I have developed a camera-trigger, named Snaperture, that uses sensors to monitor the environment and take a photograph when a predetermined event occurs. This device is in a similar vein to Trigger Trap, MIOPS, Pluto and others, however it has more than a few unique benefits. The sensors react to light, laser, sound, distance to target and movement, and the trigger events can be cascaded. An internal real-time clock adds the capability of an intervalometer and other time-related triggering. It is also possible to trigger if the target moves to a predetermined location, a very useful function indeed.
Originally this was intended for my use only and, being an engineer, I included every useful function I could imagine and followed solid engineering practices in the development. Once I had 3D printed a case however, I saw the potential of launching this as a consumer product. Whereas the original prototype incorporated a keypad and matrix display for inputting trigger criteria, this is now done through a smartphone app, allowing the device to made smaller, less expensive and more compact. This also allows the device to be in a location remote from the user. The smartphone app is simply for data input, rather than triggering, so there is no delay due to OS latency or bandwidth considerations. Also, changes to smartphone protocols will not affect operations.
This is already a fully engineered, fully manufacturable product, with meticulously developed software, and has been used to produce many stunning photographs, easily outshining those taken by current market offerings. No longer is it necessary to have a dedicated wet-lab in order to capture water drops or popping balloons. These can now be taken in a studio, in a table-top setting. The water drop solenoid, which is supplied as part of the package, is operated by the Snaperture itself, with millisecond accuracy, so there is complete control over all the variables when producing single, and colliding, water drop images.
Because this was primarily intended for my own use, and has now been in operation for a few years, its reliability and repeatability have been verified and validated extensively. Snaperture’s geometry and shape allow for repairs to be carried out, in the unlikely event of failure occurring, unlike many products that are too miniaturized to be repairable and simply end up being discarded. This is a definite plus in today’s eco-conscious society. Furthermore, the operating firmware can be updated locally by the user, in the unlikely event that bug-fixes are ever necessary. This also facilitates improvements to performance as more elaborate operating techniques are developed. Snaperture is definitely a product for life, from which a photographer will gain years of excitement and satisfaction.
