About a week ago I saw a post on the DIY Photography blog about an iPhone app that can trigger your DSLR called DSLR.Bot ($4.99). After watching another DIY video on how to make the IR transmitter I felt like this was a great little project to tackle. The app and the IR transmitter act like a wireless intervalometer.
I already have the Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote
My main goal was to develop an IR Transmitter that looked professional. My second goal was for the transmitter to fit on my iPhone 4 without removing the bumber or using a cable.
The first step was to track down all the pats. I tried to use 2 IR LEDs from an old TV remote, but they required too much power and the output adequate to trigger the shutter in daylight. After, picking up the High Output Infrared LEDs (Model: 276-143) at RadioShack for $1.99/ea I got to work. I already had a headphone plug so I just needed to find something like a project box
Starting with the Acrylic paperweight I cut it in half then into a cube.
Next, I drilled a hole about 3/4th of the way into the block. Then i tapped the hole to allow the headphone plug to screw into the acrylic.
However, before screwing the headphone plug into the block I cut about 1/4″ off the cube. This will provide me with a cover for my DIY project box.
Now it was time to drill 2 holes for the IR LEDs in the larger acrylic cube.
On the back side of the block I now had 3 holes. 2 for the IR LEDs and 1 from the original hole for the headphone plug. I used a Dremel
This next part was the trickiest part of the entire build. I had to dry fit the IR LEDs and determine the placement of the wiring before I could solder them together.
After careflully bending the post I soldered the 2 IR LEDs together.
NOTE: It is important that you make sure you reverse the polarity so it they are connected from the cathode (-) to anode (+) to cathode (-) to anode (+)
This is a look at all the parts used in this build.
Just a little bit of wire is required to connect the IR LEDs to the headphone plug. I could have attached the IR LED post directly to the plug, but I wanted to use a bit of wire to give some wiggle room.
Now that the wiring was complete I felt it was time to test it out before going any further.
SUCCESS!!!
Now it was time for final assembly. I have this amazing glue made for welding plexiglass called Pro Weld
Using the Pro Weld
After the halves were set I started to shape the cube. Again it was time for the Dremel
I even ground down part of the headphone plug and tapered the underside to allow the transmitter to fit into the iPhone without removing the Apple Bumper Case
I did some additional polishing with the Dremel
Now for the final test shot.
I did run the DSLR.Bot ($4.99) through the various functions: Single Shot, Long Exposure, Time Lapse and my favorite Bracketing. All functions passed with flying colors with my Nikon D40
I used the Bracketing function to shoot a 5 shot HDR of an old vacation trinket. It is not much, but I wanted to bracket something for this post.
I cannot wait to use this app for my HDR work.
UPDATE: Here is my first HDR using the app and the IR transmitter.
Leave a Reply