Custom Variables
The Custom Variables menu provides access to advanced configuration options that allow the behaviour of the sensor to be fine-tuned. These variables modify timing parameters that affect how the camera is triggered, how long signals are held, and other aspects of sequence timing. For the majority of users, customising these settings is generally unnecessary.
In some cases, enabling or adjusting a Custom Variable may override standard Still or Video Mode settings, resulting in slightly different sequence timing than expected. These options are intended for advanced users who require precise control over the triggering sequence.
Accessing Custom Variables
- From the Home Screen, press and hold the Left and Right Arrow simultaneously for more than 1 second until the Custom Variables (C VAR) screen appears.
- Use the Left and Right buttons to select the desired variable number.
- Use the Up and Down buttons to select the desired variable value.
- Press Set to save the new value.
- Some custom settings can also be enabled or disabled by holding the Up or Down button for more than 1 second to toggle them On and Off.
Leaving the Custom Variable Menu
From the custom variable menu, you can return to the Home Screen by either:
- Not pressing a button for 20 seconds
- Pressing the Left and Right Arrow simultaneously for more than 1 second.
Available Custom Variables
| C Var | Description | Default Value | Adjustable Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Half-Press Length (Before Full Press) – Determines how long the half-press (wake) signal is held before the full-press trigger in both still and video modes. | 0.1 s | 0.1–5.0 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 2 | Half-Press Length (After Full Press) – Determines how long the half-press signal is held after the full-press trigger in both still and video modes. | 0.1 s | 0.1–5.0 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 3 | Full-Press Duration (Still Mode) – If enabled, this overrides the full-press timing determined by the FPS setting. | — | 0.1–2.9 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 4 | Gap Between Full-Press Signals (Still Mode) – When Number (NUM) > 1, this defines the interval between shots. If enabled, it overrides the FPS-determined interval. | — | 0.1–15.0 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 5 | Full-Press Duration (Video Mode) – Defines how long the full-press signal is held when starting or maintaining a video recording. | 1.0 s | 0.1–2.9 s (in 0.1 s steps) |
| 6 | Maximum Video Length Extension Limit – Sets an absolute maximum video extension length in minutes. This limits the total recording duration when Extend Time is enabled. The maximum recording time will be this variable plus the standard recording time. | — | 1–60 min |
|
7 |
Flash Wake / Flash Fire Signals – Controls whether flash trigger signals are sent during still sequences: |
0 |
0–2 |
|
8 |
Flash Signal Channel – Sets the wireless channel (1–15) used for the Flash Wake and Flash Fire signals defined by C Var 7. This can be the same as the main trigger channel or a separate dedicated flash channel. |
— |
1–15 |
|
9 |
Wireless Power Boost – When set to "1", this setting increases the strength of the wireless signal to improve reliability in setups where there may be signal interference, long distances, or obstructions between the sensor and the receiver. This is an experimental option intended primarily for troubleshooting wireless connectivity issues. In most circumstances, the default power level provides the best balance between range, battery efficiency, and signal stability. |
0 |
0–1 |
Notes
- Adjusting Custom Variables can affect the timing of the camera’s wake, trigger, and release signals.
- To restore factory defaults, see the Reset to Defaults section.
Using Half-Press Duration for Autofocus (C Var 1)
C Var 1 controls the length of the half-press (HP) signal that is sent to the camera before the full-press (FP) trigger. By extending this half-press duration, the sensor gives the camera time to perform autofocus functions before the image is taken.
With newer mirrorless cameras offering highly advanced autofocus systems — including animal-eye detection — this feature allows autofocus to be used in camera-trap setups for the first time.
When the half-press signal is active, the camera can detect and focus on the subject before the shutter is triggered, enabling the possibility of shooting with a shallow depth of field and precise eye focus, creating images that differ greatly from traditional manual-focus camera-trap photos.
Practical Considerations
- Focus reliability: Autofocus-based setups are inherently less reliable than manual focus. Some images may be misfocused if the camera fails to detect the correct point of interest or locks onto background elements.
- Lighting: Autofocus requires continuous light to function. For nighttime use, video lights may be necessary, as flashes alone will not provide light until after focus is attempted.
- Timing: The optimal half-press duration depends on the camera model and lens. Mirrorless cameras typically require between 0.2 s and 1 s for accurate subject detection and focus acquisition.
This setting introduces a new creative approach to camera trapping — enabling autofocus precision and shallow-depth-of-field imagery previously impractical with PIR triggers. While manual focus remains the most dependable method for critical work, C Var 1 offers an exciting opportunity to experiment with modern autofocus systems for more dynamic and cinematic results.
Wireless Flash Wake and Flash Fire (C Var 7 & C Var 8)
C Var 7 and 8 provide advanced control for managing external flashes, particularly in situations where the camera cannot wake or trigger flashes automatically. This feature is especially useful with Sony cameras, which do not send a wake signal to flashes before triggering them.
While flashes such as the Camtraptions F1 and Z2 do not require a wake signal, the Camtraptions Z Pro achieves much longer standby times by entering a low-power sleep mode. As a result, it must be woken before it can be triggered.
In such cases, the sensor can take over flash control independently:
- C Var 7 = 1: The sensor sends a 0.2 s Flash Wake signal immediately before the first camera trigger signal in any stills sequence. This wakes compatible flashes (such as the Z Pro) so that they are ready when the camera sends its normal shoot signal.
- C Var 7 = 2: The sensor sends both a Flash Wake signal before the first camera trigger signal and a Flash Fire signal after every camera trigger signal. In this configuration, the camera does not need to send any flash trigger signal—the sensor handles all flash timing directly.
The flash channel used for these signals is defined by C Var 8, which can be set between 1 and 15. This may be the same channel as the main trigger system or a separate dedicated flash channel.
The C Var 7 = 2 configuration is particularly effective for night-time photography, where long shutter speeds allow the flash to fire during the exposure window.
As long as the shutter speed is longer than the Full-Press duration, the flash will fire within the open exposure, even when the camera itself is not controlling the flash. The Full-press duration can be customised using C Var 3 so that the flash fires as quickly as possible after the camera shutter opens.
This setup provides a reliable and flexible method to trigger flashes entirely via the sensor, simplifying configurations where cameras have limited flash-control capabilities or when using off-camera flash systems in low-light environments.