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DIY - Release Cable for Canon DSLRs
Wed, 2007-04-04 20:14 — udijw
This is a very simple diagram and instructions for building a shutter release cable for a canon DSLR.
Cable release is that thingamajig you use when you want to activate your camera, but you do not want to touch it. Why would you want t do this? I can think of two reasons: 1 - you do not want to move the camera by pressing the shutter release button. And 2 - you need to stand away from the camera. Compared with Cannon's RS60 E3 this is a real nice deal.
Here is the list of materials you will need for this project (the total cost is somewhere around 2$).
- One small 2.5mm stereo jack plug
- One insulated wire with 3 insulated wires inside. The longer the wire - the longer you will be able to step back :) Telephony wires are ok, and you will have one wire to spear.
- Two "touch" switches set to the open position
- A nice box to place switches in.
The diagram is pretty much self explanatory:
- Short circuit from R to ground = half press.
- Short circuit from L to ground = full press.
This article was contributed by Karsten Stroemvig (aka Lullaby)
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Comments
Do you hold the half press during full press?
Do you continue to hold the half press switch on when activating the full press switch?
Re: Do you hold the half press during full press?
Nope, that’s not necessary.
I was just curious before
I was just curious before trying to make the thingamajig.
Nikon?
Can we rig something like this witha nikon? does anyone know how it works?
Panasonic
Hi, awesome idea, I built one out of an old joystick, but it doesn't work on my panasonic. Does anyone know where I can get the wire layout?
Thanks
Hi! Anyone know how to make
Hi! Anyone know how to make automatic releaser, which release every 10 minutes.
Thanx for advice or plan.
I got a piece of software
I got a piece of software called "EOS Utility" with my Canon 400D. This allows periodic shooting like you want, so check out the CDs you got with your camera, it may have something useful.
If you wanted to create something that could take photos at regular intervals without needing a computer you could make a circuit that makes the connections shown above with an integrated circuit such as a 555.
Time lapse / Timer shutter release
I saw a post on DIY Photoagraphy about a shutter release to shoot every 10 min.
I built a real nice time lapse shutter release that I can also program to do long exposures.
I used a BASIC STAMP 2 microprocessor, and a "Homebrew BASIC STAMP" I got from www.phanderson.com. Email me if you would like to details. I will release the program if asked.
thebassmanis@gmail.com
Great idea, however just
Great idea, however just thought I would let everyone know that this doesn't work with all canon slr's, at least not the 30d. I tried it out and it turns out the female stereo jack is for video only, while canon has a seperate female connection for the cable release. The wiring for this connector would be the same (one common wire, one wire for half press, and one for full press) but I can't seem to find a male connector to match. I guess canon did that on purpose to ensure they sold more cable releases.
The 30D/40D/etc don't use
The 30D/40D/etc don't use the 2.5mm stereo connector for the remote - they use a Canon-only N3 connector, which is apparently hard to get hold of...
Unfortunately
What the previous anonymous said is true. For the semi-pro/pro cameras since the 20D, Canon started to use a proprietary plug that cannot (or is very, very hard) be found.
The same cable release can be used with the film Rebels, but sometimes you do have to keep the half press (focus) pressed or the full press wont work.
Canon 300D
Would it work with the Canon 300D though?
WORKS 100%
I´ve test this trigger on a 300D with GREAT RESULTS. It works PERFECTLY, go ahead and do it.
:)
alright. Thank you for the reply.
Third party release cables
You can get a release cable on Ebay for very little as long as you aren't bothered by the lack of branding. I bought one a while ago and it works very well with my 350D, with a single button that has half-press, full-press and a bulb locked on position also (for those odd shots where you want to hold the shutter down for 2 or 3 minutes without getting an acheing thumb!). They go for as little as $6.49 + postage.
Remote release
Is there a list of cameras that will support a remote release or is it just high end Canons ? ?
Canon Jack
Hi there... Don't you need a different kind of jack for this? My canon 5D has a circular plug with three holes...
Pentax
I would like to add that this circuit layout isn't exclusive to Canon.
A couple of months ago I tried the cable release of a friend of mine (Canon 300D or Digital Rebel if you're in the U.S.) on my Pentax K10d. It worked flawlessly, so the release featured here should also work on Pentax Dslr cameras (at least the K10 but I presume the other models when equipped with a 2.5mm stereo jack release connector will also function with this release).
Greetings, John.
help?
Could anybody provide a little more specific instructions on how to assemble this? For us non electricians.
Thanks for any help.
I've made a similar one -
I've made a similar one - see here for detailed construction information.
Hi, I built a release cable
Hi,
I built a release cable on my own some time ago. I insisted on having a 3-state pushbutton (like on the cameras: off/half way = focus/full way = shutter release) but could not find any. So I built one on my own: I used two ordinary pushbuttons (recycled from various printers/..) with unequal release forces. I stacked them on top of each other using 2-minute epoxy resin and I put one of those plastic coverings (recycled from an old CD drive..) on the very top of it - theres an old photo to make it more clear..:
http://raser.lima-city.de/bilderhochladen/bild.php/718,3-state-pushbutto...
I added an ordinary 2-state switch (from an atx power supply I believe..) for long-time exposures. Then, some soldering and lots of hot melting adhesive later..
http://raser.lima-city.de/bilderhochladen/bild.php/719,final7y0a2.jpg
Greetings
www.Inkedpaper.com
Ok this will ONLY work for the low end DSLRs such as the rebels \ ***ds
not thing above them not the 30d 5d 1d NONE of those....
..N3..
Hi,
well it does work for non-entry-level dslrs, too. Indeed it's pretty much the same - all you need is the appropriate plug. It's call 'N3'. Sadly one cannot buy it seperately.. Luckily it's not too hard to build one yourself: http://www.spikey-mike.com/eos/index.html
Have fun tinkering ;)
Why?
OK I understand the intermittent switches and the hard switch for the full press, but what would you use the hard switch for on the half press?
I built one too...
Here are the pic links to my Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s3is-rox/2233110786/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s3is-rox/2236114921/
It was built from parts I got at Radio Shack.
Thanks!
Thanks to this article and the poster above me I built one of these. Mine is constructed from an old film canister, two push buttons and a toggle switch. It works great on my XTI. Thanks!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewatts/2281384052/
Brilliant
Truly brilliant. Works perfectly on my 300D. So much cheaper than the official alternatives, and good fun to make.
Hmm
Ok, so I'm not the handiest guy, but I'm no slouch either. But I can't figure out how one actually assembles this stuff together. One would thing that a DIY section on making something would have a few instructions an how to actually put it all together. So, a little help, please?
re: assembly
Hi wulf,
Once you open the plug by unscrewing it, you'll find connectors that match each to part of the plug as shown in the diagram. Connect those to switches as shown in the circuit diagram and you are good to go.
- udi
Cable release for Canon D40 SLR
Great tip, sad it won't work with my Canon D40. I wanted to use my remote today for a photo shoot. Found it wasn't suitable, so set up my D40 on my tripod and basically just pressed down hard on the camera to keep it steady. It worked ok, no camera shake.
I love to beat these camera manufacturers that charge plenty for such a basic piece of equipment. When you look at the release socket on the camera it just looks like a pin, it should be easy to adapt something to fit it.
I'll post here if I come up with an idea that works.
Plenty of money
I agree, sometimes we are being asked for way to much for a simple switch :)
I'd love to see your design. Ping me if you are building it.
sony
Hi:
somebody knows if it works with sony dsc f828 ?
how can I make a shutter release cable for sony dsc f828 ?
thanks
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