DIY cable release is so easy and cheap to make. I use a Nokia earpiece cable to make one for my 350D. it works and didnt cost me anything cos I have all the parts laying around my store.
Then you won't need to do a bulb exposure. Won't be dark enough anyway.Snoweagle said:But what if there're some lights around?
What model is your camera? Most modern DSLRs do not have the threaded mechanical release anymore. You might need to purchase an electronic release which will can be from anything between $20-$60 or might be even more.fWord said:Okay, everyone. Sorry for the trouble. I just read the online user manual for that old film camera and it makes a mention that the shutter speed cannot be at Bulb when using the self-timer mode. So it looks like a purchase of a cable release is in order. :sweatsm: Any advice on this? And how much should I expect to pay?
lsisaxon said:What model is your camera?
DeSwitch said:DIY cable release is so easy and cheap to make. I use a Nokia earpiece cable to make one for my 350D. it works and didnt cost me anything cos I have all the parts laying around my store.
fWord said:Okay, everyone. Sorry for the trouble. I just read the online user manual for that old film camera and it makes a mention that the shutter speed cannot be at Bulb when using the self-timer mode. So it looks like a purchase of a cable release is in order. :sweatsm: Any advice on this? And how much should I expect to pay?
thomas_lkt said:For bulb setting, the shutter will remain open as long as the shutter release button is depressed. Right?
So without a cable release or remote, how do you keep the shutter release depressed?
fWord said:.......................
catchlights: Ahh...only $10? That doesn't sound too bad, and I could probably save up that much just by staying in camp for two nights, which I do anyway. :bsmilie: Wish home was a little nearer to camp.
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Haven't tried star trails in singapore. I can't open the shutter for more than a minute (digital) before the whole sky is blown. Maybe can try Lim Chu Kang but I think the light pollution is still quite bad. Malaysia looks good. I even had a shot which included Polaris (!!!) which just happens to be visible beside a tree from where I shot.fWord said:Snoweagle: Yes, it's annoying. Sometimes I even wonder why people bother to shine a torchlight over. Isn't it obvious from just the shape that the person is a photographer with a camera on a tripod? Sometimes people are very kaypoh...I remember meeting up with someone to see his camera. This old man sitting behind the seller shifted his position and started craning his neck to see what we've got. I wanted to ask, "What the hell are you looking at?" But decided to just tolerate the attention and move on.
catchlights: Ahh...only $10? That doesn't sound too bad, and I could probably save up that much just by staying in camp for two nights, which I do anyway. :bsmilie: Wish home was a little nearer to camp.
DeSwitch: Heheh...if I were enterprising enough, it's something I could try, but I don't have the knowledge on how to build one. Care to share a picture of your DIY cable release?
lsisaxon: I was also wondering if there is even ANY place in Singapore where light pollution is low enough to attempt star trails. This is probably something I could only attempt overseas, and even then, only in the right places.
Yeah.. I missed it (wasn't reading enough) until saw it in someone else's reply to you. You can buy a mechanical release for under $20. It should still be available in established photographic stores (I guess..)fWord said:It's an old film camera, a Canon A-1. There is a little screw thread in the shutter release button for the cable release to screw into.
I'm curious too. This is a manual camera we are talking about.:dunno:catchlights said:just curious, how you make them into a mechanical cable release?
The OP is ask for using old manual film camera for bulb exposure.
swiftdragon said:How did u go abt making this cable release? I've got spare earpiece at home and would not mind converting it to a cable release.
catchlights said:just curious, how you make them into a mechanical cable release?
The OP is ask for using old manual film camera for bulb exposure.
KeyserSoze said:In the old days of film SLR, if I didn't have a cable release or if the camera body didn't have a cable release socket, I'd use rubber bands to apply pressure on the shutter release button, as long as it protruded out of the button housing and the pressure from a rubber band was enough.
setup up everything (tripod. etc) and the bulb setting with the rubber band, as well as having the lens cap on, and just take extreme precaution to remove the lens cap when you're ready for the shot.
lsisaxon said:Haven't tried star trails in singapore. I can't open the shutter for more than a minute (digital) before the whole sky is blown. Maybe can try Lim Chu Kang but I think the light pollution is still quite bad. Malaysia looks good. I even had a shot which included Polaris (!!!) which just happens to be visible beside a tree from where I shot.
DeSwitch said:Sorry, Thought he was asking a general question on taking bulb exposure without using cable release.
No, I dont think mechanical cable can be made that easily but still not impossible.
catchlights said:Might as well buy a guard duty to do (not sure army boy still allow do so in these day), than you have more money to buy film and shoot.
lsisaxon said:Best is to buy one.
In fact, for prime astrophotography using telescopes, it is quite normal to use a black cardboard over the telescope first, for releasing and closing the shutter because the shutter (and mirror) vibration is significant. The cardboard does not touch the setup at all. This is only possible if you have a dark environment where the cardboard cannot be seen and when you're doing very long exposure where a couple of seconds of exposure do not make much of a difference.
Some cameras cannot hold the shutter open with "bulb" when using the self timer.
fWord said:Good suggestion. I'll go back and review the contour of the camera when I next get a chance. But from what I remember the button doesn't actually protrude out of its socket.