My DIY Triggertrap Dongle

The Triggertrap mobile app has some neat features for controlling the camera shutter.

The app is free and all you need to buy is a dongle with a lead specific to your camera.

If you’re not into soldering then just visit the Triggertrap website and buy one.

  The app features:-

   ·         Simple Cable Release. (Tap the button to take a picture).

   ·         Quick Release (Release the button to take a picture).

   ·         Press and Hold (Touch to start, release to stop).

   ·         Press and Lock (Touch to start, touch to stop).

   ·            Self Timer (Photo in 3..2..1..).

   ·         Timelapse (Travel through time).

   ·         TimeWarp (Timelapse with acceleration).

   ·         DistanceLapse (Perfect for road trips).

   ·         Star Trail (Extreme exposure control).

   ·         Bramping (Bulb Ramping timelapse).

   ·         Sound Sensor (Clap, whistle or tap).

   ·         Vibration Sensor (Vibrations and earthquakes).

   ·         Motion Sensor (Detect Movement).

   ·         Peekaboo (Facial recognition).

   ·         LE HDR (Long exposure HDR sets).

   ·         LE HDR timelapse (|Long exposure HDR timelapse).

   ·         Wi-Fi (Trigger remotely).

   ·         ND Calculator (Natural Density Filter Calculator).

   ·         Solar Calculator (Sunrise and Sunset times).

The cable and dongle currently costs £22.99 plus £3.99 postage and £5.39 tax in total is £32.33 for my canon 40D which I think is amazing value.

However I like DIY and saw this post on the internet by Udi Tirosh http://www.diyphotography.net/building-diy-trigger-trap/ showing how to make a dongle and cable with a few parts and some soldering so I thought I would at least work out the cost.

It turns out to be quite a bit cheaper, so I thought I would follow Udi’s post and it works really well with app.

Soldering and assembly took about an hour as there are only 4 components on the board.

My Bill of Materials all from Ebay, including postage :

   ·         2 off 1.5k resistors cost 99p (for 10).

   ·         2 off BC547b Transistors cost £1.30 (for 10).

   ·         1 off 2.5mm stereo Panel mount socket cost £1.97.

   ·         1 off Small project box ABS 46mm x 32mm x 20mm with 4screws cost £2.65.

   ·         1off Old iphone headphones to chop up cost £FREE.

   ·         The cable from dongle to camera comes from an old (and cheap) Ebay cable release            with a 2 metre extension.

            TOTAL COST = £6.91 Saving £25.42

As I already have the soldering equipment and a small piece of Perfboard it was a no brainer.

I think if I can make it myself then I always appreciate it more, and if I can save money at the same time that a great bonus.

So here is my circuit diagram-

I have basically copied Udi Tirosh’s circuit diagram and it worked perfectly 1^st time.

Note:- the centre pin of each transistor(pin2) is soldered to its resistor.

Pin 3 of each transistor are connected together with camera and phone ground.

I used old iphone headpones found the Green wire was the shutter wire and the red wire was the focus wire. I then bundled the other wires together and connected to ground. As far as I know, any similar stereo 3.5mm headphones would work.

You will need to check your own setup with a meter to ensure you know which wire is which as there are so many headphones on the market today.

And this is what it looks like inside the dongle when completed.

And this is how I wired the phone to the dongle.

 Please note that I have recorded this project for my own benefit so I can make another if needed. If you wish to copy it, be my guest.  However please be careful when attaching anything to your camera or phone.