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Timed Shutter Release for TLR

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arigram

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I remember a while ago, I found a gizmo at the Calumet of Cambridge,MA, which was a mechanical timed shutter release for use in cameras that don't have a self timer. I tried it on my Hasselblad and it didn't work, as it seemed that it didn't push the shutter release button strong enough and so I returned it. I thought of using it or something similar with my Rolleiflex 2.8FX which has a very sensitive release button.
Any suggestions for such a gadget?
 
Like this? I use one of these on a couple of my cameras.
I don't know where you're located, but if you use eBay, just put in 'self timer' in the camera & photo catagory and there will be several available for $10-$15.
 

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Wow, I was wondering about this myself just the other day. Very cool.

What I'd like even better is a way to fire a mechanical-release camera via Pocket Wizard---IOW, an interface that translates the PW's electrical signal to fire a camera into a mechanical movement that trips the shutter like a mechanical cable release would. I'm not enough of a technician to MacGuyver something.
 
Like this? I use one of these on a couple of my cameras.
I don't know where you're located, but if you use eBay, just put in 'self timer' in the camera & photo catagory and there will be several available for $10-$15.

That's the one.
I'll look into ebay, thanks.

Mike's idea is very cool and I have though of it myself, but I don't think something like that exists unfortunately...
 
I found a used timer, very similar to Bruce's, at a local photo shop. It seemed to operate well enough, so I bought it to use with my Mamiya C330F. On first use, I, like Ari, thought it didn't have enough force to push the shutter button. Instant buyer's remorse. But, after playing around with it for a while, I discovered that it has a force adjustment - actually a plunger depth adjustment. It works by turning the outer plunger barrel, which is threaded onto the inner plunger barrel (the tube attached to the timer body), and locking it in place with the jam nut. Once I figured this out, and adjusted it correctly, it worked like a charm! The C330 shutter release takes quite a bit (comparatively) of force, but to use this timer on a sensitive, low-force release, it would have to be dialed back. Shouldn't be a big deal, though.

The proper adjustment of these little clockwork timers may be immediately obvious to some, but it wasn't for me, and probably not for many others. Ari, I don't know if the type you had gotten from Calumet was adjustable. They don't seem to carry them any more. But, Bruce is correct - there are a lot of them on eBay. Many of them seem to be dedicated use, for old Russian or German cameras. And, I only have experience with the one I bought. Every one of them may be adjustable for all I know.

Thomas
 
Wow, I was wondering about this myself just the other day. Very cool.

What I'd like even better is a way to fire a mechanical-release camera via Pocket Wizard---IOW, an interface that translates the PW's electrical signal to fire a camera into a mechanical movement that trips the shutter like a mechanical cable release would. I'm not enough of a technician to MacGuyver something.

I don't think it would be difficult. The PW provides a transmitter, receiver and switch. The hardware part would be a battery, solenoid or relay powerful enough to move the cable release. I think the hardest part is in the force of the relay. Does your camera have a motor? It would have to be advanced sooner or later.
 
Here are two that I have. The smaller Japanese one does fit fine on a Rolleiflex TLR.

Timers.jpg


Here are the instructions in case anyone needs them:
SelfTimer.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
arigram-
Mine is exactly like the one to the right in ic-racer's photo.

ic-racer -
Thanks for the instructions! Mine had neither that nor the handy-dandy little plastic case.

TR
 
Note that some of these things have weird heads on them:

self-timer.jpg


I picked that one up on eBay a while ago. Based on the instructions, I believe it's intended for Leicas. It doesn't fit any of my cameras. :-( If somebody would like to trade, please PM me; otherwise it's back to eBay for me. (I just never got around to that after receiving the one I pictured.) More generally, be sure to check the photo if you buy online, and if in doubt, ask what it fits or ask for a better photo.
 
Maybe the thread could be renamed and moved to the general Miscellaneous forum category since the subject matter seemed to be of interest to all mechanical camera users without built in self timers.
 
Like this? I use one of these on a couple of my cameras.
I don't know where you're located, but if you use eBay, just put in 'self timer' in the camera & photo catagory and there will be several available for $10-$15.

I have one of these if any one would be interested in it let me know
I will sell it for $15.00
Kevin Carey
kcarey7025@aol.com
 
I've had one of these for more than twenty years, I don't think I've ever used it, although it seemed like a good idea at the time .
 
I bought one of these mechanical timers (Alpex) for use on my Yashica D TLR. It shows up in the shot in the lower corner.

Side note: I know, Yashica's have built-in timers, but when I bought it I was warned (even threatened) never to use the built in timer, because they can fail and take the whole shutter with them. I don't know if its an easy fix, or what the failure statistics are, but one day I accidentally cocked the self-timer, and the world didn't end. I've used it quite a bit since then and have never had a problem.
 
Mike's idea is very cool and I have though of it myself, but I don't think something like that exists unfortunately...

Some of those strange new cameras that don't use film have that option.



Steve.
 
Note that some of these things have weird heads on them:

self-timer.jpg

It's a Leica nipple. Like the name says it's for Leica's but also for some early Yashica's TLR's (like the Yashica B).

Can't you unscrew the head and use it without it??
 
My Yashicamat requires a Leica nipple as well. I believe only the 124g models dont need one.

But anyway, I have been thinking of getting one of those external timers for my Yashicamat, but can't realy justify it.
 
It's a Leica nipple. Like the name says it's for Leica's but also for some early Yashica's TLR's (like the Yashica B).

Can't you unscrew the head and use it without it??

No. With the head unscrewed, there's nothing to screw into the cable release socket on a "normal" camera. Hence the warning to be careful when buying!
 
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