I have been trying to use my TI-84 calculator to do time lapse videos. I have tried a number of programs in the calculator, but none of them make the camera fire. I am using a Rebel XSi. Has anyone had any luck using an XSi? I would really, really appreciate any help. Thanks.

Have you seen this tutorial?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Turn-a-TI-Graphing-Calculator-into-an-Intervalomet/

Ya, that's where I discovered that this was possible. I've used the code on that site and a couple different codes, but I haven't had any success. I was wondering if maybe I needed to change a certain setting in my camera or something like that. The program runs on the calculator, but the shutter doesn't fire.

In that tutorial the camera used had a remote shutter cord that used a mini-plug. Is that the case on your camera? If not the problem might be an incorrect pinout / connection to the camera remote release socket.

When all else fails just beat your head against the camera -- in regular intervals

Chuck

nolanthomas wrote:
I have been trying to use my TI-84 calculator to do time lapse videos. I have tried a number of programs in the calculator, but none of them make the camera fire. I am using a Rebel XSi. Has anyone had any luck using an XSi? I would really, really appreciate any help. Thanks.

It looks like there an intervalometer available for the XSi. I use one with my 5DMk2 to take star track shots and such. I got mine from eBay for $40 or so.

I'm using a 2.5 mm to 2.5mm audio cable. It fits in both ends and I thought it would work, but maybe i do need a different cord. Has anyone had any luck with this calculator thing.

If it worked for the author, I think that it was a fluke.

Both focus and shutter require a contact closure to the common.

I believe that the output from the calculator is audio which is used for sending data between two calculators.

The audio out is not the same as a contact closure.

Why you must suffer? Get one on Ebay for $20 and save you a lot of time.

nolanthomas wrote:
I have been trying to use my TI-84 calculator to do time lapse videos. I have tried a number of programs in the calculator, but none of them make the camera fire. I am using a Rebel XSi. Has anyone had any luck using an XSi? I would really, really appreciate any help. Thanks.