The DigiSnap Pro is already configured with a time-lapse schedule out of the box, but you'll still want to block out some time before your installation to test other moving pieces like a cellular data connection or image transfer settings. Once installed it could be costly to access and troubleshoot an issue depending on how or where it is deployed. We are available to help test and make sure everything is connected and working.
Certainly! Please check out our product DigiSnap Pro Introduction Video. And here is a link to our Video page where you can find other helpful information.
The DigiSnap Pro Android App is available on the Google Play store.
For instruction on how to use our app, please watch our short instructional video.
Yes, the DigiSnap Pro has Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth. The DigiSnap Pro can transfer images from the camera to an FTP server on the local network or internet. The DigiSnap Pro most popularly uses FTP image transfers via USB cellular modems and local USB download.
There are tradeoffs to the various modes. Transferring more frequently will use more battery power, but can facilitate syncing a recent image to a website. The after each 30 pictures setting is a good balance between battery life and frequent uploads.
For more details on the DigiSnap Pro's networking capabilities and other useful information, please visit our support page on connecting to a network.
As a baseline, we recommend the Multitech MTD-H5. The MTD-H5 is a GSM/HSPA+ modem compatible with most cellular networks around the world, however it is not compatible with Verizon networks or SIM cards. Though there are faster USB cellular modems available based on your carrier options, we haven't been able to test all of them. If you try one that we haven't and it works, let us know!
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, it is a protocol for transferring files over the internet. Every image taken by the camera can be configured within the DigiSnap Pro Android Application to automatically transfer to that specified FTP folder location on the internet. FTP setup instructions are located on our FTP image transfers support page.
If desired, you can create an FTP account on a given server and note the username and password.
If you need an FTP server, many of our customers have found ExaVault to be a reliable option. Those with a server administration background may want to install their own. For that we recommend Webcampak. For an all-in-one solution you may be interested in PhotoShelter.
The DSP uploads images to multiple folders on the FTP server because different file systems have different numbers of maximum files within a directory.
It has been designed to keep everything working smoothly on different file systems.
If desired you can "flatten" the directory structure when downloading the images from an FTP server.
This won't change the directory structure on the server, but will allow you to download all images to a single folder on your local computer.
Here are instructions to perform this operation using FileZilla but other FTP clients should have the same functionality:
1) Connect to your FTP server.
2) Navigate to the highest directory containing the folders with the images you want
3) Under the "Server" menu select "Search remote Files"
4) Leave the search field blank and select only "Find files"
5) Hit "Search"
6) All the files, without the directories, should list now. Select them, right click, and select "Download..."
If you need to flatten the directory structure on the server itself you will need shell access and some familiarity with Linux commands. The following command should flatten the directory structure on the FTP server.
find /dir1 -mindepth 2 -type f -exec mv -t /dir1 -i '{}' +From within the Android app, you are able to view your current network connections and connection status.
Another test to confirm that you have internet connectivity is by simply sending a test email via the Android App. Simply go to Network Settings > Email Settings > Enter your email address > tap "SEND TEST EMAIL". If the test email is received then you've confirmed you have internet connectivity.
Good question. First, you should know that the DigiSnap Pro contains two computers. One is extremely low power and handles power management and time-lapse functions. This is called the DSPC, or DigiSnap Pro Controller. The other is a Linux-based system that handles networking and USB functions, referred to as the Network Board or Network Hardware. The software for each is updated independently and both sets of instructions can be found easily within the software upgrades support page.
The network settings will take about 60 seconds to become available after connecting with the app. There is a progress bar at the top of the app during this time. This is designed this way to conserve power. The network board has a much larger power draw than the controller board so we only want to use it as we need it. This helps enable the DigiSnap Pro to utilize its' battery power more efficiently.
Keep in mind that both the controller board and the network board have their own unique factory default buttons within the Android application and Debug Modules.
If the red user switch is held for 10-15 seconds at power-up (power unplugged/restored), the DigiSnap Pro Controller Board is reset to Factory Defaults. There will be a blinking Red LED During this period. If reset, the LED will flash Amber briefly.
The DigiSnap Pro can be configured to transfer to the internet, as well as to a local memory device. If all else fails, the images are simply left on the camera card, and can be manually extracted.
No, the DigiSnap Pro USB ports are Hosts, and are designed connect to, and provide power for USB devices, such as a Flash Drive. They are not designed to connect to a computer.
A debug cable is required to program the DSP system from a windows PC, which we can provide.
If you do happen to accidentally plug your DigiSnap into a computer USB port or another device that provides power it will initially be fine. If this scenario were to be prolonged there is the possibility that some parts in the DigiSnap Pro could eventually be damaged, but even this is not a cause for serious concern, as they only affect communication when connected to the USB ports of a few nonstandard cameras.
A single battery pack (about 100 watt-hour) is about 7 times larger than the battery pack that comes with the majority of SLR cameras. Most of these camera/battery combinations are rated for 300-500 shots, so our battery pack, if only powering the camera, should be able to take about 2100-3500 images. I generally estimate 3000 shots on a full battery charge. This estimate does not include measurements during charge time or during networking activity.
Charging battery packs can happen a few different ways. For remote locations we rely on a solar panel solution that we offer in either 5 Watt, 10 Watt or 20 Watt configurations. We offer a Charge Power AC Converter for less remote scenarios. And we do have a legacy Battery Charger Kit used for charging our battery packs directly, though this charger should never be used directly with the DigiSnap Pro. We don't ship them with new orders, but many of our customers still have this in their gear bag.
The DigiSnap Pro can be configured to use a variety of different power sources depending on the shape of your project and environment: 4 Cell Lithium Ion (14.8V), 3 Cell Lithium Ion (11.1V), 4 Cell Lithium Iron Phosphate (12.8V) and 12V Lead Acid. Our solution can also be charged/powered via passive PoE (Power over Ethernet). Not sure about which battery type or charging solution to use? No problem, feel free to reach out to us to discuss your project and deployment and we will tell you what we recommend!
The Cyclapse uses a sealed weatherproof housing. We provide a desiccant pack, which will keep the interior air dry, so you will not get internal moisture or fogging.
With our different tiers of products and a lot of connections in a controlled space it is important to make sure your connections are where they need to be. To best assist with that we have drafted a camera connections logical diagram to help ensure we aren't missing any major troubleshooting steps. Please use this diagram to verify physical connections.
We use a good optical quality borosilicate glass, with no coatings on the outside. The Cyclapse's proprietary design is minimally impacted by typical weather conditions as it is well protected by the lid and window bezel. This design does an excellent job at deterring dirt deposits.
The internal surface of the glass uses an anti-reflective coating to minimize this. The camera position can be adjusted to place the lens very near the glass (but not touching).
Pre-configuring your DigiSnap Pro to transfer images over the internet via a USB cellular modem via FTP is the most efficient manner, but a popular way is to use a USB cable to bring a connection to the base of the pole. With the Cyclapse Classic, you would connect a laptop computer to download images from the camera. With the Cyclapse Pro, you could connect a USB memory stick, and simply swap with a new one.
In practice, you would configure and test the system at your desk, to verify the settings. Once you install the system, the Cyclapse Pro can send periodic emails, with thumbnail images, and can transfer the images via FTP.
We have a 1 year warranty on every product we sell.