3rd party remote shutter release

[mikeTO]

Would using a cheaply made remote shutter release cord be alright compared to the ones released by the camera manufacturer's? Are there any downsides to using these over the better built ones?

I have an Nikon f90x and I would enjoy the ability to use bulb mode on it but finding mc-20 cables are a challenge and they are quite steep in price for something i mainly just want to use to trip the shutter and holding it for seconds on end. Would those cheap release cords I find on ebay be sufficient for what I need?

I see the basic one where it has a release button and a hold feature, which is pretty much all I need.

 

[Mike Wilde]

sorry, all of my cameras are old enough that for me a remote release uses a squeezable air bulb and pneumatic tube that trips a cylinder to drive a pin into the shutter release of the camera. My early 80's minoltas are dying of capacitor failure, and my OlyXA has deevloped a no shutter fire electronic foul up. The mechanical cameras keep on ticking though.

 

[Fotoguy20d]

I have one for my Canon DSLR. Let's rephrase that - I had a nice Canon branded one that I paid around $40 for. One day it accidentally got shredded. So, I bought a cheap (sub $10 shipped) one on ebay from someone in Hong Kong. It feels more cheaply made, but its been working fine. And, if I destroy it or it stops working, I can buy 3 more for what the Canon one cost. It adds nothing to the quality of the image so I don't see spending a lot of money on it.

Dan

 

[mikeTO]

Thanks Dan and Mike for the replies.

I was just worried that there would be issues with compatibility and what not. When I bought my F3hp and md-4, I was given a secondary shutter to attach to the md-4 but it was 3rd party and so whenever it was on, it would be super sensitive and not worth using because it would almost always take unwanted shots when something were to gently brush up on it.

 

[McFortner]

My early 80's minoltas are dying of capacitor failure, ...

Mike, check out http://forums.photographyreview.com/archive/index.php/t-6320.html about fixing the capacitor problems with the X series Minoltas. I had to do this for my X-370. You can find more on Google by searching under "Minolta Shutter Capacitor. I got my pack of 10 capacitors from Digikey and I think I spent $3.07 for them s/h included!

While the curtain moves, it sticks about 1/2 way. Oh, well, that's 1/2 better than it did before! And I have a backup X-370 anyway.....

Michael