SOLD ON EBAY TO A GENTALMAN IN RUSSIA My high-speed photography samples and "How To / Techniques " page Up for auction "were" the original prototypes for the Kapture Group TOOLBOX TRIGGER CONTROL SYSTEM designed to simplify high-speed stop-action photography. The components I originally designed have additional features not incorporated in the final production version. The biggest difference between the preproduction and production version of the system, other that cosmetic, is its ability to use two laser beams in an X/Y pattern instead of just one. This allows you to setup two beams in an X like cross pattern and then if you wish you can further separate them by a little less than the thickness of the moving subject to assure precise placement within your preset zone of focus. If one beam is broken nothing happens, but when both beams break at the same time the system will trigger. If you only need one laser for single channel operation that's OK too. Most of the time single channel operation, using just one laser, works great but the dual channel feature works even better for many shots. Click on this link to download a 24 page PDF of sample shots I did for use on the Kapture Group website. Open flash technique works great in a controlled studio setup but by using the electronic cable release there is no need to work in the dark as the photo of the hummingbird in flight demonstrates. This shot used the prototype electronic cable release connected to a Hasselblad 500 C/M with 120 macro plus short extension tube with the mirror pre-released or locked-up. Included in this auction are two laser control units with build in 10 turn precision delay, two Metrologic 650 nm helium neon lasers, two laser receivers with matching glass interference filters for use in direct sunlight and the original electronic cable release prototype plus a production version of the Sound Trigger MD1505.
Hummingbird in Flight What you are actually getting is two complete single channel laser trigger control systems with ability to go dual channel when needed plus you always have a backup laser and laser control unit available. The control units have the same two second lockout as the production version so the laser beams turn off during your exposure and never show up in your shot. This keeps the system from triggering again for two second which is enough time to put the system on standby or after two seconds the system simply resets itself and your ready for the next shot after re-cocking your shutter. There are two green LEDs, one for each channel, that light to confirm laser beam alignment during setup plus there is an audible beep when the beam or beams are broken which can be switched off if desired. The electronic cable release has it's own on/off switch which can be used as a standby mode between shots and during setup. You can easily test your setup audibly and visually when the ECR switch is in the off position or when using an open flash setup. There is also a red LED that blinks when the laser control unit triggers.
The sound trigger has it own built in two second lockout and the sensitivity is highly adjustable. The red units in the photo above are the remote two second lockout boxes the lasers plug into and from there they plug into the input on the laser control units. You can bypass the laser two second lockout by eliminating them from your setup. The Laser control units can also run all day on an internal nine volt battery. Also included but not shown are the two nine volt power supplies for the laser control units and the two twenty four volt power supplies for the lasers. A twenty four volt battery pack was available to run the lasers when I bought the units and I am sure if needed they could be made up if no longer available from Metrologic. Note: Using a small computer UPS backup power supply on location works great and is cheaper than buying an inverter, battery and battery charger.
The electronic cable release fires any mechanical shutter extremely fast with virtually no lag. The lag is in your shutter and varies based on the type of shutter you are using and is a critical factor in high-speed stop-action photography. For example, mirror lockup, manual exposure and manual focus on small and medium format cameras should be used whenever possible. You can bypass the electronic cable release if you wish by using a motor-driven small or medium format camera and a custom cable can be easily made up to adapt to your specific camera or you can simply use open flash technique if you prefer. Copal shutters are extremely fast and have virtually no lag for shots like these and are perfect for stop-action photographic applications. The electronic cable release was designed to eliminate the drawback of having to work in the dark when using cameras with manual shutters. Most of the photos on the Kapture Group website site were done by me using this prototype system. Both the laser receivers and lasers are mounted to light stand adapters for easy setup.
Water Balloon Exploding on the Tip of an Arrow Again, included in this auction are two laser control units with build in 10 turn precision delay, two Metrologic 650 nm helium neon lasers, two laser receivers with matching glass interference filters for use in direct sunlight and the original electronic cable release prototype plus a production version of the Sound Trigger MD1505. This system is state of the art and if the included components were purchased separately it would cost you approximately $4750.00 and you would still not have dual laser (X/Y) capabilities. I will ship the systems in two hard cases packaged in one large box along with a detailed instruction sheet. There is even a special technique for use with high end digital backs. |
