Here is a simple Optoisolator Circuit (also known as an Optocoupler) that I use for my Nikon D750 camera, for an external remote Digital Shutter Trigger on my Camera’s Power Slider.
It is highly recommended that you isolate your Camera’s Trigger Control Circuit from any external voltage, even an Arduino!!! The only way to efficiently and effectively do this is via an Optical Isolation Circuit!!!
R1 and R2 are Current Limiting Resistors in this circuit and are designed for the 4N25 Phototransistor Optocoupler, driven from a Digital Logic CMOS Buffer IC, powered by a 12v Power Supply (I use a 12v Batt. for remote shoots to power my camera slider and the logic that controls the slider).
We #celebratephotography here at Adafruit every Saturday. From photographers of all levels to projects you have made or those that inspire you to make, we’re on it! Got a tip? Well, send it in!
If you’re interested in making your own project and need some gear, we’ve got you covered. Be sure to check out our Raspberry Pi accessories and our DIY cameras.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
Usually you want separate controls for trigger and focus. I made a similar rig for firing 32 Canon DSLRs simultaneously. If you want the photos to be guaranteed at the same time, then you must apply the focus line (even when using manual focus) wait for a short period, say around a second, and then trigger. Asserting the focus line puts the camera into an ‘alert’ state, where it is expecting the trigger, and in this condition there is a fixed latency. Just in case that may help someone else.
Usually you want separate controls for trigger and focus. I made a similar rig for firing 32 Canon DSLRs simultaneously. If you want the photos to be guaranteed at the same time, then you must apply the focus line (even when using manual focus) wait for a short period, say around a second, and then trigger. Asserting the focus line puts the camera into an ‘alert’ state, where it is expecting the trigger, and in this condition there is a fixed latency. Just in case that may help someone else.