Tell me what this is for someone??

Katie · Jun 28, 2011

I have been sent this picture and asked what it is. It came in an old camera bag with a Minolta XG-1, and since I shoot one, they thought I would know.

THANKS!

JMC1969 · Jun 28, 2011

Looks like a timer that you screw into the shutter button. It has the same thread works as the end of a shutter release cable. Of course your XG-1 probably has a timer on it and this will not be much use, but on older model cameras (pre-timer) it could be fun.

jeffreyg · Jun 28, 2011

A self-timer. It should screw into the shutter release button. Set by rotating the dial or a lever that may not show in this picture and push a button. It can come in very handy if the camera does not have a built-in self-timer. I have one that looks somewhat similar that I use with a Hasselblad and on large format lenses that it will fit.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

Aron · Jun 28, 2011

Yes, it's a neat little mechanical self timer.

Rick A · Jun 28, 2011

It's a neat little mechanical self timer. Time was when cameras didn't come with them built in. Is it for sale, I'll take it.

Katie · Jun 28, 2011

So the thread mount fits Hasselblad? Hmmm, I will tell them it's junk and keep it for myself!

Sirius Glass · Jun 28, 2011

Katie said:
So the thread mount fits Hasselblad? Hmmm, I will tell them it's junk and keep it for myself!

Now she is one of us!

pbromaghin · Jun 28, 2011

Timer...

Would that be a delay timer, or a shutter timer for long exposures?

M.A.Longmore · Jun 28, 2011

Katie said:
So the thread mount fits Hasselblad? Hmmm, I will tell them it's junk and keep it for myself!

.
Yeah, looks like rubbish to me ...

Ron
.

spacer · Jun 28, 2011

It's a doohickey. Sort of like a thingamabob but with the timer attachment.

holmburgers · Jun 28, 2011

Very useful for taking large-format group portraits of your family & friends when you'd like to be in the picture! The sprint from camera to group position usually always makes for smiles all around.

Les Sarile · Jun 28, 2011

I use one for my timerless bodies like the K1000, original Asahi Pentax and Mamiya RZ67 Pro II.

Ralph Javins · Jun 28, 2011

Good morning;

The one Les has is even easier to see when it is about to reach the shutter release point.

And, as others have observed, the scampering of the photographer to get into the picture does guarantee that the smiles in the photograph will be natural.

onepuff · Jun 28, 2011

This looks like one of the Japanese self-timers which were a popular accessory in the 1950s and 60s.

Les Sarile · Jun 28, 2011

Ralph Javins said:
Good morning;
The one Les has is even easier to see when it is about to reach the shutter release point.

That's because mine is "The Most Advanced Self Timer in Photographic History" . . .

tomalophicon · Jun 28, 2011

I had one and always regret selling it.

Ken Nadvornick · Jun 28, 2011

It's when I see things like this that I mourn the replacement of mechanical engineering by digital engineering as the predominent form of design and maufacturing. These sorts of ingenious little devices were just wonderful to behold.

I'll get in line to buy it, Katie, should you change your mind...

Ken

John Koehrer · Jun 28, 2011

Delay timer, not exposure. and with the Hasselblad you may need an angled release extension thingy or a flexible. Some of the timers cant be installed because of interference with the lens.

Jeff Kubach · Jun 29, 2011

I would love to have one myself!

Jeff

benjiboy · Jun 29, 2011

We used to call these M.R.M s, (Mouse Raping Mechanisms) in the trade

Katie · Jun 29, 2011

Ken Nadvornick said:
It's when I see things like this that I mourn the replacement of mechanical engineering by digital engineering as the predominent form of design and maufacturing. These sorts of ingenious little devices were just wonderful to behold.

WELL SAID!!! I feel the same way.

I'll get in line to buy it, Katie, should you change your mind...

Ken

I'll keep you guys in mind, should I decide to sell any of my wonderful treasures!

John Hermanson · Jun 29, 2011

Katie said:
I have been sent this picture and asked what it is. It came in an old camera bag with a Minolta XG-1, and since I shoot one, they thought I would know.

THANKS!

A wind-up-add-on self timer, screws into the cable release socket. John

bblhed · Jun 29, 2011

I have always loved the look of that type of timer, that is a nice one, in fact all the timers shown in this thread are nice. These little clockwork bits are just another reminder of how cool some old tech was.

I have looked at several of those types of timers and always go back to my old Kodak timers that only work on Kodak cable releases. My Kodak cable releases work on all my cameras that take cable releases, and the ones that don't take cables have timers or remotes, but I do have a Zeiss folder that has a timer and takes a cable.

tomalophicon · Jul 5, 2011

benjiboy said:
We used to call these M.R.M s, (Mouse Raping Mechanisms) in the trade

Bahaha that's awesome.

Sirius Glass · Jul 5, 2011

The OP reminded me that I might still have one. When I was back in Los Angeles, I found it. Now it will hang out with my Pacemaker Speed Graphic since the smaller format cameras have the self timers built in. Thanks to the OP!

Tell me what this is for someone??

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