I love my Panasonic TZ40 camera, but once I tried to do a time lapse shot of a flower I have realized this functionality is not there.

I have tried the “Panasonic Image App” but that did not include this feature, which is silly since all the functionalities are there.

Searching the net I couldn’t find any app or API that will solve this problem, so I thought this would be a nice challenge for me 🙂

Using the ios app I have sniffed the TCP traffic between the phone and the camera and was able to understand the underlying API.

Which this information I have put together a small page that can be used to create time-lapse images. I have successfully tested this with my Panasonic TZ40, but should work with other models as well, such as GH3, FZ2000)

Since I did not have much time (I am busy being a new dad for 2 weeks now :)) the page is very basic, but I would appreciate if anyone would come up with a better design. I am considering an iOS app as well if there is demand for it.

So how it works:

Step 1:
While you still have internet access on your mobile, desktop, or any device visit this page:
http://diy.2pmc.net/timer/

Don’t click start since we are not connected to the camera.

Step 2:
Now connect your device (ie. mobile) to the camera via WIFI. At this stage, you can start using the Panasonic Image App, set the desired settings (ie. zoom, focus).

Step 3:
Switch to the mobile browser on your mobile/desktop and now you can click “Start”. An image will be taken every 10 seconds. You can adjust the interval as you wish.

I have not tried to see when the mobile device will go into sleep mode if you don’t interact with it. If this happens, you can set a higher time or disable this feature while you are making the time lapse (you can even use your desktop 🙂 ). Ideally, we can create a native app that will trigger the shots from the background.

Now for the more technically focused guys, this is what I have learned by looking at the API.

When you connect a device to the camera the camera will have this IP address:
192.168.54.1

Using your browser, you can find all supported command by the camera:
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=getinfo&type=capability

Here is a few command with some explanation:

http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=getstate – current state
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=setsetting&type=afmode&value=facedetection – set auto focus and face detection

http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=recmode  = recording mode
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=playmode  =  play mode
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=capture – take picture
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camctrl&type=touchcapt&value=840/234&value2=on – take a picture with focus on a given coordinate
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camctrl&type=touchcapt&value=0/0&value2=off
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=video_recstop  – stop recording video
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=video_recstart – start recording video

http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=wide-normal – zoom in
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=wide-fast – zoom in
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=tele-normal – zoom in
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=tele-fast – zoom in
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=camcmd&value=zoomstop – stop zoon

http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=startstream&value=49473 – start video stream on the specified port
http://192.168.54.1/cam.cgi?mode=stopstream

The stream is an MJPEG video over UDP.

-Peter