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Camara remotes revisted

Conrad Farlow

Conrad Farlow

Senior Member
Hi I've been contemplating getting a G5/G6 because of the IR remote facility but to be honest I can't see how a hand held remote is much use when holding a fish with both hands. I seem to recall that someone mentioned a mechanical or air operated remote foot switch that could be adapted to fit any digital camera. I think that it was an air operated plunger or something similar. Can anyone point me to a link please?

I am quite happy with my Canon A620 so maybe I should go down this route?

For those with a hand-held IR remote it is possible to put a foot switch in parallel with the switch membrane if you have the right soldering equipment. It would be fiddly as hell but do-able.

Conrad
 
Hi Conrad. I've got a G6 with infra red remote. Very difficult to press the button whilst holding a fish. I wouldn't say impossible, but definitely not ideal.

If someone comes up with a solution, I'd be very interested to hear it.
 
Well there are a few ways of doing it, if it was me I'd buy a cheap 6 in 1 universal remote for a fiver or so off ebay. Carefully take it apart and solder a pair of wires across the shutter release switch membrane, you will want a small 15W soldering iron and some experience to do this. I'd then mount the whole lot in a plastic box with a cut out for the IR LED. I'd put a 1/4" jack socket on the box and solder the wires to it. I'd add a bank stick thread like you get on a bite alarm and bobs your mother's brother. All you would need to do then is plug in a momentary action foot switch again from eBay and very cheap. You would need to put the new box out of shot pointing at the bank stick or tripod mounted camera - pick up the fish - line your self up and operate the foot switch with your knee.

That's how I'd do it on the cheap, it could be made waterproof quite easily as well.

Conrad
 
Ian presumably the auto focus can be activated by just depressing the bulb a little bit and then a full squeeze takes the shot? Does the plunger screw into the top of the frame? Also is the nut that fastens into the tripod mounting hole also threaded so I can put the bank stick adapter into it? It ain't cheap for what it is though - wish I still had my lathe!

Conrad
 
Conrad, yes to everything I think.

There is really good control over how much you depress the shutter.
The air release plunger screws into the top rail (which can be angle adjusted on 2 planes to ensure you are pushing straight on the shutter whether the button is horizontal or sloping).
The bottom screw, which is retained so you can't lose it, screws into the bottom of the camera and is drilled and threaded in it's lower end to screw onto a normal camera stand (or in our case a camera bankstick adaptor)
 
That's it then - looks just the ticket. It's £10 too expensive though but cheaper than buying a new camera and messing about with and IR remote and a soldering iron. I think that I'll be building a foot switch operated remote for Steve Holt's newly acquired G6 and I'll post how I did it on a blog page. I'll do it soon Stevie - promise.

Conrad
 
Hi fellas, first let me introduce myself! My name is Keith Humphreys and as a member of RDAA I spend most of my fishing time struggling on the Dorset Stour or Hants Avon! I posted a similar enquiry on the Ringwood site a couple of years ago and in the search for a camera with a good remote system ended up going back to a simple but good quality compact that has a very good and easily set self timer in the shape of the Canon IXUS 85 IS 10 MP. My problem like most anglers was that most digital cameras have a set timer of about 10 sec ish. The Canon I mention has a very easily programable and operated self take which can be set to take after 10-30 secs and will take multiple shots with 2 sec intervals! I just take a test shot and then leave it set up! If I am lucky enough to get a fish worth a photo one push of a button gives me plenty of time to sort the fish out and get a couple of lovely shots! The other bonus was the price £140!!
Just a thought!!
 
Thanks Conrad,at the time of buying the camera it never even crossed my mind, but when I received it...Dohh
 
Mark, that is the same bracket but does not give an air release option and is in fact more expensive with a 3ft cable release!! The one on Total Angling comes with a 20ft long air release on a spool included in the price.

I have in fact found a cheaper option this morning, £20 for the bracket alone:

http://firstcall-photographic.co.uk...-release-adaptor-bracket-for-compact-cameras/

And £10.50 for the air release:

http://firstcall-photographic.co.uk...es/0/firstcall/firstcall-air-release-20-feet/
 
I have a panasonic Lumix g1 and i bought a cheap 3m wired remote off e-bay (from china i think) i'm pretty sure they do them for canon's to(and others). It has an digital led read out so i can see what ive set, you can set it to take as many pics as you want up tp 999 , with as long as you like between each pic , and whatever delay i like before the first pic...... with this camera it even focuses before each new shot.
I set mine up with a 7 sec delay befor the first shot, which is enough time to push the remote switch, pick up the fish and position it properly on the flip round screen, then it takes 10 pics , with 5 sec's inbetween each shot, which is just enough time to refocus and recharge the flash, it also gives you time to reposition yourself if your not happy with each shot. After its taken 3 or 4 shots i turn the fish around(the camera keeps on shooting ) and get 3 0r 4 of the other side.
Fantastic bit of kit and a must if you fish a lot on your own. If anyone is coming to the fish-in, i'll have it there and more than happy to show you.
 
The trick with the G5/G6 and IR remote is to use it in conjunction with the delay timer. Click Remote, pickup fish, smile, wait for flash. Simples.

regards
Richard
 
Richard you are right but I don't have a G5 or G6 so the cheapest option for me is the one suggested by Ian. Thanks Ian by the way! It must be better to have total manual control. When I've built Stevie a footswitch remote I bet you want one ;)

Conrad
 
Hi Keith

Nice to see you on here, I like you have a canon (one of the powershots) and you are correct the self timer is very easy to set and can be set to allow plenty of time to set up the picture.
I also have a canon 400 slr with a remote, can be used but is very fiddly.
 
The Canon g10 had a great timer built in. It would fire after 10 secs then take 10 shots at 10 second intervals. I think the newer g11 (with the flip round screen) has lost some of this timer functionality.

I took a g10 back because I'm a bit of an idiot/total beginner and didn't understand how to use a decent camera properly.

I've ended up with a bigger Nikon d3000 dslr now and am really enjoying doing a course to learn how to use it properly.

I have a IR remote but can't see juggling a fish and trying to fire the camera particularly safe myself. Thanks for the links Ian, I'll get one of those air release gizmos.

Then I just need to catch the fish I fluked this past season so I can get some proper photos of them!

cheers, simon
 
Hi,
I'm new to self take photography and found the above suggestions quite helpful.I bought the Canon SX1iS,which has the flip around screen,IR remote and the ability to set the timer and have repeat shots.
Has anyone considered having the remote on a short lanyard around your neck,set a short delay on the timer and operate the remote with your teeth once the fish is settled,then spit out the remote.Sounds a bit messy I know,but would save the awkwardness of operating the remote whilst comfortably supporting the fish.

Pete
 
Ian Crook said:
Mark, that is the same bracket but does not give an air release option and is in fact more expensive with a 3ft cable release!! The one on Total Angling comes with a 20ft long air release on a spool included in the price.

I have in fact found a cheaper option this morning, £20 for the bracket alone:

http://firstcall-photographic.co.uk...-release-adaptor-bracket-for-compact-cameras/

And £10.50 for the air release:

http://firstcall-photographic.co.uk...es/0/firstcall/firstcall-air-release-20-feet/
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing that out Ian, I'v just ordered both for my powershot:)
 
Mark,
It's a tenner cheaper because it doesn't come with the 20' air release kit.
I've got one of these and can recommend it.
Regards

Simon
 
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