Filter
Top Products
Time-Lapse Package
Revision D
Harbortronics LLC 5 1/5/2007
Zoom in for details…
System Components
Digital Camera
The Time-Lapse Package can be used with a wide range of cameras, from point & shoot, to SLR’s. Most customers prefer that we
supply the camera, and this is our preference as well, but we can also provide the system without a camera, if you already have a
camera that you’d like to use.
There are a host of considerations to evaluate when choosing a camera model for time-lapse photography, particularly in the field.
The ultimate goal of your project is to collect a series of images over a long period of time, regardless of the environmental
conditions. Shutter life, image quality, power consumption, and of course reliability are major concerns. We have done this research
for you, and believe we have a good recommendation.
As in many endeavors, “details count!”. For instance: some customers have asked to use their own Nikon SLR camera. While the
cameras would certainly be perfectly suited to capturing images, there are some difficulties accommodating most Nikon SLR’s in
time-lapse. Most Nikon SLR cameras have an external power connector… they are proprietary to Nikon, so we would have to buy
their expensive AC adapter, simply to cut off the connector. When powered externally, we have found that Nikon SLR’s never shut
off the metering… the camera continues to draw some power all the time, which is a battery killer! If powered via the battery
compartment, this isn’t an issue. However, getting power to the battery terminals is not easy either, and Nikon now has a proprietary
battery sensor, to ensure that only their batteries are used. Shutter release is another issue. The latest small Nikon SLR’s are sized
perfectly for the housing, but they do not have a shutter release connection. While we can modify a camera to add such a connector,
it’s not cost effective in most cases. Those SLR’s that do have a shutter release jack use proprietary connectors… again, making the
system more expensive. Nikon makes fine cameras, but they make it very difficult to use their cameras in this application!
We have less experience with Canon SLR’s. The Digital Rebel series use an industry standard connector for the shutter release, but
their ‘professional’ SLR cameras use a proprietary connector. Many Canon SLR’s do not have an external jack for power, but most
have some dummy battery pack accessory with an AC adapter. If you have a camera you would like to use, we may need to borrow
your camera for a day, to see if we can come up with the proper connections.