Triggertrap Timelapse Pro User Manual for ios Version 1.2.1

Transcription

1 Triggertrap Timelapse Pro User Manual for ios Version Updated: 12 June 2015

2 Table of Contents Introduction...3 Compatible Devices...3 What do I need to use Timelapse Pro?... 4 Timelapse Pro app...4 Triggertrap Mobile Dongle...4 Camera connection cable...4 How to connect your camera...5 Settings... 6 Manual Focus Only...6 The Settings screen...6 A note on inputting numbers...6 Power Saving...6 Wearables...7 Pebble...7 Apple Watch...7 Creating a timelapse sequence... 8 Adding a new timelapse...8 Intervalometer module...8 Calculator...9 Delay module...10 Adding more modules...10 Moving modules...10 Removing modules...10 Running a timelapse sequence Starting a timelapse...11 What happens on the running timelapse screen?...11 Troubleshooting...12 Additional Resources...12 Further troubleshooting...12 Frequently asked questions...12 How Tos and Tutorials...12 Contacting Customer Support...12 Showing off your Timelapse Pro timelapses...13 Do you still have questions?...14 The small print...14 Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 2

3 Introduction Triggertrap Timelapse Pro is an app that runs on your ios device. It enables you to build custom timelapse sequences and save your settings for use in the future. Compatible Devices Triggertrap Timelapse Pro for ios is compatible with all devices capable of running ios 8 or newer, including iphones, ipod Touches, and ipads. While the app will run on iphone 4S, we strongly recommend using an iphone 5 or newer with Triggertrap Timelapse Pro, as this gives the best results. Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 3

4 What do I need to use Timelapse Pro? Timelapse Pro app If you haven t already, you ll need to purchase the Timelapse Pro app from the App Store! Simply go to or search for Triggertrap Timelapse Pro in the App Store to find the app. Triggertrap Mobile Dongle To connect your camera to Timelapse Pro, you need a piece of hardware known as the Triggertrap Mobile Dongle, and a camera connection cable. The Triggertrap Mobile Dongle is an inexpensive converter that plugs into the headphone socket on your ios device. Camera connection cable The Triggertrap Mobile Dongle is the same for all ios devices, but camera manufacturers have not settled on a single standard for the remote control socket on cameras. We support more than 300 different camera models - far too many to list in this manual. Please refer to our camera selector page at to select your camera. This page will tell you which camera connection cable & Dongle you need. You can also find a cable selector in the app. Triggertrap Mobile Dongle WARNING Always ensure you use the Triggertrap Mobile Dongle, and never attempt to connect your camera directly to your ios device. Connecting the ios device and the camera without a dongle could harm your camera, your ios device, or both. Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 4

5 How to connect your camera To use Triggertrap Timelapse Pro with your DSLR you will need: 1. Triggertrap Timelapse Pro app 2. An ios device running ios 8 or above 3. Triggertrap Mobile Dongle Triggertrap camera connection cable 5. Your DSLR Download Triggertrap Timelapse Pro to your ios device (available from Plug the mobile dongle in to the headphone port of the ios device. Plug the 2.5mm jack of the camera cable into the mobile dongle. Plug the other end of the Mobile Dongle into the cable release port on your camera. Make sure your camera is set to manual focus and the volume in your ios device is turned up to full, and you re ready to go! Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 5

6 Settings Manual Focus Only Triggertrap Timelapse Pro is a manual focus only app. This is because it makes a lot more sense for the kinds of photography Triggertrap enables, cutting out the delay between the signal being sent and the shutter firing when the camera is already ready to go. If you would like to read more about why Triggertrap Timelapse Pro is manual focus only check out The Settings screen This screen allows you to take a little more control over your camera triggering. To access the Settings menu, select the icon in the top right corner of the Timelapses screen. A note on inputting numbers In settings such as Interval duration, to input your desired time value you will need to tap on the input bar. You can type in your desired amount in whatever time format you choose, and the app will convert this to the most common time format. For example, 90 seconds will display as 1m 30s. Power Saving Power Saving mode lowers the screen brightness on your ios device automatically to help save battery life. Remember to tap the screen before exiting the app in order to bring the screen brightness back up to its original setting. Battery Threshold The Battery Threshold kills Timelapse Pro app activity when the threshold is reached. This way, you don t have to worry about Timelapse Pro completely killing your device s battery. Once Battery Threshold is turned on, use the slider to select the battery percentage at which you want Timelapse Pro to turn off. Please remember that setting a battery threshold will stop any timelapse if your battery percentage goes below the threshold. Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 6

7 Wearables Wearables mode is accessed in the settings menu. By using Wearables mode you can trigger your timelapse sequences from your smartwatch. Wearables mode for Timelapse Pro supports the current range of Pebble and Apple smartwatches. REMEMBER Before you can take advantage of Wearables mode, your smartwatch must be paired with your ios device, with the Triggertrap app pre-installed on your smartwatch Watch app. Timelapse Pro will then work through the sequence. To stop things early, simply press the same button again on your smartwatch. The + and - buttons can be used to implement a delay between pressing the red button and the camera triggering. You can view a glance on your Apple Watch which will let you know how far through the timelapse sequence you are. To do so, simply swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch screen while it is displaying a watch face. Pebble Once your devices are paired, enable Wearables mode in the app settings menu. You can then return to your saved timelapses, and open up a sequence. To trigger the start of the sequence, press the bottom button on the right hand side of your Pebble smartwatch. Timelapse Pro will then work through the sequence. To stop things early, simply press the same button again on your smartwatch. Apple Watch Once your devices are paired, enable Wearables mode in the app settings menu. You can then return to your saved timelapses, and open up a sequence. To trigger the start of the sequence, press the red trigger button on the Apple Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 7

8 Creating a timelapse sequence Adding a new timelapse To add a new timelapse, select the + icon in the top right corner of the Timelapses screen. Give your timelapse a name to help you remember what the sequence you are creating is for (If you need to, you can change this name later by selecting the timelapse and tapping on Name bar) and select Done. You ll then be asked to Select a Timelapse module and can start building your sequence. You can create as many timelapses as you like, so get experimenting! Duration stop type, tap on the input bar and type in the time duration. To delete your timelapse, in the Timelapses screen swipe right on the Timelapse you want to get rid of and select Delete. Intervalometer module The Intervalometer module is used to tell your camera how often to take a photo and when it should stop taking photos. The Intervalometer module consists of three parts: 1. Interval duration: Tap on the time input bar and set how often you want to trigger your camera. 2. with stop type: choose whether you want to take a certain number of exposures or stop your timelapse after acertain time duration. 3.a. with number of exposures: if you have chosen to stop your timelapse after a certain number of exposures, tap on the input bar and type the number. 3.b. with stop duration: if you have selected the Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 8

9 Calculator The intervalometer calculator is used to help you if you are unsure how to set your intervalometer up, but you know how long you want your resulting timelapse video to be. Tap the red clock icon next to the interval duration input bar to enter the calculator. The calculator consists of three parts: 1. Playback Duration: Tap on the time input bar and set how long you want your final timelapse video to be. 2. Frames Per Second: Choose whether you want your final video to be played at 24, 25, or 30 frames per second. 3. Shooting Duration: Tap on the time input bar and set the available length of time you have to shoot your timelapse stills. Once you have entered information for the three parts of the calculator, hit Calculate and you will be taken back to the intervalometer module. Timelapse Pro will then have already filled out the intervalometer information for you based on what you entered in the calculator. You then have the option to edit the intervalometer settings before pressing save. Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 9

10 Delay module Delay modules can be inserted between Intervalometer modules, allowing you to build more complex timelapses, and control when things happen. You can also add a delay as your very first module, if you need a pause before your camera starts triggering! To add a delay, select the delay module and then tap on the input bar. Input the amount of delay time you require and select save. Adding more modules You can add as many modules to your timelapse as you like. To add more modules to your timelapse, select the timelapse you want to update and then select the Add Module button in the top right. Then tap on any of the + icons that appear between modules to add a new module. Moving modules You can rearrange the modules in your timelapse sequence any time you like! Just select the timelapse, then press and hold on the handle on the right hand side of your module. The module will pop out of place and you can then drag it up or down in to its new position in your sequence. Let go of the module to place it. Removing modules To remove a module open up your timelapse and swipe from right to left on the module you d like to remove. A Delete button will appear. Just tap this button to remove your module! Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 10

11 Running a timelapse sequence Have you just built a shiny new timelapse sequence? Excellent! Let s give it a try. Starting a timelapse To start a timelapse, select the timelapse you want to use from your list and then tap the red button. Simple! exposure number/total number of exposures. If you are on a Delay module then the module status will say Delay. If you d like to stop your timelapse before the sequence has finished, tap the red button again. What happens on the running timelapse screen? Once you tap the red button Timelapse Pro will show you a status screen so that you can keep an eye on what stage your sequence is at. This screen is made up of five parts: Progress Bar: In the top half of the screen you ll see a circular progress bar. This is showing you the progress of your whole timelapse sequence, rather thann the module or exposure you are currently on. Countdown Timer: In the centre of the progress bar you ll see numbers counting down. The countdown is for the total time value of your whole sequence, rather than the module you are currently on. Next Exposure: To the bottom left of the progress bar you will see Next: This part of the screen is counting down the time until the next exposure. Module status: To the bottom right of the progress bar you ll find your current module s status. For example, if you are on an Intervalometer module you ll see Once the timelapse sequence has finished you will be returned to the timelapse screen. To return to the main screen select < Timelapses in the top left corner of this screen. Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 11

12 Troubleshooting If you re struggling getting Triggertrap Timelapse Pro to behave, we have some troubleshooting tips that we often find will resolve most issues. Try deleting the app off your device, and then re-installing it from the App Store. That completely wipes all settings, and we find that fixes the problems for many users. Next, try to set your camera to manual focus. On some cameras, that is a button on the lens; on some, it s on the camera body; and on others still you have to dive into the menu system. If you re not sure how to do that, please check out your camera s manual. (For more info about why we recommend manual focus, please see focus). Finally, please double-check that the volume on your smartdevice is turned all the way up (after you plug in the dongle) and that any volume limiter, EQ, Beats audio or other additional volume setting is turned off. Additional Resources Further troubleshooting If the Troubleshooting section of this manual doesn t fix the problem, please see to find out how to test where the connection may be broken. Frequently asked questions If you have questions that haven t been answered by this manual, you can find our FAQ guide at How Tos and Tutorials Looking for further inspiration or a little extra advice on timelapse techniques? Check out com for a guide covering everything from the basics of photography to some much more exciting techniques. Contacting Customer Support If none of the troubleshooting guides or additional info on our site has been able to give you the answers you need, please contact our team at hello@triggertrap.com and we ll help get you up and running with Triggertrap Timelapse Pro. Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 12

13 Showing off your Timelapse Pro timelapses Our favourite thing in the whole world is seeing the awesome things you guys have created with Triggertrap products. Please post them anywhere you like and show the world, and ensure that you tag us in your post (#Triggertrap or and we ll spot it). Alternatively, please add your timelapses to Primelapse.com, our incredible worldwide timelapses database. Primelapse is also full of timelapse inspiration! We also run a newsletter approximately once per month, where we feature awesome photos and videos made with Triggertrap products if you haven t signed up yet, please do so at Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 13

14 Do you still have questions? We ve done everything we can to make this manual as thorough as possible, but if you re still stuck, we d love to help you out! We have an extremely lively and helpful support forum at If you ve got a problem, search here first chances are that someone has already asked your question, and you ll be able to find an answer here. We also have an FAQ Knowledge Base that lives at that will provide you with some clearer and more in depth explanations for some of our more commonly asked product questions. If you re still stuck, you can our super friendly support team at hello@triggertrap.com The small print We have taken all care to ensure that this manual is as complete and as accurate as possible, but there may be mistakes here and there. If you spot any errors, please contact us on hello@triggertrap.com so we can fix them in the next edition! Triggertrap Timelapse Pro Manual Page 14

15 We are Triggertrap. We love photography. For more information, visit us on the web at: triggertrap.com