How to use a transistor to externally trigger a Canon EOS camera?

Question

I need to trigger a Cannon EOS 650D camera externally, this is done by shorting 2 wires, leading out from a standard 2.5mm jack:

The camera provides 3.3V. I want to complete the circuit and externally trigger the camera from an Arduino, for which I think the best way to do so is with a transistor. This is my current wiring diagram:

Pressing the button completes the circuit, but nothing happens. I tested it with an LED and it worked fine, the only difference being that I supplied the LED with the 5V of the Arduino. The exact transistor I'm using is an NPN 2N2222. My resistor is 10k Ohm.

Is my wiring wrong? Why is working with the LED but not the camera cable? Do I need a different transistor? If so, how do I know what I'm looking for? Any and all advice is welcome.

Answer 1

I am assuming that the Arduino acts only as a power source for the BJT's base. In that case, you need to complete the current path by connecting the BJT's emitter to Arduino's GND.

Also you should be aware that when the transistor is in its conductive state (eg. the button is pressed) it is able to conduct current only in one way (from collector to emitter). Assuming that you do not know the exact pinout of the camera jack (which of the two pins is ground) you may have to also swap the wires going to the camera.