still camera/bite switch question

[nikejumper 0]

ok i have spend a few mins looking for an answer to this question and came up with pretty much nothing...
I'm looking to add a still to my RAWA setup but really dont want to spend a sh*t ton of money (ya i know just like everyone else) I have a few digital cameras, point and shoot ones... is there any way I can hook one of them up with a bite switch or something like that?
I'm not looking to get alot or pics per sec. i would be happy with 5-7 pics a jump maybe less?
is this possible? if not...
what is the cheapest camera that can support a hands free (bite switch) "trigger"

Thanks
Jeff

Is it saturday yet?

[Zee 0]

Just look at point and shoot cameras at http://www.bhphotovideo.com Nikon, Canon, Samsung, Olympus, Pentax, they all make smaller point and shoot style cameras that can accept a remote switch.

The cheapest ones are probably the Pentax Optio T20 or A30 and the Samsung NV11.

Or you can always pick up a cheap Digital Rebel on egay....

Action©Sports

[tetra316 0]

If you don't have to have the lastest digital go with the canon elph. It's a $10 camera and find someone to modify it for you and you have a perfect setup. Granted it's not going to land you mazagine layouts but they are decent pictures for tandems and such.

[sinjin 0]

if you willing to throw back to the old days you can find really cheap 35mm cannons,, the rebel 2000 eg... for under 100 with a 28 mm lens that will take great shots.. it is light and if you mangle it you wont be out much money.. check your DZ or a large DZ and ask the videots.. they might have one in the closet they would sell you for cheap... cannons are best cause the have the 2.5mm plug for the remote switch ( blow or bite)... good luck..

dont let life pass you by

[mircan 0]

Yes there is a very cheap way to do that, but you must know a little about electronics (soldering and stuff) or know someone who can do stuff like that.
You just convert your cheap digital without external switch to cheap digital with one. It is really simple:
1. Take the screws off and open up your camera.
2. Look for the trigger connections. Trigger is supposed to have 3 or 4 wires. One is for focus, one is for triggering, and the 3rd (and if you have 4th) are ground.
3. Then you make small hole on the side of the camera case through you are going to guide the wires.
4. Get some wires (the ones from the standard telephone cable will do just fine) and solder them or connect them with the appropriate trigger connections.
5. Guide the wires to outside of the camera through the hole you made in the case.
After that you can do several things, but on my cheap digital the wires are connected on the standard telephone jack (RJ-11).

For the whole process so far you only needed camera, couple of thin wires, soldering kit, and a RJ-11 jack.

If you are not totally confused so far, i can describe the process of making a tongue switch (which cost me about 2 Euro). Tutorial can be found here if you search the forums. I just made some small modifications.

Also, I can make some pics of my "setup" and post here.

I wanted to get the stills setup like you, and I could get EOS 300D cheap, but lenses for it are not that cheap (about the same price as the camera). So I decided to make contraption like this for now.

Hope this helps.
mircan

dudeist skydiver #42

[nikejumper 0]

thanks everyone for the help...
After reading Zee's post and looking at the Pentax Optio T20/ A30 and the Samsung NV11 as long as they can take a bite switch I prob will go in that direction.

Does anyone know for sure if these cameras are compatible with a bite switch? (i really want to try to avoid opening up the body)

Thanks everyone for the help!

Is it saturday yet?

[PharmerPhil 0]

There is another drawback to the compact digital cameras that you should be aware of. Most of them exhibit a severe shutter lag between when you press the button (bite the switch, whatever) and when it actually takes the picture. Sometimes it is seconds long. This can make getting exit shots, completed points, etc. infuriating. I would strongly consider a cheap SLR instead (digital or film).

[monkycndo 0]

The remotes for the listed point & shoot cameras are IR, not bite/blow switch compatible.

50 donations so far. Give it a try.

You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[mircan 0]

There is always a DIY-cheap-trashy option that I did. Especially if he has some old digital camera to play with.

Cheap and dirty.

dudeist skydiver #42

[dragon2 2]

That, plus they have a tendency to reset themselves (back to autofocus etc) plus they may go into standby real soon without possibility to wake them back up by remote.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[Laszloimage 0]

I modify Kodak point and shoot digital cameras.
They work, a quiet few guys using them already.
The only problem is as soon as I make the modification the camera loses its warranty.
And of course these things are not designed for skydiving either, but so far they hold up...
Send me a PM if you're interested.
-Laszlo-

[nikejumper 0]

Laszlo,
PM sent

Thanks

Is it saturday yet?