Lightning Trigger

dlplumer

Can anyone recommend a good lightning strike trigger for Canon Cameras. Thanks

SPORTDAD

Miops

ziggy53

If you have one of the following Canon cameras: 5D2, 5D3, 6D, 7D, 50D, 60D, 500D/T1i, 550D/T2i, 600D/T3i, 650D/T4i, 700D/T5i, 1100D/T3, EOS M, ... you might have all of the electronics you need.

Try the Magic Lantern software and its Motion Detect module. (Magic Lantern is a freeware/open source Canon camera firmware extension which adds "modules", which you select, which add functions far beyond the native camera functions.)

"Magic Lantern is a software enhancement that offers increased functionality to the excellent Canon DSLR cameras. We have created an open framework, licensed under GPL, for developing extensions to the official firmware.

Magic Lantern is not a "hack", or a modified firmware, it is an independent program that runs alongside Canon's own software. Each time you start your camera, Magic Lantern is loaded from your memory card. Our only modification was to enable the ability to run software from the memory card.

ML is being developed by photo and video enthusiasts, adding functionality such as: HDR images and video, timelapse, motion detection, focus assist tools, manual audio controls much more."

For a primer of how to use Motion Detect for lightning:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/7002555087/lightning-photography-with-magic-lantern
http://www.saintpaulcameraclub.com/?p=739

For a description of the Motion Detect module in Magic Lantern: http://wiki.magiclantern.fm/userguide#motion_detect

For video daytime strikes: http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=6303.0

For some examples:
http://www.magiclantern.fm/forum/index.php?topic=8038.0
https://notes.benv.junerules.com/magic-lantern/

Feel free to ask more questions about the Motion Detect process in this thread. For general questions about Magic Lantern, it would be best to start a new thread in the Technique forum.

Disclaimer, I have not used Motion Detect for lightning myself, but I am a Magic Lantern user for the Canon 7D and the 5D MKII and 5D MKIII. Others above are demonstrating the viability for this application.

dlplumer

Wow! Thanks, Ziggy. I will check this out