What remotes are available for the Canon EOS 60D?

Question

I've found it really difficult to pinpoint exactly what remotes are compatible with the Canon EOS 60D.

The camera specifications say, "N3 type wired remote control" (which doesn't mean a lot to me).

Canon's AU website has no remote accessories listed for the camera, and the TC80N3 remote (which I think might work) doesn't have the 60D listed as a compatible camera.

Can anyone give me any pointers as to which remotes are compatible?

Asked by Damovisa

Answer

'N3' refers to the connector type for the remotes... It is a proprietary Canon standard, and Canon remotes which are compatible with the 60D have 'N3' in their model numbers, specifically:

• Canon Remote Switch (RS-80N3)
• Timer Remote Controller (TC-80N3)

There are also several companies that make N3 compatible wired remotes, including offerings from Adidt, Nova Photography, and Seculine. Generally speaking these tend to be cheaper (sometimes significantly so) but as you might imagine, quality can range from excellent to abysmal, so look for reviews before buying off-brand.

Answered by Jay Lance Photography

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How do I control the camera in Kite Photography?

Question

I saw an older post on the site that mentioned Kite Photography. I find that very interesting, and I want to try it.

I have a couple of old compact cameras that I wouldn't mind putting them at risk. (Ideally I would like to try it with on old Olympus mju 300.)

What tips and information do you have to share?

I cannot really figure out how to have the compact camera take pictures while in the air, and away from my hands. How can I accomplish that?

Asked by sdmythos_gr

Answer

that's an interesting question!

The first thing you need to consider I guess is the type of kite you wish to use; i.e. will you be using a single line kite, or a 2-4 line controllable kite? I'd recommend using a large-ish single line kite which will allow you to more easily use a really long line which will help to get the camera to a better altitude. Probably go for a delta kite or a parafoil/flowform kite of around 1-2 square metres.

The second thing to think about is how to activate the shutter. The easiest way would be to simply use the time delay having the camera mounted about half way along the kite line (as shown in Fig. 78 of the image below). If you want a more elaborate way to activate the shutter (which also enables you to have the camera mounted closer to the kite and hence higher) you could consider using radio control gear from an old car or plane; you'd basically need to mount a servo with a cam on the output shaft mounted on top of the camera (this is shown in the photo below). I'm doing exactly this to get aerial shots from a radio controlled aeroplane!

[[Images from the book "Kites and other wind machines" by Andre Thiebault removed due to copyright infringement]]

My own remotely operated shutter release, soon to be attached to an RC plane!

Edit After initial tests, I can confirm that I do not recommend attaching a camera to a remote controlled aircraft :-(

(See below image)

Answered by mdresser

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Can I use BULB setting when taking remote pictures?

Question

I have a Canon XTi/400D, which I connect to my Mac OS X 10.6 and try to take remote pictures with it using EOS Utility, but I am not able to use the BULB setting on my laptop. Is this normal functionality?

If the above is normal behavior(no access to BULB), is there a way to take a picture on BULB not on remote, and not having to hold down the shutter button?

What I essentially want to do is shoot star trails...and I am not able to go above 30 secs while shooting with the camera connected to the computer.

Asked by user1160022

Answer

Yes, I'm afraid this does seem to be standard when tethered (i.e. triggering your camera's shutter from a connected computer).

However, the good news is that most remote shutter release cables have a "press and lock" feature for use with Bulb mode (or for continuous shooting). You can see this pretty clearly on this Canon remote:

Pressing the button once will fire the shutter once, but pressing and sliding upwards will either lock the shutter open (in Bulb mode) or trigger continuous shooting (in any other mode). This is exactly what I use for all my long exposures over 30 seconds.

Answered by Mark Whitaker

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Can a Wireless Shutter Release control camera movement, exposure or metering?

Question

So, I looked up this: http://www.nikonusa.com/Nikon-Products/Product/Remote-Cords/4730/ML-L3-Wireless-Remote-Control-%28Infrared%29.html

Questions:

1. Does a remote move the camera's face? I mean, if I have a movable LCD monitor on the DSLR and I am far away, will I be able to adjust the composition of the scene through remote only?
2. Do the remotes control:
   a. Shutter speed?
   b. Aperture?
   c. ISO?
   d. Metering?

Is there anything that a remote can NOT control in a DSLR?

Answer

None of the above, I'm afraid. The Nikon remote is essentially an infrared (wireless) version of a cable release. Just about all it does is half-press and fully-press the shutter button remotely.

You can get a lot of camera control using Nikon Camera Control Pro software with the camera connected to a computer via USB and set to Live View mode. That will let you change a lot of the settings as well as choose an area to focus on. The autofocus is contrast-detection rather than phase-detection in Live View, though, so it's a little on the slow side. (The included software is the big let-down for Nikon owners -- all of the good stuff requires extra-cost programs like Camera Control Pro and Capture NX2. Other makers include those features with their cameras.)

As for actually moving the camera around, you would need a remote-controlled camera mount. They vary between simple wired motorized units with a huge and crude-looking control box with three or four switches and sophisticated servo-controlled units, and they're not particularly inexpensive. (The cheap units used for miniature surveillance video cameras aren't up to the task of dealing with a DSLR.) It's very specialised equipment, and most people who need a system like that only need it for the occasional shoot, so it's usually a rental item at well-stocked pro dealers.

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What is the difference between Canon's Remote Switch and Remote Control?

Question

I own a Canon Rebel T3i and on the accessories page on Canon website there is a Remote Switch (Cable Switch) and Remote Control. What is the difference between both (they are the same price) and if I got one do I really need the other one?

Answer

The remote switch (RS-60E3) is a wired shutter release switch that allows for the activation of the shutter via a cabled interface.

The remote control (RC-6) is a wireless shutter release device that allows the shutter to be activated using an infrared signal.

They perform the same function with the difference being wired vs. wireless.

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How can I remote control my Panasonic FZ100?

Question

I want to remote control my Panasonic DMC-FZ100 from my computer via USB. It does support PTP but gPhoto2 says Error (-6: 'Unsupported operation'). libptp also returns an error.

Do you know any other software to take still images with the FZ100?

Linux preferred but I have Windows in a VM, too.

Answer

As I understand it, that camera does not offer that feature via any software. I did a little looking on gphoto2 forums, and in general it seems Panasonic's support for the PTP protocol used for USB communication is very rudimentary, on pretty much all of their compact camera models. So, basically: sorry, can't really be done.

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Which camera offers flexible remote control and good manual controls?

Question

I want to switch to a system camera, preferably one from the Micro Four Thirds or Four Thirds systems. Since I also want to do experimental technical setups like time lapse or astrophotography, I have a set of requirements that are not easy to check for on the manufacturer's websites.

Can you recommend a camera with

• flexible remote control software (I'd like to have at least a live preview and controls for shutter, focus, f-stop, sensitivity and shutter speed)

  • Edit: Alternatively, a connector for an external monitor and a programmable remore control would also work for me. To put it another way, I don't need a computer in my setup, but I want the ability to control the camera without touching it.

• the ability to provide a video stream like a webcam (ok, that's more of a bonus item, no hard requirement)

• good manual controls (preferably two separate control wheels for f-stop and shutter speed)

• low sensor noise

• overall good usability

I suppose that adapters for M42, which is the standard connector on telescopes, are generally available. If I'm wrong, this becomes another "hard" requirement.

The cost of the body should not exceed $750, but in order to keep the answers relevant for everyone, please also list models costing more.

MTIA for all hints!

Answer

I would take a look at the Canon 60D. It is not a micro four thirds camera, it is an APS-C sensor sized camera. The reasons I suggest this include:

• Larger sensors as opposed to the micro four thirds format should provide lower noise typically
• The 60D has great manual controls, including an index finger wheel near the shutter release and a full size wheel on the back
• Available remote control software(example1,2)
• Not an extremely large body

It does not sound like you have a hard requirement for micro four thirds, only for cost, remote control software, noise performance, and usability. I think you will find all of this and more in the canon 60D for right around $750. The 50D would also be an option to save a bit of money.

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Situations you might use USB remote mode?

Question

I hooked up the 50D to my MacBook Pro the other day at home and found it great to see exactly how a photo is going to turn out on the big screen before taking it and was wondering when such a setup might be used and how frequently it is used, considering it's not exactly something you can roam about with.

I guess the obvious ones such as long exposure (astronomy, landscape) etc, but are there other uses? Model photo shoots?

Is it better to simply use a remote instead of hooking it right up to a computer?

Answer

It's called tethered shooting, and is mostly used in studios; as you say, it's not exactly a portable setup. It has the advantage of letting you write photos direct to disk, bypassing the memory card, and as you said, you can see a photo preview large and on-screen before shooting, like a high-res version of live view.

Press photographers at football matches and other events can use wireless tethering, with a laptop connected to the internet, so that picture editors back in the office can access the photos directly almost as soon as they are taken.

If there's no overriding need to get your photos on disk immediately, however, then using a remote will do in most situations.

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Is there OS X software for timed shutter release with a Canon 30D?

Question

I'm trying to do some time lapse photography with my Canon 30D, and I'm looking for a program for OS X that I can use to fire the shutter over time instead of using an intervalometer.

Does the EOS Capture utility have a timed shutter release function? Or do you know any other software with this feature?

Answer

EOS Utility has this feature, at least the 2.5.1. version for Mac does. Simple and free... Click the clock icon:

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