Firing multiple cameras at the same time

Part of an array of 120 Canon EOS 30D cameras controlled using 5 laptops running
DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera

 

There are two ways multiple cameras can be fired at the same time using DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera which are described below. In order to eliminate variable delays due to auto-focus the cameras should be set to manual focus and pre-focused before taking the photos.

With PSRemote Multi-Camera it is only possible to trigger the cameras using the first method. To minimize variations due to auto-focus delays the cameras should be pre-focused by selecting AF lock in the main PSRemote Multi-Camera window.

1. Using DSLR Remote Pro to trigger the cameras:
   This can be done by selecting "Gang camera shutter releases together" in preferences and then pressing the "Release" button in the main window. DSLR Remote Pro instructs each camera to take a picture as quickly as possible and each camera will be triggered in turn with a delay of approximately 1/6 sec between each camera. This means if there are 18 cameras it will take approximately 3 secs from when the first camera takes a picture until the last camera takes a picture.
   
2. Triggering the cameras using the remote release connection:
   Canon EOS cameras have remote release sockets which allow the camera to be fired by simply using a switch. Multiple cameras can be fired at the same time by plugging cables into the remote release socket of each camera and witing these together to a master switch. The cameras won't all trigger at exactly the same time due to variations in the response time of each camera but they will probably all fire within approximately 20ms to 30ms of each other. This variation can be reduced by activating the auto-focus via the remote release cables just before taking the photo.

Using the remote release socket to fire multiple cameras at once

All EOS cameras except the Canon EOS 400D/Digital Rebel XTi and Canon EOS 450D/Rebel XSi have a proprietary three-pin remote release socket shown below. The 400D and 450D use a simpler 2mm jackplug with three connections and works in exactly the same way.
Remote release switches and cables can be bought as accessories from Canon or more cheaply from eBay.

The remote release switch has two positions similar to the camera's shutter release button. Half-pressure on the release switch activates the camera's auto-focus by connecting the "Ground" and "Activate AF" pins together. Full pressure on the release switch releases the camera's shutter by connecting the "Ground" and "Release Shutter" pins together. It isn't necessary to activate the auto-focus in order to release the shutter and a picture can be taken by only connecting the "Ground" and "Release Shutter" pins together. Activating the auto-focus releasing the shutter puts the camera into a heightened state of readiness and will reduce the variations between cameras.

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III/EOS-1D Mark III/40D/30D Remote Release Connector

Canon EOS 30D connectors (remote release socket is bottom left)

Remote release socket for Canon EOS 30D/40D/1D Mark III/1Ds Mark III showing pinout

Canon EOS 400D/Digital Rebel XTi and 450D/Digital Rebel XSi Remote Release Connector

Canon EOS 400D/Digital Rebel XTi and 450D/Digital Rebel XSi Connectors
(middle socket is the remote release socket)

2mm 3-connection Jackplug for Canon EOS 400D/Digital Rebel XTi and 450D/Digital Rebel XSi remote release

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DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera - Remote Capture Software for controlling multiple Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III, EOS-1D Mark III, EOS 40D, EOS 30D, EOS 400D/Rebel XTi or EOS 450D/Rebel XSi cameras