Methods for testing unknown shutters?

[jk0592]

The speed tester is a very good tool, but it was way easier to use with older iPhones, when there was a dedicated connection for sound. Now, with modern iPhones, only one connection possible, you have to insert a special connector into the lightning input. This makes setup somewhat awkward.

[earlnash]

This works for me:
1. set up the lens off the camera, pointing at something bright so you can see the light when the lens is open.
2. Start recording a video of the lens with your cell phone - click the shutter - then stop recording.
3. Look at the video with any video editing software where you can expand the timeline.
4. Measure the time that the shutter is open, using the Y-axis time scale.

Earl Nash

[chris73]

The most simple but effective shutter tester someone can make is by removing a small solar panel from a garden lamp or something and connect it to the input of the sound card. Then use Audacity (free) to "record" the shutter time.

[domaz]

This works for me:
1. set up the lens off the camera, pointing at something bright so you can see the light when the lens is open.
2. Start recording a video of the lens with your cell phone - click the shutter - then stop recording.
3. Look at the video with any video editing software where you can expand the timeline.
4. Measure the time that the shutter is open, using the Y-axis time scale.

Earl Nash

Great simple idea anyone can do.

[Graham Patterson]

Definitely worth trying. The video rate will probably put a hard limit of focal plane slit measurements, but should be reasonable for leaf shutters at slower speeds. Easily archived for comparing possible drift over time, too.

My phone can do 30fps and 60fps, so the resolution is going to be + or - one frame visually. However the audio track should be as good as a sound card. Or am I missing something?

[ic-racer]

I made a shutter tester for leaf and focal plane shutters from plans on GitHub. The tester also has a light source for calibrating light meters.

[brucetaylor]

I bought a couple of testers from vfmoto, a seller on eBay. Mine are self contained, which I like, I don’t have to cobble anything together to get a quick read on a camera or shutter that I haven’t used in awhile, or to make a chart of actual speeds that I will keep with the shutter or camera. If the speeds are inconsistent the I know it’s time for a CLA.

[lassethomas]

I’ve back this camera tester from Reveni Labs.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...camera-testing

A bit expensive but it will hopefully do nice things apart from measuring shutter speed. Like aperture transmission.

[Yourix]

You can build a basic tester for a few bucks with an arduino Nano and a photocell.
Some instructions are here : https://emprilum.wordpress.com/2013/...e-dun-arduino/
It's in french but no doubt you can find an equivalent in EN
Message me if you need more infos.

[CrisMar]

Have you considered a laser tester with Arduino? You can easly find info on the net. I built one without any knowledge of electronics nor programming (you find video tutorials on how to build it and also the code required), it's very cheap, accurate, and it works damn well. The only drawback is that mine has to be connected to a PC when I use it, but I really use it only only 6/7 times a year, so it's not a big problem.