Submitted by bfjames on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 23:42
Posted in
Hello.
I'm trying to develop a low cost intervalometer that works with older Nikon Coolpix cameras and others that use a serial interface. The reason I want to use these cameras is that I'm looking for a system that could cost less than $100 for the camera and controller. This would be used for a time lapse documentary project that would gather time lapses of various places along with voiceover from someone for whom that place is significant. It would be necessary to either be able to both build and distribute a large number of these and provide simple instructions for those who are so inclined to build their own.
What I'm wondering is where I would go to learn about this sort of serial protocol. I can wrap my head around making a simple connection to trigger a shot, but I know nothing of serial protocol. I did find this:
http://photopc.sourceforge.net/protocol.html
But I don't really understand any of it.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
- Bruce
Hi Bruce! Serial protocols
Hi Bruce!
Serial protocols are very easy. I'll presume (for the time being, to make things easier) that you'll be using the Arduino platform. As the Arduino has native UART support, it's very easy - you'll just need to connect the TX/RX pins of the Arduino to the TX and RX pins of the camera control, then from there it's as simple as saying something like:
Serial.print( some_byte );If you'll note, from your link - the protocol involves first sending a byte to start communication, reading a byte back to examine the result, and then sending a series of commands and reading the responses. These are all easily implemented using Serial.print()'s and Serial.read()'s.
!c