Ever make your own shutter release?

[mjs1973]

I was thinking about making my own shutter release for my cameras. I have the RS60-E3 shutter release that works great, but I want something that I can get further away from my camera with. For instance, I could set my camera on the tripod, next to the bird feeder, and trip the shutter from inside the house. The switch that I have, has a 3/32" plug on it that goes into the camera. So I'm thinking if I got a 20' extention cable, like this, only with 1/8" conectors on both ends (can't find one with 3/32" conectors) then get the adaptors to accept my 3/32" plug in the femail end, and get the 1/8" to 3/32" adaptor to go into the camera, it should work. Does that make sense to you? Has anyone here tried it?

I could get the connectors, and the adaptor I need, and supply my own wire, and put it together myself also.

I gathered up all the pieces together at the store, and they came to over $20. I could get the RC-5 remote from B&H for that much, but then I would have to be in front, or close to the front, of the camera to trip the shutter.

Just brainstorming while at work today...

[another view]

I hate to say yes or no, but I think it would work. You're just closing a circuit, and that makes the camera fire. I remember seeing a Nikon release on ebay that somebody lengthened to 20-30', probably for the same reason. He said it worked fine, FWIW.

Here's the deal: Any time you use a piece of equipment other than the way it's intended, there may be a problem. These won't be Canon-supplied parts and so there is some risk involved. If this cable/adapter setup was used for audio, you'd lose some signal quality - but again I think it's just making a contact to trip the shutter so a little bit of signal loss shouldn't hurt anything. I think you'll be fine but have to put the little disclaimer in there...

Problem with Nikon is the special plug that goes into the camera. It looks like standard industrial automation stuff - but it's not... Pretty cool that Canon uses standard plugs like that.

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the insite Steve. I do still have my semi-broken Rebel G that I can use as a tester. The meeter still works when pushing the button 1/2 way, and the shutter trips when pressed all the way, as long as there isn't a lens attached. Maybe I will get the supplies later this week, and do some testing.

[Outdoorsman]

I tried once to make a manual mechanical shutter release. I used some heavy gauge wire and other odds and ends to make a "finger" that would press on the shutter release of my K1000. This was waaay before I knew there were such things as cable releases that were made to do exactly this! I wonder if a mechanical method might work in this case. If you could use a simple cable release with a longer line running to the camera, you could trip the shutter that way... this might avoid both the signal loss from over-lengthening an electrical cable and the possibility of malfunction/damage from the hack.
I had a fairly Rube Goldberg-ish system of string to pull the "finger" down and trip the shutter, run underneath the camera using some creativity to make it work. I was after bulb exposures, not birds feeding, so I don't know how it might be different for your shooting setup... of course you could get a hunting blind and camp out in camo with the IR remote!
Good luck!
-O-

[mjs1973]

Thanks for the idea Outdoorsman. I knew someone on this site had made something like this before, but I couldn't remeber who, and I couldn't find it in a search. If my plan doesn't work, I have a plan B. At one time I was able to fire my camera with my stereo remote! I could never do it consistantly tho.

[Outdoorsman]

You know, I read somewhere a while ago that cameras (and flashes) equipped with IR remote receivers (like our Elan 7N bodies) could be fired with other IR remotes, like from a TV or VCR/DVD, etc. Me being on a budget, I tried every remote in the house, but alas, none worked . I had to buy the RC-1.
I often wondered whether Canon had made sure this couldn't happen accidentally, like if you were in the right shooting situation where someone using a remote might accidentally (or otherwise!) make your camera fire "mysteriously"; also, they would sure like to make everyone buy the proper Canon remote, eh?
The 7N has an analog jack on the grip for the other remote (can't recall the name) and that one I believe has an extension cord available. Canon or another company might make longer cables or extension cords-- you might look around for one...
-O-

[92135011]

toothpick!

[mjs1973]

I had to go to the mall today to pick up something, so I stopped into Radio Shack, and picked up the parts to make my shutter release extention. I took my test camera with me, and plugged everything in at the store to see if it was going to work, and it did! I told the guy to ring it up, so I now have a 22 foot long shutter release.

[another view]

That's great that it worked - and also that they let you try out all the pieces and parts before buying them!

[JSPhoto]

Remotes have to have the correct code to work. Some remotes can be programmed to work with any TV VCR etc. Cameras are the same. find the right code and your in business. Just don't expect Canon etc to give you their code though....how else would they sell you their remote!