I am experimenting with time-lapse over a long time-scale (years)
I will deploy digital still cameras that will be controlled by a
computer. Tne pictures will be transmitted to a central location using
3G mobile.
The computer and the camera control software restarts after a power loss.
However, I am a bit worried over the behaviour of the cameras.
The cameras will be powered from a AC adapter.
The Olympus cameras that I have been trying out will evidently not power
up automatically when power is restored.
You have to push the "power" button.
This is not good if the camera is several hours drive away....
Is there anyone with knowledge about other brands of cameras?
That is: when powered via an AC adapter, does the camera restart after a
power loss?
I am particularly interested in info about Canon and Nikon cameras,
since there are SDK:s (software allowing computer control) available for
them (as there also is for Olympus).
> I am experimenting with time-lapse over a long time-scale (years)
> I will deploy digital still cameras that will be controlled by a
> computer. Tne pictures will be transmitted to a central location using
> 3G mobile.
> The computer and the camera control software restarts after a power loss.
> However, I am a bit worried over the behaviour of the cameras.
> The cameras will be powered from a AC adapter.
> The Olympus cameras that I have been trying out will evidently not power
> up automatically when power is restored.
> You have to push the "power" button.
> This is not good if the camera is several hours drive away....
> Is there anyone with knowledge about other brands of cameras?
> That is: when powered via an AC adapter, does the camera restart after a
> power loss?
Why not power the camera from a power supply with battery backup in
the event of a power failure? Cheaper than getting new cameras, and
extremely cheap if you don't mind using non-rechargeable batteries and
checking them out once a year or so.
Chris Malcolm wrote:
> Johan St?ck <johan@stack.se> wrote:
>> Hello!
>
>> I am experimenting with time-lapse over a long time-scale (years)
>> I will deploy digital still cameras that will be controlled by a
>> computer. Tne pictures will be transmitted to a central location using
>> 3G mobile.
>
>> The computer and the camera control software restarts after a power loss.
>> However, I am a bit worried over the behaviour of the cameras.
>> The cameras will be powered from a AC adapter.
>> The Olympus cameras that I have been trying out will evidently not power
>> up automatically when power is restored.
>> You have to push the "power" button.
>> This is not good if the camera is several hours drive away....
>
>> Is there anyone with knowledge about other brands of cameras?
>> That is: when powered via an AC adapter, does the camera restart after a
>> power loss?
>
> Why not power the camera from a power supply with battery backup in
> the event of a power failure? Cheaper than getting new cameras, and
> extremely cheap if you don't mind using non-rechargeable batteries and
> checking them out once a year or so.
Hey, I was gonna suggest that!
Although I was thinking of a standard SOHO-grade UPS, like an APC or
Belkin... a basic 350VA APC model lists for CDN$70 at Staples, for
example, and should run your camera(s) for several hours. A larger one
will keep your computer AND camera(s) going for a fair time period. For
that matter, using a laptop and a 650-750VA UPS will allow the whole rig
to keep going for hours without line power. You could probably get a
used PII/PIII laptop (which would be more than sufficient for a
dedicated machine for this purpose) for under $200.
Johan Stäck wrote:
> Hello!
>
> I am experimenting with time-lapse over a long time-scale (years)
> I will deploy digital still cameras that will be controlled by a
> computer. Tne pictures will be transmitted to a central location using
> 3G mobile.
>
> The computer and the camera control software restarts after a power loss.
> However, I am a bit worried over the behaviour of the cameras.
> The cameras will be powered from a AC adapter.
> The Olympus cameras that I have been trying out will evidently not power
> up automatically when power is restored.
> You have to push the "power" button.
> This is not good if the camera is several hours drive away....
>
> Is there anyone with knowledge about other brands of cameras?
> That is: when powered via an AC adapter, does the camera restart after a
> power loss?
>
> I am particularly interested in info about Canon and Nikon cameras,
> since there are SDK:s (software allowing computer control) available for
> them (as there also is for Olympus).
>
> Tia,
>
> /Johan Stäck
> Skellefteå
> Sweden
One word UPS!
Allodoxaphobia skrev:
> On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:18:00 -0600, Ron Hunter wrote:
>
>> One word UPS!
>
> ITYM: "One acronym: UPS!" :-)
Well, a UPS will be to bulky to fit into the camera housings that I plan
to use.
However, I have ordered a small sealed led-acid battery and suitable
trickle-charger.
I will use them (together with a voltage regulator feeding the camera)
to always keep the camera powered.
I really don't mind the PC restarting now and then.
(And, it *will* restart)
Might even do some good...
Johan Stäck wrote:
> Allodoxaphobia skrev:
>> On Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:18:00 -0600, Ron Hunter wrote:
>>
>>> One word UPS!
>>
>> ITYM: "One acronym: UPS!" :-)
> Well, a UPS will be to bulky to fit into the camera housings that I plan
> to use.
That's why the computer and UPS go in a separate enclosure... or do you
plan on cramming the PC into the camera housing as well?
> However, I have ordered a small sealed led-acid battery and suitable
> trickle-charger.
> I will use them (together with a voltage regulator feeding the camera)
> to always keep the camera powered.
>
> I really don't mind the PC restarting now and then.
> (And, it *will* restart)
> Might even do some good...
A sharp power-down won't though. If the power fails while the computer
is in middle of a disk access, it's possible (not likely, but possible)
to have file corrupted or worse, an unstartable system... or ultimate
worst-case, damaged hardware. A power SURGE or brownout is even more
likely to do damage.
>
> That's why the computer and UPS go in a separate enclosure... or do you
> plan on cramming the PC into the camera housing as well?
>
Yes, PC:s can be really small these days (google for pico_ITX..)
The PC can actually be about the size of the camera!
The PC I am using now is 17*12*5 cm.
The problem is that all cameras these days have USB ouput.
It will be diffucult to have the PC and the camera more than a couple of
meters apart, due to USB cable length restrictions.
So, I plan on having them in the same enclosure.
However, I will certainly consider having a UPS standing at some
distance from the camera/PC enclosure.
>
> A sharp power-down won't though. If the power fails while the computer
> is in middle of a disk access, it's possible (not likely, but possible)
> to have file corrupted or worse, an unstartable system... or ultimate
> worst-case, damaged hardware. A power SURGE or brownout is even more
> likely to do damage.
True, but when running NTFS, I think that the risk is rather small.
But, if possible I will try and install a UPS at ground level.
The cameras will mostly be placed high.
On Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:54:27 +0100, Johan Stäck <johan@stack.se>
wrote:
>Matt Ion skrev:
>
>>
>> That's why the computer and UPS go in a separate enclosure... or do you
>> plan on cramming the PC into the camera housing as well?
>>
>Yes, PC:s can be really small these days (google for pico_ITX..)
>The PC can actually be about the size of the camera!
>The PC I am using now is 17*12*5 cm.
>
>The problem is that all cameras these days have USB ouput.
>It will be diffucult to have the PC and the camera more than a couple of
>meters apart, due to USB cable length restrictions.
>So, I plan on having them in the same enclosure.
If for some reason you needed them further apart than a USB cable
could handle (sounds like you don't, but if you did) you can always
link them together wirelessly. I don't know what kind of camera
you're using but if it's a higher end one, then there's probably a
wireless controller available for it. Something like the Nikon WT-1a,
2a, 3a or 4a depending on the Nikon model.
In article <rbqls3l6826e6886vsis0q62v8rngossi9@4ax.com>, Steve
<steve@example.com> wrote:
> If for some reason you needed them further apart than a USB cable
> could handle (sounds like you don't, but if you did) you can always
> link them together wirelessly. I don't know what kind of camera
> you're using but if it's a higher end one, then there's probably a
> wireless controller available for it. Something like the Nikon WT-1a,
> 2a, 3a or 4a depending on the Nikon model.
and if it takes an sd card, add wireless with an eye.fi card.
Restart after power loss 
Linear Mode
