Wanted to share my build here. I am a hobby photographer from New England and never could get enough time in the woods to capture the kinds of photos I wanted. I hang a lot of game cameras throughout the year and can find where the different animals move through but just couldn't get there in time to capture them. So I decided to step the camera trapping up and build a few DSLR camera traps.
I shoot canon so I bought some older Canon Rebel T2i and T3i cameras and some 18-55mm kit lens(fairly cheap if you spend enough time on eBay). I used a 3D printer for most of the supports/dummy batteries/ lens mounts ect..
Here are some photos of the camera box build, just a used Pelican 1300NF off of eBay. (There is an eBay theme here). I 3D print a camera mounting plate to be the height I want and glue it to the inside of the box.
I have made a box with an internal flash as well for a quick set type of deal. this one has a homemade PIR sensor for a trigger. (Shown here with a Yongnu flash, have since switched to Nikon SB-25/28)
For the flashes, I use cheap Harbor freight hard cases (APACHE 1800) and mount with RAM mounts as well. I 3D print a lens mount for it and use Lexan or Plexi for the lens. 20210613_122623.jpg20210613_122615.jpg
For powering the flashes, I use 2s LIPO batteries. I 3D print dummy batteries to fit the Nikon SB-25/28's. I use a mix of Camtraptions flash triggers and some knock-off eBay triggers with external C batteries. 20210612_082620.jpg20210612_082639.jpg
Everything I 3D print and glue to the camera housing or flash housing gets a good coat of flex sealant to ensure watertight. All lenses (flash lens or 77mm UV lens for the camera) get siliconed in to ensure watertight.
Each housing has wire plug holes as an option for hard-wired flashes(2 flashes) and 1 for the external trigger wiring. I 3D print a hole insert then a cap that fits it with a siliconed tight hole that fits the associated cord. 20210423_045658.jpg
Here is a sample photo I captured while trying to work out the kinks.
Good looking build. What kind of battery life do you get with the Yongnou flash and aux battery pack? Does the flash wake quickly on the first trigger?
Thanks for sharing your build with the forum users.
I have since moved away from the Yongnou flash because of the wake up time and now use the trusty Nikon SB-25 or SB-28s.
I have one flash pack(Nikon SB-25 and 5200mAh 2s lipo) that has been out for about a month and a half and still has 70%. It's not a hight trafficked camera/flash set but it triggers every few days.
The 5200 mAh 2S lipo is anywhere from $12-$20 depending on the brand, it's cheaper in my mind than AA or even a C battery pack. You can usually get 100-200 charge cycles out of them.
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