The Triggertrap camera trigger has come a long way since we first saw it in its sensor-packed-box form. First, it moved to being a smartphone app, then it gained wireless capabilities. Now, with the release of the Triggertrap Mobile 2 app, it's been rebuilt from the ground up with a simplified interface to offer photographers a more intuitive experience.
The Triggertrap Mobile 2 app offers photographers 14 smart ways to trigger the shutter of a DSLR or advanced compact camera, via a connected smartphone. Modes include timelapse, sound sensor, shock and vibration sensor, distance-lapse and star trail – all using the brains of the smartphone to tell the camera when to fire. There's also a Wi-Fi option where two smart devices can be used to trigger the camera wirelessly, with one as a slave.
The new look of the new app does away with the the dark backgrounds and dials of the original, in favor of a simplified red menu design. The graphics make it easier to see and set levels for triggering things like the volume needed for a photo to be taken in sound sensor mode, and faster to switch between modes.
However, its makers say that this is more than a visual make-over, and that the app has been rebuilt based on the feedback received from users. On that note, one of the most requested features was the ability to allow the app to run in the background, to reduce battery consumption when shooting timelapses. This has been added to the Android version of the app.
Another key change is the move to requiring the camera to be in manual focus mode. While the lack of support for autofocus is certain to be an issue for some users, it's claimed that it was ditched because it often didn't make sense to use it when remote triggering. Its makers say it caused too many blurry images and missed shots. While users previously had the option to work around it (with timed delays before triggering), it was something few people did.
The Triggertrap Mobile 2 app for iOS is in Apple's App store now, and the Android version is expected to make an appearance on Google Play in the near future. While both apps are free, you'll need a Triggertrap Mobile Dongle (US$30) to connect the smartphone to your camera.
Below is a quick video of the app in action.
Source: Triggertrap