who knows something about machinery or telescopes?

[livin4lax09]

I need a motor that is capable of turning my camera VERY slowly. We're talking like 180 degrees in the span of 4 hours. I've been thinking of ways to achieve this for a while.

A friend mentioned a telescope motor. There are some cheap ones that will most likely work from what I can gather, but I can't really figure a way to attach to the camera....

So, how do I do this? or does anyone know of any things that will work for this application?

Thanks in advance!

[Singletracklovr]

One of the scientific catalogs could have something like that.

[Greg McCary]

Maybe you could rig the motor to turn the center tube of a tripod. It would have to be a good tripod maybe one with ball bearings in it. I think what you are looking for is a stepping motor.

[SmartWombat]

I need a motor that is capable of turning my camera VERY slowly. We're talking like 180 degrees in the span of 4 hours.

I think that most people who do this kind of thing use custom setups.
I would think a stepper motor and reduction gearbox, mount a quick release plate on the output shaft, and then some software to make it all go.

Most of the wildlife film makers seem to have their own Heath Robinson systems with custom hardware and software

Commercial video control systems go up to, well, more than my salary
If you want a real commercial system http://www.kupercontrols.com/ which is way overkill!

OK back to reality.
DIY of this would be fun if I had my playroom in operation (scope, solder station etc.)
This looks a useful pointer thread: http://www.photomacrography.net/foru...e3cf9472fab09c
And this one http://canon-hf100.blogspot.com/2009...ontrol_09.html
And for the shutter release http://wordpress.bolanski.com/?p=9

[drg]

You are looking for what is generically called a clock drive for a telescope mount I believe. Scopes mount on tripods too! There's also a quick and dirty, not really, solution called a Barn Door Tracker that is in the same neighborhood for a diurnal/polar/etc. mount to move a scope or camera.

Here's a quick google search for both terms:

Clock Drive
Barn Door Tracker

Good luck and happy tinkering!

[SmartWombat]

I'd not heard of a barn door tracker before.
I see it's basically a screw/worm driven hinge, like someone described a manual clock drive Theirs was a few turns per minute so it was easy to operate by hand.

I get the feeling that Brent wants it fully automatic, which means motors and reduction gearboxes, and to operate over 180 degrees.


And in this digital age, I didn't think anyone would still sell clock drives (I was thinking clockwork too - doh).
It seems to be all Alt/Az mounts and digital stepper motors with GoTo star finders.

But at $570 for the cheapest from http://www.opticcraft.com/clockdrives.html
And they only go at one speed, which I don't think is 180 degrees in 4 hours.


I reckon homebuild electronics is probably the best bet.
Slowest motor drive I can find so far at RS Components is 0.5rpm, so you'd need an additional gearbox on that to get down to 1 revolution in 4 hours.

Unless something like a wide range satellite dish driver that will swing over 180 degrees can be picked up cheap and modified to scan across its range slowly.
Again that's a homebuild modification, but the 180 degree requirement is a bit more then most satellite dish positioners will go to, I think.

[OldClicker]

Here is a very nice $1000 solution that would also (with sensors) have many other uses.

https://bmumford.securewebsites.com/...ary/index.html

TF

[drg]

This from the 'original stated specs' looks like a DIY project.

Out of random curiosity, just what are you trying to do with this slow rotating camera?

[livin4lax09]

Panning time lapse.

Thanks for the ideas everyone, ill check em out!