Ok, it isn’t a brand new thing, since there are over hundreds of Arduino powered camera trigger being introduced on the market. However, it always fun and excited, especially if you’re built the Arduino powered camera trigger by your own!

For this interesting project, all you need to prepare is an Arduino laser pointer and digital camera. If you’re using the Canon Powershot as the components, then you might to know one thing: It doesn’t allow for remote shutter control by default.

Arduino camera laser trigger from adam behman on Vimeo.

For overcoming the above matter, you have to download the Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK). This firmware allows the remote shutter trigger and the laser reflects off in a mirror onto the photoresistor. Basically, the photoresistor is measured by Analog 0. If the beam is broken, then the Arduino runs through a series of high and low on digital 12. As a result, it triggers the camera to focus and taking a picture on the spot!

Well, it isn’t hard to connect the camera to the Arduino, as it can be done by a little bit modification on a mini USB cable. Before that, you must cut off one of the end of the USB cable, just like those being shown in the below figure.