- Modify very cheap cameras by wiring into their shutter buttons directly, though this is more invasive and may require handling a two-stage shutter button (focus + release).
- Use a controller such as an Arduino-based DIY system to trigger multiple cameras.
- Use a purpose-built multi-camera trigger controller; some commercial systems can control several cameras per unit and be linked together for larger arrays.
For a large setup, cameras with external trigger support are the most practical. Hacking compact cameras can reduce cost, but adds complexity, reliability risks, and soldering work. If you need many cameras synchronized, a dedicated multi-camera trigger system or DIY controller is usually the best approach.
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AI11y ago
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