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View Full Version : Connecting camera to MacBook for stop motion animation.



Topher15
Oct 8, 2008, 06:38 AM
I'm making a stop motion animation for a uni project and would like to connect my camera to my MB, so that the image is captured into the MB monitor.

I studied animation about four years ago and the rostrum cameras we used were connected to Adobe Premier on a PC. Each tap of the space bar took a single frame. However I've not actually tried this myself on my own equipment.

I have a Canon Ixus 40 digital camera and a Sony Digital 8 Handycam.

Is it even possible for either of these camera? The Sony video camera does USB streaming but it is at a low quality and resolution which rules out that option.

If not I can just capture using the camera alone.

Much appreciated. :apple:


bigandy
Oct 8, 2008, 06:40 AM
Have a look at iStopMotion (http://boinx.com/istopmotion/overview/), it may assist.

However with your cameras, unless you have FireWire on the video camera, it may not be possible to hook up directly.
jampat
Oct 8, 2008, 08:17 AM
Canon cameras come with software called "remote capture". I've never used it, but I think it basically allows for tethered shooting. I doubt it would go straight into Premier, but at least you could see each shot on a decent screen to make sure it worked before you moved on.
ChrisA
Oct 8, 2008, 11:11 AM
Canon cameras come with software called "remote capture". I've never used it, but I think it basically allows for tethered shooting.

Also, Leopard comes with "Image Capture" which now has a teathered shooting feature. Whith the camera plugged in with USB Image Capture has a button labelled "take a picture". But there is no live view untill after you trip the shutter.

The neat thing here is that even an entry level SLR can do a capture with enough quality for a major Hollywood film. I tried this years ago with lower end equipment. It's a LOT of work good luck.
Samarium
Oct 8, 2008, 11:46 AM
Have a look at iStopMotion (http://boinx.com/istopmotion/overview/), it may assist.

I was going to suggest that too. :)
Topher15
Oct 8, 2008, 11:47 AM
Thanks for the info.

iStopMotion looks great. I'll keep that in mind for the future.