# Touchscreen Pi Timelapse Controller ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/013/765/medium800/raspberry_pi_SZ0A4273-Edit.jpg?1390595615) Turn your camera into an awesome high-tech time-lapse machine using a Raspberry Pi and a PiTFT for quick control! This is a great advanced project for camera + Pi geeks with motors, displays, and beautiful video output. For example, here's a video I shot of the lovely Irish landscape - you can see how the motorized slider adds a dynamic motion to the timelapses! https://vimeo.com/81180001 ## Things You’ll Need: - **Raspberry Pi computer** , the **[Model B](http://www.adafruit.com/products/998)** is probably easier to set up and get going, but of you are comfortable with the **[Model A](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1344), then that will work fine. You don't need any USB ports, and once set up, you don't need the [Model B](http://www.adafruit.com/products/998)'s ethernet port. The** **[Model A](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1344)** save you on power, allowing you to run longer timelapses .:) - **[PiTFT Mini Kit](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1601)** - 2.8" TFT touchscreen for Raspberry Pi - **[SD memory card](http://www.adafruit.com/products/102),** 4GB or larger. - A **[10-14 volt battery pack](http://www.adafruit.com/products/875).** If using WiFi and/or a Model B Pi, you’ll want a robust battery pack that can provide 1 Amp (some are limited to 500 mA max). - You can use a [DC-DC converter](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1385) to give us 5V for the Raspberry Pi. Or just go with a [big USB battery pack such as this one.](http://www.adafruit.com/products/1566) If you want to use a Pi-controlled motor-drive slider, you'll also need: - A Dual H-Bridge motor driver. [I used a L298 Motor Driver from eBay](http://www.ebay.ie/itm/L298N-DC-Stepper-Motor-Driver-Module-Controller-Board-Dual-H-Bridge-for-Arduino-/111248044219?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item19e6e670bb) but [your motor might also be OK with a 1.2A peak L293D](http://www.adafruit.com/products/807) You can also do without the motor driver, if you can live with switching the direction of the motor using a switch. - A couple of NPN transistors and a couple of 1K resistors (for driving the shutter release of the camera. - 2 DC Connectors, DC Switch, 3.5mm stereo jack socket In some situations a **[USB to TTL Serial Cable](http://www.adafruit.com/products/954)** may be the preferred way to log in and configure the Raspberry Pi, if a spare keyboard and monitor are unavailable. **Some additional parts, tools and skills are also required:** soldering iron and solder for connecting the header to the PiTFT display; some means of holding all the pieces together — could be as simple as a few rubber bands, to a drilled-out plastic electronics enclosure, to an elaborate custom 3D-printed case. This all depends on your available resources. Read through to see what’s involved in the project and come up with ideas along the way. This guide doesn't cover the building of the time-lapse rail or dolly, for that you can check out [David Hunt's blog](http://www.davidhunt.ie/?p=2822). - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/touchscreen-pi-timelapse-controller/pi-setup-1.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit PiTFT - 320x240 2.8" TFT+Touchscreen for Raspberry Pi [Adafruit PiTFT - 320x240 2.8" TFT+Touchscreen for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1601) Is this not the cutest little display for the Raspberry Pi? It features a 2.8" display with 320x240 16-bit color pixels and a resistive touch overlay. The plate uses the high speed SPI interface on the Pi and can use the mini display as a console, X window port, displaying images or video... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1601) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1601/guides) ### Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB RAM [Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB RAM](https://www.adafruit.com/product/998) Adafruit ships the **Raspberry Pi Model B 512MB RAM** as of 10/18/2012. The Raspberry Pi® is a single-board computer developed in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation with the intention of stimulating the teaching of basic computer science in schools. The Raspberry... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/998) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/998/guides) ### 4GB SD card for Raspberry Pi preinstalled with Raspbian Wheezy [4GB SD card for Raspberry Pi preinstalled with Raspbian Wheezy](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1121) ![Raspbian](../images/rasp.png) This is a 4GB microSDHC card (SDC44GB) that comes with a SD adapter and is pre-programmed to contain the latest Raspberry Pi Linux distribution "Raspbian Wheezy" which was released on 2015-01-31... No Longer Stocked [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1121) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1121/guides) ### NPN Bipolar Transistors (PN2222) - 10 pack [NPN Bipolar Transistors (PN2222) - 10 pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/756) Transistors are powerful little electronic switches, and we really like these NPN transistors whenever we need to control medium-power electronics such as small motors, solenoids, or IR LEDs. We find them so handy, they come in a pack of 10! Each transistor is a general-purpose... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/756) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/756/guides) ## Related Guides - [apt.adafruit.com](https://learn.adafruit.com/apt-adafruit-com.md) - [Pi Hole Ad Detection Display with PiTFT](https://learn.adafruit.com/pi-hole-ad-pitft-tft-detection-display.md) - [AstroPrint 3D Printing](https://learn.adafruit.com/astroprint-3d-printing.md) - [DIY WiFi Raspberry Pi Touchscreen Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-wifi-raspberry-pi-touch-cam.md) - [RasPi - Animated GIF Picture Frame](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspi-animated-gif-picture-frame.md) - [Using the Slamtec RPLIDAR on a Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/slamtec-rplidar-on-pi.md) - [Adafruit PiTFT - 2.8" Touchscreen Display for Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pitft-28-inch-resistive-touchscreen-display-raspberry-pi.md) - [Kali Linux on the Raspberry Pi with the PiTFT](https://learn.adafruit.com/kali-linux-on-the-raspberry-pi-with-the-pitft.md) - [SnapPiCam Raspberry Pi Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/snappicam-raspberry-pi-camera.md) - [RasPipe: A Raspberry Pi Pipeline Viewer, Part 2](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspipe-a-raspberry-pi-pipeline-viewer-part-2.md) - [Ultimate Youtube Live Camera](https://learn.adafruit.com/ultimate-youtube-live-camera.md) - [Monitor PiCam and temperature on a PiTFT via adafruit.io](https://learn.adafruit.com/monitor-picam-and-temperature-on-a-pitft-via-adafruit-dot-io.md) - [Mini Mac Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-mac-pi.md) - [Cupcade: the Raspberry Pi Micro Arcade Cabinet](https://learn.adafruit.com/cupcade-raspberry-pi-micro-mini-arcade-game-cabinet.md) - [Raspberry Pi radio player with touchscreen](https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-radio-player-with-touchscreen.md)