Hi! I am pretty sure that the stereo-data-maker camera firmware hack allows synchronising two cameras to make photos with intervals. In fact, it is what is was made for. So no need for circuits when using canon powershots! The site: http://www.stereo.jpn.org/eng/sdm/index.htm

Hi Jasja,

I think the stereo photography and other synchronous photography done with SDM requires that an external signal be sent to the multiple cameras. That is often done with a switch or timer (or fancy timer for bullet-time sequences). Our goal is to have the cameras receive this signal while they are aloft, so a circuit of some sort is required. SDM or CHDK can trigger a camera at any interval, but it can't synchronize two cameras without an external signal. We have figured out how to use CHDK (which has the same features as SDM) to precisely sync two cameras (http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/cfastie/4-14-2012/good-shutter-synchronization). We are now working on doing this with a $5 timer (http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/cfastie/5-2-2012/no-output-signal-ir-kit-timer). That is mostly resolved except for finding an appropriate battery. Up soon will be syncing the cameras with a $10 transmitter/receiver pair (http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/cfastie/4-22-2012/tiny-remote-control). So it's kind of like all circuits, all the time!

Chris

It may be that the video processing in the different camera chips handle movement differently .. thus the apparent delay and re-synch Is there a steady function on one camera, which will try and smooth out movement with auto cropping of a frame larger than the recorded image? Does one of the lenses have an anti shake feature? Also if the lens barrels are moved / shook in relation to their sensors. Good work though, It sure beats building a 200 foot tripod.

Roderick, that's a really good point that the two cameras are different models and might be processing the frames differently. Someone also commented that if the two clips are just a tiny bit out of sync they would appear to have strange behavior. So there are a lot of variables to worry about and I have decided not to. Also, I'm almost ready to post about a new dual camera rig design. One every two years seem about right?

Thanks, I've also put together a quick video about picavet if anybody needs instructions.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmRau9R2ZO8&feature=youtube_gdata_player