Build a shutter tester for Focal Plane shutters - Cheap, Easy & it Works

Niglyn · Nov 2, 2025

Hi, here is the first prototype case for The Shutter Tester.

An hour left to run on the print, then I can see how it fits )

SD slot on the right & USB power on the left.

Still need to make the bottom and rear panels.

Most people only want the sensor frame output, so will probably only add socket holes for this & the flash socket.

Maybe I will add centre marks for the other sockets, so folks can cut these out themselves if required.

Malbof16 · Nov 3, 2025

Niglyn said:
Hi, here is the first prototype case for The Shutter Tester.

An hour left to run on the print, then I can see how it fits )

SD slot on the right & USB power on the left.

Still need to make the bottom and rear panels.

Most people only want the sensor frame output, so will probably only add socket holes for this & the flash socket.

Maybe I will add centre marks for the other sockets, so folks can cut these out themselves if required.
View attachment 410460

What size tft is it designed for? I have a 3.2" but I know there are many 2.8" out there.

Niglyn · Nov 3, 2025

Malbof16 said:
What size tft is it designed for? I have a 3.2" but I know there are many 2.8" out there.

Hi, it is designed for the 4 inch TFT 480x320 display, which must have the ili4988 driver & touch ic.

There is a 3.5 inch tft with the same driver and touch ic. This also works, but the screen is 180 degree rotated. This screen is not supported, so you are on your own if you build a mini version )

Parts document has details and link to supplier.

Niglyn · Nov 4, 2025

Finished The Shutter Tester Case main panel.

Just tweaking the rear panel, which has all the holes for connectors.

Looks nicer than the project box. Print files will be on the github as soon as I am happy with them.

Have (with all of my designs) kept it functional to ensure straight-forward printing, without the need for supports and to make a speedy print.

koraks · Nov 4, 2025

That looks very pretty @Niglyn !

ronron · Nov 16, 2025

Hi Niglyn,

I've got busy for a while, as you can see i almost finished my V2 with your fantastic board that you send me. I had to change my esp32 board to use an usb c connection, i will need a new code to finish this project, thanks again.

ronron · Nov 16, 2025

Niglyn · Nov 16, 2025

Hi Ronron,

you have the incorrect encoder. Should be the one with the round blue pcb.
However, I note yours has five wires, so it may be ok if it has the pullup resisters and caps on it.

Your ESP32 is again the wrong one, which is why it does not fit into the pcb.
Unlike Arduino, there is no set standard, so boards can be different sizes.

I always use the NodeMcu32 38-pin version, with the 2102 USB interface and spacing between the rows of 23mm or 0.90"
This board does not have screw-holes on the pcb & the wi-fi antenna is integral, not overhanging the end.

When I first started using this particular ESP32 variant, it was the only one which had a screw-terminal breakout board. But now the screw-terminal breakout boards are available for the 30 pin version, which has a spacing of 1.1" and the wider 38 pin ESP32, which is the one you have.

Aliexpress is not the best at describing their products, so it is easy to end up with the wrong one. Even when ordering the correct part, they can send something different. I have even had the correct label on the package but a totally different part inside.

Niglyn · Nov 17, 2025

too late for Ronron, but here is a tube showing the optional PCB for The Shutter Tester

Niglyn · Nov 17, 2025

So, the case for The Shutter Tester is finished.

Triangular shaped so easier to see on the desktop.

There are a choice of three rears for the box -

First is without any lettering, (easy to print)

Second has the legends as engraved text, so recessed but not coloured. Easy to print.
(not pictured)

Third is with legends printed flush, in a different colour.
This trickier to print, as one needs to set their printing software to print the legends in one colour, followed by the rest of the box.

ronron · Nov 17, 2025

Nice box ! For the encoder i use the one i have under my hand, the SW is connect to vcc as i can see on the back, i didn't have any problem to start your code with this encoder, for the esp 32, there is no big difference. i usually sold with chip on the card to have the good spacing. Can you send me a code for this card thanks. i will change the encoder if i have problem.

ronron · Nov 17, 2025

how did you print your parts to get this nice effect?

Niglyn · Nov 17, 2025

ronron said:
how did you print your parts to get this nice effect?

Hi, I just printed the case face-down on the build plate, which has this frosted finish.
For the flush text, one has to 'cut' the text from the part to a depth of 0.2mm and then extrude it back up as a new body. This new body text can then be printed in a different colour, then the black box printed around it.

Verner Noerby · Nov 21, 2025

Niglyn said:
Hi IC,

Yes, it will (with a slight mod to my code). I assume the Lasers are placed at 20mm vertical and 32mm horizontal?
It removes the need for the two additional lasers & simplifies wiring.

Thanks for posting the pcb details. I could not really start suggesting peeps take parts from other projects )

'Genuine' sensors are available from Farnell, £1.24 each and a minimum order of £20. I still cannot find a source for the chinese knock-off ones, other than buying the whole sensor module.

I was also thinking of adding a light meter, taken from my 'build an exposure meter...cheap...' thread. It is so easy to do, using a modern all in one light sensor module that spits out light level in lux, & then a quick calc to give EV. Accuracy is rated at 20%, but they can be calibrated by writing back to the module. User can provide their own light source & wire it to a dimmer, compare the shutter tester reading to their own camera.

It does open the whole debate about what is EV and K value. Selenium cells & photo-diodes were around long before LED panels & the like & probably do not care. I found my film cameras under-read, this maybe due to film cameras exposing for the shadows & EV being subjective.

My over-complex nikon camera requires various pots set for different EV levels, so being able to have a light at 15EV, then 3 stops lower to adjust the next pot (as per the manual) would be most useful.

Niglyn said:
Hi, here is the first prototype case for The Shutter Tester.

An hour left to run on the print, then I can see how it fits )

SD slot on the right & USB power on the left.

Still need to make the bottom and rear panels.

Most people only want the sensor frame output, so will probably only add socket holes for this & the flash socket.

Maybe I will add centre marks for the other sockets, so folks can cut these out themselves if required.
View attachment 410460

Hi Niglyn. I know this probably isn't the place to contact you but I can't seem to find out how to contact you to retrieve a code for the ESP 32 shutter tester. Can you help me out please. Kind regards V. Nørby (vern@live.dk

Niglyn · Nov 21, 2025

Verner Noerby said:
Hi Niglyn. I know this probably isn't the place to contact you but I can't seem to find out how to contact you to retrieve a code for the ESP 32 shutter tester. Can you help me out please. Kind regards V. Nørby (vern@live.dk

Hi, yes best place to contact me is here, either via a post or DM.
Pass key sent via DM.

Verner Noerby · Nov 22, 2025

Niglyn said:
Hi, yes best place to contact me is here, either via a post or DM.
Pass key sent via DM.

Thanks a lot Niglyn!

ronron · Nov 24, 2025

Hi Niglyn, I found the good esp,

Gruby104 · Dec 23, 2025

Hello I need a key. For now I managed to build, lightmeter and matrix tester. Now Im going to build the main part of the tester that is lasers. I will use lego for that

Niglyn · Dec 24, 2025

Gruby104 said:
Hello I need a key. For now I managed to build, lightmeter and matrix tester. Now Im going to build the main part of the tester that is lasers. I will use lego for that

Niglyn · Dec 24, 2025

Hi, sorry, the forum is not sending me notifications of new posts or messages/DM.
Hopefully, I have replied or commented where required, if not, please re-post/DM.
Gruby104, have sent you a DM, so you now can DM me with your Authorisation Code.

koraks · Dec 24, 2025

Niglyn said:
the forum is not sending me notifications of new posts or messages/DM

Please check your spam folder; they may have ended up there. It's a known issue that @Sean has been working on, but AFAIK it's not yet resolved: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/photrio-system-emails-end-up-in-spam-folder.217705/

Niglyn · Dec 24, 2025

koraks said:
Please check your spam folder; they may have ended up there. It's a known issue that @Sean has been working on, but AFAIK it's not yet resolved: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/photrio-system-emails-end-up-in-spam-folder.217705/

Hi, thanks. Not in spam. It seems a bit random. I got a email today 24/12/25 for the 23/12/25 post, but not one for the November post before that.

Pentaconsixguy · Dec 26, 2025

Niglyn said:
Hi, here is the first prototype case for The Shutter Tester.

An hour left to run on the print, then I can see how it fits )

SD slot on the right & USB power on the left.

Still need to make the bottom and rear panels.

Most people only want the sensor frame output, so will probably only add socket holes for this & the flash socket.

Maybe I will add centre marks for the other sockets, so folks can cut these out themselves if required.
View attachment 410460

Nice

Niglyn said:
Hi, here is the first prototype case for The Shutter Tester.

An hour left to run on the print, then I can see how it fits )

SD slot on the right & USB power on the left.

Still need to make the bottom and rear panels.

Most people only want the sensor frame output, so will probably only add socket holes for this & the flash socket.

Maybe I will add centre marks for the other sockets, so folks can cut these out themselves if required.
View attachment 410460

Hi Niglyn ,
I recently joined this forum and think this case looks great!
How did the print turned out ?
I did purchase all the parts and now I have to start building and 3d printing.
It will be in stages as I broke a vertebrae and am now in the stage of physical therapy .
sitting of standing up for a few hours is still challenging...
Do you use PLA , ABS or PETG for this printing ?
Would it be possible to send me the one-time passkey for V4 of the software?

Thank You

Niglyn · Dec 26, 2025

Pentaconsixguy said:
Nice

Hi Niglyn ,
I recently joined this forum and think this case looks great!
How did the print turned out ?
I did purchase all the parts and now I have to start building and 3d printing.
It will be in stages as I broke a vertebrae and am now in the stage of physical therapy .
sitting of standing up for a few hours is still challenging...
Do you use PLA , ABS or PETG for this printing ?
Would it be possible to send me the one-time passkey for V4 of the software?

Thank You

Hi, 3d printed case worked great. Files on Github. I used PLA.

The Authorisation code is unique to each build.

So until you build The Shutter Tester and load the firmware to display your unique

Authorisation code, I cannot generate the pass key.

Sorry to hear of your back problems, I hope the therapy works well.

Gruby104 · Dec 28, 2025

Hi everyone,
I'm currently working on an ESP32 shutter tester. Despite the fact that the main computer is working perfectly, I am having serious issues with the light meter and the optical shutter tester (LED matrix) (MAX7219CWG 2530+). The matrix has shown signs of a bad connection, as it hasn't worked properly (sometimes random LEDs were flashing). I only managed to turn it on properly once. I decided to fix the connections on the matrix board and resolder the connections with the DIN connector, but suddenly the matrix started turning off the whole system (it needs resetting, and then everything works smoothly). The case with the light meter module is different because the ESP can't read it. Even during the system's boot process, it says that the BH1750 is not connected. Everything has been checked with an electronic multimeter, and there are no short circuits, and both the matrix and the light meter connections are good.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JYlTyYjR-IeasL_swDsMy5MfkJgbeMOl?usp=drive_link (photos of shutter tester)
Moderator edit: these are the relevant snippets of the images on the link above:

Build a shutter tester for Focal Plane shutters - Cheap, Easy & it Works

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