Finally, an affordable solution for photographing lightning!

Capturing lightning strikes at night is simple when there is no ambient light present: Set your camera on bulb, open the shutter, and wait for astrike to occur. Then close the shutter and start over again. However, if there is any other light present you can’t do this, and of course, this technique won’t work at all during the day.

The solution is the Lightning Bug™!

There are two components of lightning:The bright white flash everyone wants to capture and the unseen infrared light that always precedes it. The Lightning Bug™ uses a high-speed photodiode sensor optimized for the infrared burst, acting as a lookout for your camera. When a significant change of infrared light occurs over a very short period, as it does during a lightning strike, the Lightning Bug™ signals the camera shutter to trip.

Yes, it works that fast!

The Lightning Bug™ features an exclusive sensitivity adjustment that allows you to customize the unit’s operation to any shooting situation.This gives you full control over when to take the picture. If you only wantto capture the brightest and boldest lightning bolts, you can decrease the sensitivity, or if you wantto capture lightning over the city or mountains from a long distance, you can increase the sensitivity. Only the Lightning Bug™ gives you this level of control.

The Lightning Bug™ includes other features not found in simpler lightning detectors on the market. It allows you to limit the number of possible exposures per second from between 1 and 10. This feature allows you to capture repeated lightning strikes successfully. The Lightning Bug™ is designed to withstand exposure to rain and includes weather resistant soft-touch buttons.

The Lightning Bug™ attaches to your camera’s hot shoe mount and is connected to the camera’s electronic circuitry by a dedicated cable, which is included. A PC port on the hot shoe mount allows external flash units to be used as fill flash. When the Lightning Bug™ senses a strike, the shutter is tripped and the camera will then fire the attached flash as it captures the image. The possibilities of using fill flash with the Lightning Bug™ are endless.

SPECIFICATIONS

Features:

• Power-On Self-Test 
• Event indicator Light
• Sensitivity set-point indicator (LED Bar graph)
• MOSEFT isolotion between camera and the Lightning Bug™ circuitry
• Battery can be replaced without removing unit from camera
• 26 level of sensitivity for complete control in all lighting situations
• Allow testing of your shutter release via the Lightning Bug™ circuitry
• Easily adjust frames per second (from 1 to 10)
• Water Resistant Soft-touch panel buttons
• Simple three-button control of all features

Dimensional Data:

• Front Overhang (from center of camera shoe):3.51"
• Rear Overhang (from center of camera shoe):0.74"
• Overall Height (not including shoe mount):1.13"
• Overall Height (including shoe mount):2.10"
• Overall Length:4.25"
• Overall Width:2.60"
• Weight (not including Battery): 2.96 oz
• Weight (including Battery): 4.48 oz
• Battery: Standard 9V Cell

Mounting:

• Attaches to your camera hot shoe
• Auxiliary PC port allows a flash to be triggered when lightning strikes

Cabling:

• Includes cable matched to your specific camera

Warranty:

The Lightning Bug™ is warranted by the manufacturer, MK Controls, Inc. The warranty covers any defects in materials and workmanshipfor a period of three years from the date of purchase. During the warranty period, MK Controls Inc. will repair or replace any defective or malfunctioning product at no charge to you (including shipping charges). Any problem that is caused by abuse, misuse, or an act of God (such as a flood) is not covered. Battery leakage is not covered. Consequential and incidental damages are not recoverable under this warranty. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. If something goes wrong with your product, please send it along with a written description of the problem, including the make/model of the camera to MK Controls Inc., 419 S. Davis St., Nashville, GA 31639. You must include a copy of your original sales receipt.

No-fault Replacement Policy:

If you damage your product beyond repair--you back your car over it, drop it in the ocean, your puppy chews it to pieces, etc.—MK Controls will repair or replace it for $49.00 + shipping. Send your product (or what is left of it), postage paid to MK Controls Inc., 419 S. Davis St., Nashville, GA 31639. Please include a story of how the damage occurred. MK Controls and Kevin Adams Photography reserve the right to use these stories in promotional materials. (Your name will not be revealed without your permission). MK Controls must be able to identify that the pieces were indeed a part of the Lightning Bug™ and the internal circuit board must be identifiable for them to replace the unit under the replacement policy. Your damaged unit will not be returned.

Return Policy:

As with all products purchased from Kevin Adams Photography, if you are dissatisfied with the Lightning Bug™ for any reason, return it undamaged within 10 days and we’ll refund your money. Simple as that. Returns must be shipped to Kevin Adams Photography, 283 Inman Branch Road, Waynesville, NC 28786. 

Click here to download the Lightning Bug™ User Guide.

Click here for more information about the Lightning Bug™, including photos made with it.

Click Photos to Enlarge

ADDITIONAL CABLES