Camera shutter shield for Wemos D1 Mini ESP8266

The octocoupler and the resistor are soldered to the board. You can choose between two options: Kit or Fully Assembled, Kit is the default one and comes without soldered headers. The output cable is not included as it depends on the specific camera needs.

It has been tested and works with Canon EOS DSLRs with Manual Focus enabled. It can also work with Auto Focus in good light conditions.

What does the order include?

• 1x Shield
• 2x 8-pin Male Headers
• 2x 2-pin JST XH connectors
• 1x 2-pin Male Header for the Output signal

How does it work?

The board works with an input of 3.3 volts that can be provided using the microUSB in the Wemos board or using the battery connector. The battery connected to the board, uses the Wemos regulator so the voltage it provides should be constrained between 3.5 and 5.5v. The shutter pin is connected to D2 (GPIO4) pin in D1mini board.

When the pin value is changed to HIGH, the camera acts as if you were pressing the shutter button. After some delay, the pin value should be changed to LOW acting like the release of your finger from the button.

Connections

Typical application

The most typical use of this board could be a homemade intervalometer. This devices can be used to take photos every X seconds. This would take a lot of photographs, that once combined would create awesome videos like this one:

TIMELAPSE | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niozGZMtV5s

However you can also use it for many other purposes, like taking photos at programmed hours or everytime a sensor detects something.

Example code

FAQs

• How can I connect the board to the camera? Each camera brand and model has its own connector, for most Canon DLSRs you can just use a 2.5mm Jack connector

• Is there any risk that it breaks my camera? The shield is using an optocoupler, which means that the current flowing through the Wemos D1 and the one flowing through your camera are completely isolated. Never say never, but the risk is quite quite low.

• I want to solder it myself, could I buy it completely disassembled? Yes, purchase the 'Kit' version.