… homemade USB camera shutter release …

Thanks to someone over on this website, I was able to convert a clicky pen into USB shutter release. It is designed for and works great with my CHDK modified A640.

... it's a pen ...

With some electrical tape, my soldering iron, some tin foil, a few batteries and a push button switch, I was able to get this thing working in about an hour.

... it's a USB cable release ...

[Note – you have to use a metal pen that conducts on the inside]

I cut the “computer” end off of the USB cable and soldered the black wire to the negative lead of the battery. I smashed some tin foil down in the end of the pen so that the positive side would make contact with the inside of the metal body. This was conected to one side of the push button switch. The other side was connected to the red lead of the cut USB cable.

Now I can shoot controled single frame animation with my 10 mega pixel camera!

I also got my little bunkers and tanks for the “Combat” shoot which is coming up soon!