remote shutter release recommendations

[DVC Jen]

for my new canon xti?

 

[Master Mason]

I bought both the wired and wireless. they serve 2 different purposes and aren't very expensive. I got them both though Amazon.

 

[Groucho]

You can build your own wired one for very cheap. No fancy features but very functional depending on your need.

Besides, you can make it look weird if you want! Here's mine: (Pentax and Canon use the same wired shutter release.)

 

[eugeniuss]

Groucho,

What are your buttons for? I would assume one if for AF, the other is shutter...

also, do you have the bulb switch?

 

[DVC Jen]

You can build your own wired one for very cheap. No fancy features but very functional depending on your need.

Yer funny! I would probably blow something or someone up.

Now if YOU offered to make me one - I wouldn't turn it down.

 

[jann1033]

I bought both the wired and wireless. they serve 2 different purposes and aren't very expensive. I got them both though Amazon.

mind if i ask...what do you commonly use the wireless for that you couldn't use the timer for?. i have the wired but it has just started sticking. i don't use it all that much( it's from my film rebel so getting older) and wonder if the addtional expense of the wireless is worth it for me or not

 

[ukcatfan]

mind if i ask...what do you commonly use the wired for that you couldn't use the timer for?. i have the wired but it has just started sticking. i don't use it all that much( it's from my film rebel so getting older) and wonder if the addtional expense of the wireless is worth it for me or not

I doubt that you can use bulb mode with a wireless remote. Even if it allowed for it by keeping the button down, you would be really wearing down your battery and interference could break the connection and close the shutter.

Kevin

 

[Master Mason]

you can use the bulb mode with the wireless... but as you said it does use your battery. As for what I use it for, it is the same as the timer release, but with more control. I would rather take the picture when everyone is ready than try and have everyone ready when the timer clicks.

 

[Groucho]

Groucho,

What are your buttons for? I would assume one if for AF, the other is shutter...

also, do you have the bulb switch?

You are absolutely correct on the buttons - the black one is like a half-press of the shutter button, the red one fired the shutter.

I didn't put in a switch for bulb mode, mostly because I figured that I would almost never use such a thing. I will probably add one though, especially since I noticed (just after finishing it) that I had a perfect switch sitting in my "soldering bits" box...

 

[eugeniuss]

I think I would put one on (a bulb switch) just for fireworks at Disney... I will try to build one of those soon...

 

[Groucho]

Well, for a shorter exposure like that, where it'll only be for a couple seconds or so, you can get by just holding down the shutter button.

 

[jann1033]

any one know exactly what bulb is intented for? anything you don't want to use the shutter button for ie the remote? ( that's what i use it for but figured i might be missing something)

master mason that makes sense...rather than everyone 1/2 ready

 

[Groucho]

Bulb mode can be used for anything, but it's essential for stuff like star trails, where you need to have the shutter open for minutes or even hours at a time.

For day-to-day use it's not very useful as it's difficult to get the exposure just right since you don't know just how long the shutter will be open. I would guess that the vast majority of even DSLR amateurs never use it. The only time I've used it was for some pictures of the monorail going around our Christmas tree.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I love the Canon TC-80N3. In addition to being a simple remote shutter release, it also has a self-timer, and interval timer, a long exposure timer, and an exposure counter.

Set it up in front of a chrysalis and have it take 1 picture every minute so that you can see the butterfly emerge. Or maybe catch a flower opening.

Want to take a photo of star trails while your camping but don't want to be up in the middle of the night? Tell it to wait 1 hour before opening and then keep the shutter open for 3 hours.

Set up the camera to go off in 10 seconds and then take 5 photos so that hopefully you'll get one where no one is blinking.

It's about $130, so it's a significant premium over a simple remote shutter release. It can do a lot more. It's your call as to whether the extra capabilities are worth the extra cash.

 

[DVC Jen]

I love the Canon TC-80N3. In addition to being a simple remote shutter release, it also has a self-timer, and interval timer, a long exposure timer, and an exposure counter.

Set it up in front of a chrysalis and have it take 1 picture every minute so that you can see the butterfly emerge. Or maybe catch a flower opening.

Want to take a photo of star trails while your camping but don't want to be up in the middle of the night? Tell it to wait 1 hour before opening and then keep the shutter open for 3 hours.

Set up the camera to go off in 10 seconds and then take 5 photos so that hopefully you'll get one where no one is blinking.

It's about $130, so it's a significant premium over a simple remote shutter release. It can do a lot more. It's your call as to whether the extra capabilities are worth the extra cash.

That sounds AWESOME! But will it work for a Canon Rebel XTi?

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Aye Carumba, it looks like it will not. I've used mine with several different Canons, but never a Rebel. So just to be sure before answering your question, I checked Canon's site. Apparently the Rebel series uses a different remote shutter release from the x0D and xD series cameras.

It looks like the Rebel uses the RS-60E3. It's only $26 (at BH) but it doesn't do any of the timing stuff. Sorry about that.

 

[DVC Jen]

Aye Carumba, it looks like it will not. I've used mine with several different Canons, but never a Rebel. So just to be sure before answering your question, I checked Canon's site. Apparently the Rebel series uses a different remote shutter release from the x0D and xD series cameras.

It looks like the Rebel uses the RS-60E3. It's only $26 (at BH) but it doesn't do any of the timing stuff. Sorry about that.

Bummer.