DSLRFocus - help required

[niko]

Seeking some more help from this wonderful community.

I can get the short exposure aspect of DSLR Focus working no worries but the long exposure jsut isn't working. It goes through the motions and makes all the right noises but images aren't saved either to the camera of PC.

Using a Canon 350D

Any ideas?

thanks eberyone

niko

[Octane]

Have you built a serial control cable to control the camera for long exposures?

The D!GIC II series of cameras did not have long exposure control via USB.

I used the instructions from Michael Covington's site to build mine.

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/dslr/CanonRelease.html

H

[niko]

Thanks H,

I'm using a DSUSB cable and box from Shoestring to my USB - shouldn't that work too?

cheers

niko

[TrevorW]

you need a serial to usb cable to run the camera using dslr focus

make sure you have the port set correctly

once you've loaded the driver for the usb-serial connector

and plugged it in check in device manager to see what port it's connected too and make sure this is set in dslr focus

[niko]

Thanks Trevor - does that mean a cable instead of the DSUSB or in addition?

The whole set up works in short exposure so I would have thought would also work in long exposure...?

I'm not sure I could handle yet another cable - is there other software that would work with the USB cable and the DSUSB?

Oh - hang on. Do I use DSUSB from camera release and then the serial port to the port I'm currently using the straight USB port? Can I but this cable or do I have to make??

Do I sound confused:shrug:

niko

[troypiggo]

Not sure what cables you have, but am assuming you have the DSUSB box with USB connector as per Shoestring Astronomy's photo here (http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/images/dsusb.jpg), and also something to connect that to your 350D like their DSCBL-01 here (http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/images/dscbl_01.jpg).

My question is about what have you got your camera set on? It should be set to Manual control, and the shutter speed should be set to Bulb on the camera. Have you done that? I just ask because I quite often forget to do that myself. ;)

[niko]

Thanks Troy. I think I might have got this all wrong. I've got 2 cables plugged into my camera. The DSUSB to the USB port on my computer using a 3.5mm cable or whatever it is. The other is the mini USB to USB cable.

Should I have the DSUSB plugged into the smaller 2.5mm cable release port??

thanks everyone

niko

maybe I better photograph the whole set up for clarity's sake

[troypiggo]

The DSUSB is to control the shutter camera from your computer. It connects to your computer's USB port and your camera via that cable linked above. It can't download images.

If you want to download images to your computer you'd also need a USB connection to your computer as per what you'd normally do.

[niko]

It's official - I'm a total dill!

I have been happily plugging my DSUSB into the 3.5mm video out socket on the camera!! Doh!

Have just zoomed down to Jaycar to get 2.5 to 3.5mm cable so will test tonight.

Thanks to all for comments which lead me away from the garden path and on to the straight and narrow.

cheers

niko

[niko]

My confusion continues. Plugged in the 2.5 mm cable to the DSUSB box and the usb cable between camera and computer. DSLR Focus recognises camera but long exposure still not working. Do I need to set port or something?

I'm sure its simple but I'm clearly missing something.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

niko

[h0ughy]

need to set the camera to M and setting to bulb

[niko]

Thanks houghy. Have all that set up. Dslr focus fires off but camera doesnt appear to trigger and no images produced. All works fine in short exposure but not in long

????

[TrevorW]

Refer this site

http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/dslr/CanonRelease.html

build the serial port cable release get a serial to USB adapter cable such as

http://www.mittoni.com.au/usb-to-serial-db9-port-adapter-p-1564.html

load drivers

match port from device driver to port in DSLR Focus

set camera to "M" and exposure length to "BulB" by using the toggle wheel

make sure DSLR Focus set to capture not focus which I'm sure you are aware of

always worked for me no problems

[troypiggo]

Suggest you post those photos of your setup showing what's connected where, and also your camera settings showing the dial and shutter speed.