DSLR Bracketeer

DSLR Bracketeer is a simple program I made for controlling CANON EOS DSLR cameras. It is used for focus bracketing on for your Canon DSLR. You can download it for free at the bottom of the page but come back and read the instructions.

PS: I thought this program name is stupid enough that nobody else would name their program like this, so I did not search the net for it; apparently there is a program with similar name. I am opened for suggestions for the new program name for the next version.

PS2: If you have something made with the program that I could post as demonstration please send me (credits will be also given)

(Since this was a personal project interface design was not of a concern… if enough of you show interest in this software I will continue developing it)

What OS/Camera does it work on?
So far I got replies it works on CANON EOS
1000D (Rebel XS), 450D (Rebel XSi), 500D (Rebel T1i), 550D (Rebel T1i), 600D, 5D MkII,
and it should work on all EOS cameras with Live View and several other (if you can control focus with Canon Utility, it should be controllable with Bracketeer),
It works on Windows 7, Vista and XP.

What is it used for?
I use it to automate shooting macro photos to use them later for focus stacking and other creative experiments.

What can it do?
It can shoot X images while changing focus.

Installation and getting started

1. There is no installation, just extract archive anywhere (it should have its own folder). Do not put program in Program Files because windows may not allow program to save images in its own folder.
2. Install VS2008 redistributable if needed (if you get any error starting program). You can download it here
3. Enable Live View on your camera,
4. Turn-ON AF (on the lenses) and turn-OFF Stabilizer.
5. Connect the camera, turn it ON, and then start DSLR Bracketeer (or wake camera up by pressing shoot button halfway)
6. Turn on Live View in software.
7. Use << and >> buttons to focus nearest point on your object (for some lenses it it the furthest point).
8. Enter number of images to take and press Start

Program changes focus and shoots photos.
You will have all the images in program folder

Do not use other Canon software while using DSLR Bracketeer

Parameters
DELAY
There is a delay parameter in program that sets how much time program should wait between each shots. It is needed because it takes time to
turnLiveViewOff – TakePhoto – turnLiveViewOn – changeFocus -…
If parameter is too low it might blur photos while changing focus.
This parameter is in milliseconds, so 1000 means 1 second. I run it at 1500ms because I have 1000D and stock lenses. Also if you have long exposure time add that time to delay parameter (ex. 1s exposure time+1.5s = 2500 ms)

NUMBER OF IMAGES

If you do not know how many images you will need just put here 999 and let it run… when focal plane goes past your subject, just click Stop.

USE TINY STEPS

There are 3 step sizes provided by CANON. If default step size is too huge for your need, turn this ON. It depends on the lens but for me it takes 12 tiny steps for one normal. I find it too small for any use.

Important

• This program is free.

• Please post link to this website instead of hotlinking zip file and don’t host it somewhere else.

• I made it because I needed it and I could not find any program on the net that could do this.

• I am not responsible to anything that might happen to your camera/computer.

• This program is dumb so if you enter letter where a number is expected, or do something unexpected it will crash (As said, I made it for a personal project).

• If the lenses are at either focus limit the program will not know, it will just keep on taking photos according to NUMBER OF IMAGES parameter. This will not break your lenses. That is SDK limit and there is no way to fix it.

Download

dowload DSLR Bracketeer version 0.6 – 2.5 MB
Install VS2008 redistributable if needed
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=a5c84275-3b97-4ab7-a40d-3802b2af5fc2&displaylang=en

For updates follow me on TWITTER @milosparipovic or send me an email so I can keep you up to date.

Have fun!
Photo by enrico nunziat from sxc.hu