Triggertrap

Triggertrap

Company type	Private
Industry	Photography equipment, Electronics
Founded	2011 (2011)
Founder	Haje Jan Kamps
Defunct	January 31, 2017 (2017-01-31)
Headquarters	Bristol , England
Products	Camera triggers, Mobile applications for camera activation
Website	triggertrap.com

Triggertrap was a company based in England that specialized in creating both hardware and software solutions for activating SLR cameras. Their product range included multiple camera triggers built on the Arduino platform, as well as mobile applications that interfaced with cameras through a device connected to the headphone jack of smartphones or tablets. In May 2012, Triggertrap introduced Triggertrap Mobile for iOS, followed by an Android release in September 2012. These apps utilized the sensors within smartphones to activate cameras based on factors such as sound, movement, vibration, or geographic location, also incorporating functionalities like timelapse and bulb ramping. Triggertrap discontinued operations on 31 January 2017. The company was founded and led by Dutch photographer Haje Jan Kamps.

Background

The inception of Triggertrap dates back to July 2011 when Haje Jan Kamps initiated a Kickstarter campaign aimed at financing a novel camera trigger. Although the initial funding target was $25,000, the campaign raised over $77,000 from close to 900 supporters within thirty days, ultimately delivering more than 950 units of Triggertrap v1—nearly tripling the original objective.

Arduino-based products

The Triggertrap v1 is a programmable triggering device constructed on the Arduino open-source framework, with its source code publicly accessible on GitHub. It includes integrated sensors for ambient light, laser detection, and sound, alongside an auxiliary input that enables camera activation through any electrical signal.

Designated as a high-speed trigger, the Triggertrap v1 employs its ambient light sensor to synchronize external flashes with shutter speeds reaching up to 1/640th of a second and boasts a reaction time below 1.6 milliseconds.

Additionally, Triggertrap offered the Triggertrap Shield for Arduino—a more affordable alternative to the v1 that maintains feature parity and is targeted toward developers and hobbyists. By modifying configuration files according to user preferences, it executes the identical source code.

Triggertrap Ada

In November 2013, Triggertrap exceeded its funding target on Kickstarter, raising £290,386 for the Triggertrap Ada against an initial goal of £50,000. Despite this success, by March 2015 the company disclosed it was unable to proceed with manufacturing the device and intended to reimburse the outstanding 20% of the Kickstarter contributions.

CEO Haje Jan Kamps and the Triggertrap team encountered backlash from supporters due to delays and insufficient communication. Project updates postponed the expected delivery to May 2015—one year beyond the original schedule—just prior to the project's cancellation. Questions were also raised regarding how funds were managed and compliance with Kickstarter's Terms of Service, with some backers considering legal measures.

External links

• Official Website