GettingStarted

=Getting Started=

The first part of getting started with the Camera Axe is deciding what type of photography you want to do with the Camera Axe and then pick the correct sensors and cables you need to buy to capture those photographs. You can always start with just a few sensors or cables an then add more as you get more experienced with the Camera Axe. All the parts below can be bought at the [Camera Axe Store].

A good starting kit would be the Camera Axe, a flash cable, a camera cable, and one or more sensors. This combine with the camera and external flash you already have should be everything you need to start taking amazing photos.

Buying the Camera Axe
There are two options when buying a Camera Axe. You can either buy the fully assembled and tested Camera Axe 5. Or if you are experienced at soldering you can assemble your own Camera Axe 5 Shield Kit. Both versions use the same software and can use all the same cables/sensors. The Camera Axe 5 does come with a nice case, a built in rechargeable battery, and some other nice built in features. The Camera Axe Kit shield doesn't have those and needs an [Arduino Uno board] to function, but is much less expensive for the DIYer.


 * [Camera Axe 5]
 * [Camera Axe 5 Shield Kit]

Buying Flash Cables
Most high speed photography is done in a dark room and then the flash is used to light the event being photographed. This avoids large lag times and slow speeds of physical camera shutters found in modern cameras. This means most people buying the Camera Axe should really get one or more flash cables. You can get either the Hotshoe Flash Cable or the PC Sync Flash Cable. Get the cable that matches your flash. The Camera Axe has two ports for flashes, but if you plan to use more than two flashes you should get the Multi-Flash Board.


 * [Hotshoe Flash Cable]
 * [PC Sync Flash Cable]
 * [Multi-Flash Board]

Buying Camera Cables
This is a cable that let's the Camera Axe trigger your camera. See the flash cables above to see why high speed photography often triggers the flash instead of the camera. That said there are lots of cases where you want to trigger the camera with the Camera Axe. Below is a list of our different camera cables. Each link has a list of cameras supported by that cable.


 * [Canon C3 Camera Trigger Cable]
 * [Canon 2.5 mm Camera Trigger Cable]
 * [Nikon N1 (10 Pin) Camera Trigger Cable]
 * [Nikon N2 Camera Trigger Cable]
 * [Nikon N3 Camera Trigger Cable]
 * [Sony S1 Camera Trigger Cable]
 * [Olympus Multipin Camera Trigger Cable]

Buying Sensors
Here are some of the most popular sensors from the Camera Axe store.


 * [Valve Sensor] - This is the best sensor for taking pictures of liquid droplets.
 * [Projectile Sensor] - This is the best sensor for taking photos of high speed projectiles.
 * [Microphone Sensor] - This sensor detects loud noises such as a popping balloon or shattering glass.
 * [Light Sensor] - This sensor detects changes in lighting such as lightning strikes.
 * [Laser Sensor] - This sensor when combine with the light sensor above can make a light trip beam.
 * [Motion/Distance Sensor] - This sensor detect the distance of an object. It is also useful for detecting motion of objects such as pets or wildlife.


 * There are a lot of other sensors in the store so if this guide doesn't have a sensor that fits your needs take a closer look at all the sensors in the store.

Other Resources for Help

 * [This page] has links to the Camera Axe user manual and links to some of the episodes from [TechPhotoBlog] which is a weekly video podcast I publish that answer a lot of common Camera Axe questions.
 * [The Camera Axe Forums] are a great place to ask questions.