AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I need to be able to set up 8 - 12 cameras all pointed at a single subject from different positions, cause all cameras to fire by a single action, and automatically transfer the images to a (say) network drive. This would be a "station" and there could be 4 - 12 "stations" taking images all day long.

The lighting would be flat, controlled, and continuous. I'm thinking that, for the most part, the cameras would be set up in a relatively static way with focus and exposure pre-set; this would have to be changed ocasionally and shouldn't be too burdensome.

What we're trying to accomplish is speed up the image capturing workflow and improving the quality of the images. We would be capturing images for 2000 - 4000 or so unique objects per week with expectations that this would increase. There will be 8 - 12 high res images per object. The objects are used golf clubs (mostly), shoes, apparel, range finders, and various golf related accessories.

Currently, we're using high res webcams, hand holding the objects and a single person takes 8 - 12 images from different angles. This has been going on for about 9 years and we've all had enough :)

What I'd like to do is to be able to control this from a windows desktop. I've been looking for different ways to accomplish this, but it seems we're relatively unique.

I'm particularly interested if any of you knows about the API (application programming interface) or SDK (software development kit) capabilities of Canon or Nikon (I'm assuming that they're the only companies that have this). We're a programming shop working mostly in C#.

I would appreciate ANY suggestions about ANY aspect of accomplishing this. I've been scratching my head about it for weeks and have investigated and discarded the notion that we could do a good job of this with anything other than still cameras. Obviously, this could end up being a huge hardware investment, even with modest SLRs. Decent IQ from a middling Crop Sensor or compact would be fine and much better than what we're getting now.

The two main problems are 1) being able cause the cameras to fire without having to fire them individually and 2) Being able to get the images off the cameras automatically to a specific place on a computer hard drive fast. Lots of other features would be desirable, but these are key.

I've found CamRanger which might serve to control the cameras (focus and exposure) from a single PC, but it's an additional $300.00 per camera and it's building an ad hoc wireless connection that may or may not be fast enough.

I apologize for such a long post and appreciate your comments and help.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Have you viewed these articles:
http://breezesys.com/MultiCamera/index.htm
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/Multiple_Cameras_using_CHDK

blackest Loc: Ireland

well you could use flash triggers about the cheapest would be something like the yongnou rf603 you plug one on the hotshoe and a shutter release cable would go between that and the remote release on the camera if 8 or 12 cameras were listening on a single channel they would all take a shot at the same time.

There are wifi sdcards which can be setup so the workstation can download the images automatically.

Some cameras can be usb tethered ... with the flash triggers i think you have up to 16 channels so you could have a button per camera or groups ... You needn't be using flash to use the triggers (a half press can auto focus and a full press take the shot.

I don't see how you are going to get good images from multiple angles at the same time. A pro has enough work setting up lighting for a shot for a single view point.

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks! This is GREAT! I have not seen these. Appears my google search terms weren't in the ball park.

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks for the input. I didn't think about the triggers, but that makes perfect sense. Lighting is an issue, but we've been able to get pretty good results. We're doing "actual" images for a web site, not product shots.

blackest Loc: Ireland

Toshiba's flashair sdcard is fairly good, built in webserver with cgi and runs as a local hotspot as part of an existing lan or as an access point. There is application support on their website for programming the card to do what you want it to do.

Stage Light Loc: Northeast

Pocket Wizards will do that easily and they will control the flash, if needed, as well.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Could this be a job for mirrors?

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

When you get it set up, please let us know what your solution is - with pictures :)

Thanks

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Do a search for Paul Debevec. This guy is the wizard when it comes to multiple camera captures.
--Bob

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Will do!

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated. I'm often too busy thinking as a programmer to see the obvious :)

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I found his home page and he does seem like a VERY bright guy. I didn't see anything regarding multiple cameras. Do you have a link?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Bob, check this out. Although he doesn't mention cameras, there are dozens of them mounted on the sphere he's using.
--Bob

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gTt1FohvDY

AlohaBob Loc: Los Angeles, CA

WOW! Pretty amazing, but out of my league :) Thanks.