5D Cable Release Stopped Working

<p>I was shooting the fireworks show in DC last night and, all of a sudden, my cable release (RS-80N3) stopped working. Pressing it half way still triggers the exposure readout and auto focus. But, it won't trigger the shutter. Thankfully, the shutter button still works and I was able to continue shooting. Could the problem be in camera or (hopefully) a faulty cable. I'm leaving the country shortly for vacation. Therefore, I don't have time to send the camera in. I think I'll just buy a new cable and see. But, I was just curious if anyone has experienced this.</p>

<ul>

<li>The Mode on the remote got switched to something else</li>

<li>Any obvious issues with the cable itself, the plug, the pins..?</li>

<li>Check the battery in the remote: it is known to run out "silently" and stop triggering the shutter even though it appears to work</li>

<li>The CMOS battery in the camera is OK, right? (that's a tad far out, but still...)</li>

<li>Reset the camera to factory defaults</li>

<li>Can you remotely trigger the camera using the USB connection and the Canon software?</li>

</ul>

<p>Hi Michael,<br>

I don't have the remote switch. I have the cable release. I don't believe it has any internal electronics or batteries.</p>

<p>I'd say there's a 95%+ probability that the cable is faulty. The 1/2 press and full press functions use different wires and contacts.</p>

<p>Check the "hold" slider, sometimes manipulating that will restore the device.</p>

<p>I have personally found both the original and the 'clones' to be prone to failure or, more often, intermittent function, after use for a while.<br /> That's why I simply order the clones (about $5 postpaid from China) and buy two of them at a time. They are no better than the originals, but don't seem to be any worse.</p>

<p>:-) My reading skills suck...but I didn't even know that there is just a cable release w/o the interval, etc. functionality.</p>

I burn through a few clone releases a year when I'm doing a lot of waterfall photography. Some simply stop working,

some get stuck, but they are easy to break. I've had two OEM ones too, but I lost them rather than breaking them, so I

can't comment in their reliability. However, they get banged up pretty bad if you use them often in harsh climates. I'd

agree with Bob and say it is most certainly the cable at issue.

<p>My RS-80N3 stopped working similar to the OP. I dissembled it and found a little plastic piece snapped off inside. I glued it back on and it works fine now albeit I wonder how tough the glue joint is...</p>

<p>Made in <em><strong>China</strong> </em>- fails over time.<br>

<em><strong>Canon</strong> </em>product occasionally will stop working if the contact with the camera becomes loose. Press the contact in to secure the contact.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Made in <em><strong>China</strong> </em>- fails over time.<br /><em><strong>Canon</strong> </em>product occasionally will stop working if the contact with the camera becomes loose. Press the contact in to secure the contact.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>My RS-80N3 says "Made in Japan" on the back. It's probably about 5 years old. </p>

<p>Bob's the winner! I needed a cable release for a trip. So, I ran into my local Calumet store and picked one up. Works like a champ. I opened my Canon model just out of curiosity. I didn't see anything complicated and everything looked intact. No broken connections of any kind.</p>