Using a combination of cameras with different shutter lags
We understand that not everyone has the same camera models within their setup and some people who want to use different cameras for different reasons. The effect of using different camera models and brands means you will have different shutter lags which will cause some cameras to fire quicker than others causing the cameras to not be synced. But don't worry. We will go over this and how to resolve it in this guide!
Getting Setup
1. The first step that you need to take is getting all your cameras connected to the TriggerBoxes. If you need a guide on this please follow our Getting Started guide.
2. Now you've got all your cameras connected to the TriggerBoxes, you need to launch the TriggerBoxController software and connect the TriggerBoxes to the software.
Figure 1 - TriggerBoxController software
Finding your cameras shutter lags
3. Now that your TriggerBoxes are all connected to the software, you need to look up the shutter lags of the cameras that you are using. These can be found on your camera manufacturers website or you can use Imaging Resource.
4. Hit the search button in the top right hand corner and type in your camera model. Suggestions will start to appear for what you have typed. Once you have found your camera model click it and you will be taken to the page with information on your camera model. View your cameras full spec.
Figure 2 - Imaging Resource camera information page
5. You now need to look for the section on shutter lag. This is found under 'Performance Timings'. Look for Shutter Lag (prefocused) and there you will see you cameras shutter lag in seconds.
Figure 3 - Imaging Resource performance timing section
6. Once you have got all the delays for the different camera models, you need to work out the differences between the cameras. For Example:
If you have 2 different camera models; 1 with a delay of 113ms and another with a delay of 61ms; you need to subtract the fastest cameras (61ms) from the slowest cameras (113ms). The answer that you get is the delay that you need to apply to the fastest cameras so that they fire at the same time of the slow cameras.
Slowest camera (113ms) - fastest camera (61ms) = delay (52ms)
Assigning the delays
7. Now that you have got your delay for the fastest cameras in your array, you need to assign it to the outputs that your fast cameras are connected to. If you have the fast cameras connected to ports 4, 5 & 6 you would assign the delay to these ports so that they would fire at the correct time.
You are now ready to fire and should have all your cameras in sync when firing. If your cameras are still out of sync by a little bit, try increasing or decreasing the delay and see if this helps.
Delay flash pulse during exposure guide here