Remote shutter release

[Jepaul20]

Hello,
I'm looking for a remote (wireless) shutter release that will fire off a mechanical copal shutter on my large format camera. Does anyone of something like this? I'm trying to do self portraits and they are from kind of far away and don't want to have a long cable release... I also don't want to have to depend on taking someone with me each time I have to shoot to press the shutter release. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[MikeK]

Hello,
I'm looking for a remote (wireless) shutter release that will fire off a mechanical copal shutter on my large format camera. Does anyone of something like this? I'm trying to do self portraits and they are from kind of far away and don't want to have a long cable release... I also don't want to have to depend on taking someone with me each time I have to shoot to press the shutter release. Any ideas? Thanks!

I found a small mechanical release that works fine. I paid about $20.00 in my local photo store. Just screws into the cable release thread, twist the timer and off you go.

Was not anything special and is a cheap import but it works.

Mike

 

[rjr]

The thing Mike spoke of is called "Autoknips" and there are a few variations of it out there. It usually sells for 1EUR at ebay.de.

http://fotos.cconin.de/kameras/autoknips.htm

Be careful with this variation, some cameras will break when the pin is too long, destroying the release mechanics.

The other type snaps in a ordinary cable release and pushes the trigger, it´s much safer to use.

Delay of both types is up to 30seconds.

 

[rbarker]

Perhaps the easiest solution is to use one of the air-bulb releases that have longish (20' or so) air tubes. As noted, the mechanical self-timers are cheap, but you have to watch the throw distance. Some are adjustable in that respect, others aren't. There are also IR and RF triggers available, but these are usually oriented to triggering modern 35mm cameras with electrical shutter releases, and require substantial adaptations for use with mechanical shutters.

 

[Deckled Edge]

I'm with Ralph. I have a small caliber hose on a reel, with a bulb. It fires the Copal 3 from up to 20 feet. It allows precise timing--you can squeeze it or step on it, and you don't have to wait for a pre-set time. It clears any lens board and fits any shutter that will take a cable release. No moving parts and VERY analog.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I've tried the wind up ones, the generic Autoknips and ones similar..
They broke, the pin was too long, not enough throw or force, way too much stress on the cable release socket, etc..

The Kodak self-timers are what I use. They have enough force to trip the focal plane shutter of a 4x5 Speed Graphic.. Instead of threading the self timer into the cable release socket, this self timer fits on the end of a cable release. It's pretty smart.
Unfortunately they aren't made anymore but there are always a few on Ebay.
I'm referring to the mechanical (not air-driven) self timers..