4x5 Selfie: Release

Darryl Roberts · May 1, 2024

Hi,

I'm planning a location shoot with my wife, dog, and myself.

Camera: 45H-1
Film: Porta 160
Westcott strobe
Pocket Wizard triggers

Can you help me with actuating the shutter?

I've tried a bulb: https://www.freestylephoto.com/131820-Air-Cable-Release-20-feet the problem is it actuates the shutter but it doesn't retract it. So, it works but I have to unscrew it each time to reset it.

Do you know of a better option?

Thank you.

BrianShaw · May 1, 2024

Sure... I'd be happy to help you with actuating the shutter. Where do you want to meet?

The air releases can be finicky. I've used them and they work best when the tubing is fully unrolled from the spool and laid out with as few bends as possible. Gently bends if necessary.

Luckless · May 1, 2024

Depending on how big of a fan you are for DIY tinkering, options involving some manner of simple light servo and a wireless remote of some type might be the best and most flexible choice.

Whether building one out of pure logic gates and timers, something fancier driven by micro controllers, or something more 'off the shelf' like a "Smart Switch Button Pusher" out of a home automation style shop, you have lots of options that let you step away from the problems in air/cable releases.

[You step into new and different problems, but that's another story.]

abruzzi · May 3, 2024

I don't know that they make cable releases long enough, so you really have 3 options (four if you count Luckless' suggestio to DIY):

1. air bulb
2. external self timer (a mechanism that screws into the shutter release and is a mechanical self timer. many of these were made)
3. a third person to take the picture

bdial · May 3, 2024

If you can set up in someplace dark or relatively dark, you can open the shutter, get in position then trigger the flash with the pocket wizard. Then go back to the camera, close the shutter or just put the dark slide in.
It may need some memorized choreography.
I've never used one of the self timers pictured by @abruzzi, but it should work. The ones I've seen are adjustable for how much of the plunger extends to the shutter release, which may help with the jamming problem.

Don_ih · May 3, 2024

Darryl Roberts said:
it actuates the shutter but it doesn't retract it. So, it works but I have to unscrew it each time to reset it.

That sounds like a problem inside your shutter. Do you have a different shutter/lens you can try?

JPD · May 3, 2024

I use an Autoknips IV selftimer with a cable release extension (by Gebr. Schreck) to avoid the vibrations.

abruzzi · May 3, 2024

bdial said:
If you can set up in someplace dark or relatively dark, you can open the shutter, get in position then trigger the flash with the pocket wizard. Then go back to the camera, close the shutter or just put the dark slide in.

I didn't think of that. Its clever if you're shooting in a controlled area where you can darken the lighting.

4x5 Selfie: Release

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