SLR Camera Focus and Shutter Control
Our client, Jackie, is a keen amateur photographer but is having increasing difficulty operating the focus and shutter release button on her SLR camera. This electronic touch sensor clips to the camera and enables her to continue enjoying her hobby.
The Challenge
Jackie is a keen amateur photographer who has MND. The disease is progressing relatively slowly, but she is finding it increasingly difficult to operate the “press and hold to focus” and “press harder to shoot” button on her Nikon SLR camera. Jackie wants to continue with her hobby and needs a way to operate the camera.
The solution
The equipment comprises two parts:
The control box is a 75mm x 50mm ABS box which contains an STM8 microcontroller, some driver transistors and a NiMh battery. The initial software development was done on an Arduino Nano but the ST Microelectronics product was selected for its small size and low current consumption. The software was written in C/C++ using the Arduino IDE then transferred to the STM8 for the final implementation.
The Prototype Controller
The Trigger is a tiny ABS box containing a touch sensor and a pair of LEDs to indicate Focusing and Shutter Release. It fixes to the camera body with a 3D printed clip. The clip is flexible for easy attachment to the camera. We explored a number of design iterations to get the trigger to be in the best position. A Nikon cable connects the device to the camera’s remote control socket.
Operation is one touch to focus (focus is held automatically for 5 seconds), second touch to shoot.
The Trigger and Control Box ready to Fit to the Camera
The benefit
Jackie can now enjoy her hobby again. She said “Having access to taking photographs again has opened up a hobby for me once again. The fact that it has been indicated to me that REMAP want to continue to help as my condition progresses means so much.”
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