motor to pull camera dolly

v1rtu0s1ty

Senior Member
Hey folks,

I am going to build a camera dolly similar to the one shown here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_XHxOTnhm8&feature=related

However, I would like to add a motor on one end so that it pulls it via a string at a specified speed. For example, the track is 6 ft long. I would like the motor to complete the pulling of the camera in 3 hours. Yes, you are correct, 3 hours for a 6ft long track. That long and slow.

Problem is, I don't know what motor I need and if there's such a motor like that. I was thinking about a 1 hour kitchen timer but I am not sure if it's strong enough to pull the camera and it's just one hour although I can rotate it again if it finishes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Neil
 
I was looking at building one of these myself, but I am guessing that this has to be one smooth motor. If you do come up with a cheap build, let me know please.
 
actually, even if it's not continuous, it would be fine. I am not sure if there is a relay that is battery powered. Here is the process

1. motor pulls the camera about say 3mm
2. motor sends a trigger to the relay(relay is connected to my intervalmeter)
3. relay sends an ON for n seconds which fires up my dslr camera

Looks like ELK can do this
 
I have to check what relay I have. All I remember is that I'm currently using it to close my garage door.

I was thinking that my existing relay can turn on this product

http://www.everything-ev.com/12v-to-24v-150w-small-motor-p-236.html
 
LOL, me again. I got an idea from CORT. I found it from my very old thread. :D

I'll look for a drapery motor! I also found that I have M1RB. Can it turn on a 3v,20mA remote control?

http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14323&hl=v1rtu0s1ty&st=0
 
Remember you very well )
Which DSLR do you have? With the Canon, you can hook up the relay directly to the camera using the 2.5mm jack (Dollar store carries cheap hands free kits, you can use the connector from this kit), so you don't have to hack your intervalometer.

Wondering if you could come up with a cheap screwdrive setup (think of a screwdrive garage door opener), should be pretty smooth.
 
A small lego motor with a pulley belted to a bicycle wheel (tire removed) with another small pulley at the hub of the bike wheel with a belt that moves the carriage you describe.
 
Remember you very well )
Which DSLR do you have? With the Canon, you can hook up the relay directly to the camera using the 2.5mm jack (Dollar store carries cheap hands free kits, you can use the connector from this kit), so you don't have to hack your intervalometer.

Wondering if you could come up with a cheap screwdrive setup (think of a screwdrive garage door opener), should be pretty smooth.

I have the Canon 50D. You mean, hook my M1RB directly to the 2.5mm jack? I'll check our Dollar Store or Radio shack.

I didn't get the screwdrive part.
 
This is what I currently have. This is from my intervalmeter. That the only connector my 50D will accept.

connector.jpg
 
Does the cannon not have the ability to set it to just take the pictures automatically? I know with my Nikon I can set it to take pictures automatically at a set interval - and I got the original idea from some awesome timelapse videos I've seen that I believe were taken with a Canon (http://599productions.com/TimelapseLarge.html)
 
There might be a firmware hack that might allow the picture interval if the factory firmware does not allow it.
 
I am not aware of that kind of setting. This is the reason why I bought an external timer cable(intervalmeter). If there's a hack, I would go for it. However, my main target right now is to pull the camera dolly. I search for the lego motor but I cannot find one. Lou Apo, can you please make a simple drawing of what you described?

Thanks!
 
Thanks for the link Work2Play. I like it. This is what I have started this week. It's from my backyward.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYMFvB6AUuk

Since Youtube compresses the video a lot which affects the video quality, I made my own copy. Lower encoding settings but still better than youtube's 1080p.

http://www.neilcamara.com/milkyway.html
 
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