F80 wireless release?

I'm looking for any solution that let me trigger the F80 instantly

without wires. Radio, infra, telepathy, all can come until it's

under 100 USD. I want to use it mostly in portrait or small group

situations so it doesn't have to be long ranged - 10 meter is just

enough. Thanks in advance for any suggestion.

 

ddt

100 bucks isn't going to get you much. Your camera has a mechanical release so anything wireless is going to take some work. I would suggest a long pneumatic shutter release. It' not "wireless" but someone could hold the bulb in their hand the same way. Of course you always could just find someone to stand behind the camera...

Why not just use that handy-dandy built in timer?

Hal,

thanks for the answer. May I should have been a bit more specific in the original post concerning my purposes with all this. The problem is not that I can't find somebody to release the button or that I find the cable release (let's say a long one) uncomfortable.

 

The thing is that I bought a basic studio flash system a few months ago, just 2 heads, umbrella, softbox, etc. It's not a hollywood studio but more than enough to improve my almost nonexistent knowledge of working in multiple flash environment. As I use it more and more I tend to believe that such a wireless release could help me a lot in catching the right moments. You know, gestures, looks, all those rare and natural behaviours we all are hunting when making photos about people. I think I have the ability to make my subjects react on me somehow, to make them forget that they are just photographed. I mean I can make all that to a pretty good degree but not perfectly until I'm hiding behind the camera or they can see the cable leading to my hand. I think this is how it works. Without a visible sign of the possibility the they can be catched in any moment they are simply more natural. Of course they do know they are there to be photographed but still it's different, at least I think so. That's why I need something wireless. I know the F80 doesn't have an electronic release plug but I'm sure there has to be a good and relatively simple home-made or half home-made solution. So homework is not a problem and the 100 buck... well, if it costs more and proves to work well I will pay it happily. I just wanted to sign that after all it's not sending man to the moon, it's just about releasing a camera button from a distance without wires.

 

I hope this made my problem more understandable (if not then it's definetely because of my bad english). Thanks for your response again.

 

Tamas

Not to contradict your style, but I do the same thing with a remote cord in my hand and the camera on a tripod or hand holding the camera while moving about the set interacting with the subject. I actually prefer the latter but much depends on the subject which can be kids, adults or even animals. <p>

I can't believe that someone sitting amid studio lighting with a camera pointed at them is going to have a problem with a cord leading from your hand. If they are acting unnatural and not giving you the expression you want that's not the reason, believe me. <p>

It would probably be a good idea to sharpen your skills at putting your subject at ease because that's really where the problem is.

Hal's right on. I don't think trying to Gerry Rig a wireless release is worth your effort in this situation. You can keep the cord running on the floor and bulb held behind your back. The firing of the lights is so simultaneous even if they caught your movement it would be too late to react. A very long cord would be very inconspicous and much more effective and much less expensive.

--evan

Just browsing around B&H, the closest thing I found to what you're looking for is the ML-3 Modulite Remote Control Set. It's an infrared setup that works with the N90s, F100, and F5. The ML-2 works with MD-12 and MD-4 motor drives and the N70 and F4s. In any case, the N80 doesn't look to be compatible with either the ML-2 or ML-3 and both systems are over $300 new and more than $200 used.

<p>

You could always consider eventually picking up an N65 body and buy the $17.95 remote control - it's about as big as 2 side-by-side quarters and doesn't require any other equipment. I use one with my N65 and it's a very cool accessory.

Hal, Evan,

 

may I remind you that the question was not whether my style, my method or my thoughts on photography are right or wrong, but the possibility of using a wireless release with F80. Anyway, thanks for your useful comments.

 

Jason, thanks for the idea. If there will be no other option, I will seriously think about it. I'm envy of your stuff :)

 

Tamas

<i>Hal, Evan, may I remind you that the question was not whether my style, my method or my thoughts on photography are right or wrong...</i><p>

Well, you did volunteer to tell us why you wanted to use a wireless release, and any information given around here is fair game for comment.

The ONLY thing I could think of is that you might be able to rig up some sort of home-made system using an RC actuator and a standard cable release.

 

Now, ANY jerry-rigged system that uses the standard threaded socket will require some finesse. If you make your own, you have to be sure that the action is relatively light. You don't want that thing slamming into the release with 10lbs of pressure. Do it wrong and you may find yourself sending the camera out for repair.

 

That said, your reason for taking this on is sort of backwards. The goal is to make the subjects feel at ease and comfortable no matter what you have in your hands.