USB / Time lapse ?

SteveF

My apologies if this is the wrong forum - wasn't sure where to put this.



I am setting up a time lapse photo project, with the camera connected to a
computer via a USB port.

When the camera is connected via USB, it automatically goes into download
mode, its SD card shows up in Windows as a drive letter, and I can download
the photos. Disconnecting the USB cable from the computer causes the camera
to revert back into camera mode.

Since this is a long-term time-lapse project, I won't be there to unplug and
re-plug the USB cable from the computer. I'd like to have a scheduled
program that turns on the USB port only long enough to have another program
download the photos, then turn the USB port back off so the camera can go
back to taking pictures in camera mode.

I've found the devcon.exe utility for Windows XP. This doesn't quite do it. While it does
allow me to disable or 'remove' devices, including the camera, its enumerated
drive, and the 'USB Root Hub', that isn't enough to make the camera think the
USB cable has been disconnected, and it still never leaves download mode.

So it seems I need a program that operates at a lower level than at which
devcon.exe operates. Any help on this? I'm not wedded to Windows. If you know
how to accomplish this in OS X or Linux, that would be great too.

ballentphoto

SteveF wrote:

My apologies if this is the wrong forum - wasn't sure where to put this.



I am setting up a time lapse photo project, with the camera connected to a
computer via a USB port.

When the camera is connected via USB, it automatically goes into download
mode, its SD card shows up in Windows as a drive letter, and I can download
the photos. Disconnecting the USB cable from the computer causes the camera
to revert back into camera mode.

Since this is a long-term time-lapse project, I won't be there to unplug and
re-plug the USB cable from the computer. I'd like to have a scheduled
program that turns on the USB port only long enough to have another program
download the photos, then turn the USB port back off so the camera can go
back to taking pictures in camera mode.

I've found the devcon.exe utility for Windows XP. This doesn't quite do it. While it does
allow me to disable or 'remove' devices, including the camera, its enumerated
drive, and the 'USB Root Hub', that isn't enough to make the camera think the
USB cable has been disconnected, and it still never leaves download mode.

So it seems I need a program that operates at a lower level than at which
devcon.exe operates. Any help on this? I'm not wedded to Windows. If you know
how to accomplish this in OS X or Linux, that would be great too.

What camera are you using? That could help out as well :

hgernhardtjr

If it is a Canon dSLR, try http://www.breezesys.com/DSLRRemotePro/index.htm . It schedules, takes, and downloads.

SteveF

Hello,

I was setting this up for my brother.

Turns out via other searches he just found a Pentax *ist which can do the tethered captures just as he wanted.

thanks for the replies,


Steve