Rolf, It's so long you did this circuit and you've moved on. I wonder if you could help. PICs are not common here, besides your hex is available for private use only. I breadboarded your schematic and tried to make it work. As long as I connected pin 9 of NE556 to pin 13 of 4011, no response. Once I disconnect it works but as you know, the necessary delay for digital camera is forfeited. What am I doing wrong? Thanks a lot.