[Fotoopa] keeps churning out new iterations of his laser-triggered camera rig. This is his latest, which he calls the 2011 setup. Regular readers will remember that we just covered a different version back in November; that one was the 2010 rendition. It had two DSLR cameras offset by 90 degrees with mirrors to face forward. This time around he has gone back to the single camera setup which was what he used on the first and second versions seen way back in 2008.
Whew, that’s a lot of links to specialty DSLR hardware. Let’s bring it back to this newest model (the link at the top). The biggest improvement is the shutter delay between when the laser beam is tripped and the image is take. [Fotoopa] reports that he’s managed to reduce that time down to 3.3 milliseconds. This is thanks to an external shutter replacement which improves on the stock shutter’s 52 millisecond delay.
For those that are seeing this for the first time. [Fotoopa] uses this rig to photograph insects in motion. A laser trip wire is responsible for triggering the shutter, and it does so with stunning results!
This is his old one, he’s working on a new one, this one is completely dissembled.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoopa_hs/6412202503/in/photostream
Funny, all that effort to get the right shot, then he slams on some rather ugly text logo.
“fotoopa” means “photo grandpa”. No wonder he uses comic sans (I believe). One imagines he keeps his originals unmolested.
Can you blame him with the text? I mean I just briefly looked over his project and from the looks of it he spent a lot of money, let alone all the money he has spent reworking, modifying, testing parts and buying tools (FOR HIS LATHE AND MILL!! Wish I had these too) I would put the text on too so I would be the only one to sell the amazing photos he has.
Oh and I am sure he has the original RAW photos untouched, but that’s for making prints, touching up, and for the historical archive.
Besides if he can sell these photos then he can make a new one!!!
Great job Fotoopa, very well done! I just wish I had that kind of money to spend on awesome camera gear!
Now if only he could pick a design and stick with it, then maybe I would have a chance in building something remotely close to it. =D
Thank Rob, you understand perfectly what I realize. Many people do not understand why so much design is needed. There is more than photography:
– Hardware design.
– Milling, turning, drilling.
– Working with tools.
– Optics and laser technology.
– Electronic design.
– PCB design, etching, mounting components.
– Write and test software.
– Using logic analyzer, oscilloscope, programmer, debugger.
And of course there is high-speed macro and the problems with shutter-lag and flash exposure. And yes, I build a new version, this time for 3D high-speed macro shots. Although I am old, I’m glad to realize this and to be able to share my experience.
fotoopa.