I'm looking to take time-lapse photography (likely one shot per hour over the course of a year) from a fixed position (indoors). I'm wondering what equipment would help with this to overcome challenges of image transfer, battery, etc?
I'd probably use an old Canon 10D but would be open to an upgrade if it made things substantially easier. Is it possible to directly connect the camera to power (so I don't have to replace batteries)? Transfer images automatically over wireless (so I don't have to replace cards)?
Any other things to be wary of in long-term time-lapse photography?
Answer
Well sounds like the two main challenges for you are power and storage.
For power, looks like the Canon ACK-E2 AC Adapter is what you're after. Its a 'pseduo battery' that just puts the dc current at the right contacts. Or roll your own from an answer here, its just appropriate dc current on the correct contacts, I recommend buying though TBH. If its paramount to keep taking pictures, you may consider an UPS unit that will provide power if there is a power outage of some kind.
For storage, an option is probably an Eye-Fi SD card (transfers images over wireless) and a SD to CF card adapter. I don't have any experience with that kind of adapter, but anecdotally, there seems to be some hiccups for some people, but lots have it working. I don't imagine tethering is a valid option here because it would require the computer to stay there for a year. But if it is, you may be able to transfer simply over USB to a computer (somebody else with more Canon specific knowledge will need to weigh in on whether the picture can be deleted while tethering).
Other things to worry about:
Stability - over that time period, I would make sure that thing is bolted down and probably on some anti-vibration pads since you won't know what kind of conditions may happen.
Flicker in general, like normal timelapse photography.
Its about 9k shutter releases, so unless your already at the end of your camera life, you're probably ok.
Possibly, but not likely, heat from your camera being on that long starting to cause significant sensor noise. This is just a big unknown to me, but your camera manufacturer certainly didn't design it to be on for a year.
If your 10D has a power saving mode that turns the camera off after a period of inactivity, you will need to disable this.
As far as a intervalometer goes, many support infinite shutters, so your problem here again is power. Look around for a model in your price range and make sure it does the interval you want, but there's nothing real complicated there. If it runs on AAA or AA batteries, its probably not going to last a year. I see basically two (maybe three) options (apart from changing the batteries, and if they run out and you miss it - there goes a year):
Another hack of an existing remote to support a 'pseudo-battery' like mentioned above.
If you're a rather DIY type of person, using an Arduino as a intervalometer is rather trivial. Arduino, optocoupler, a few resistors, and you're in business. You can run an Arduino off of a normal wall wart.
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