Getting my IR remote to work

I have a Pentax K100D and today (02.01.2010) I bouth an IR remote for it, a Rmote F.

I went into the Function menu and set my camera to "receive' the signal and i've read the manual from one end to the other and can't find anything to tell me how to use the remote.

I can't get the remote to work. I would be most grateful if someone could tell me how to.

I seem to recall that the IR activation bit is on the functions menu under the shooting rate bit (Fn button, up button and you should see a remote icon!)

That's how my K110d works, I think, I can't check as my daughter has it at the moment!

You need to activate the IR remote in the function menu, which you say you have done. In that case, their is a red indicator somewhere on your camera that should be flashing. Is it?

If so, check your camera manual to determine whether you should be behind or in front of your camera, or either.

Thanks, Hardgravity and Mannesty.

Yes, I activated my remote through the Function menu. You need to be in front of the camera as far as I can work out - there is no receiver on the rear of it. I can't see a flashing red light when attempting to use the remote, but the IR receiver flashes when the camera is set for either the 2 or 12 second delay timer.

I simply can't find any references to the remote in my camera's manual other than it being an Accessory. This is so frustrating as I've wanted one for ages and, now that I have it, I can't use it! Arrrrrgh.

The gent in the camera store told me that the battery in the remote should never need replacing as most people don't use them often enough!

Thanks.

Instructions for setting up the camera to use the Remote F can be found on page 61 of the .PDF manual available from www.pentaximaging.com > Support > Download Manuals and Literature.

When the appropriate drive mode (up arrow on the 4 way controller after pressing the Fn button) is selected, the self timer light should blink. If it doesn't, either you haven't set it correctly or you have a camera problem.

Hi Peter,

Thank you for the link to the Manual - it's downloading as I type.

I've just finished going through all the settings on my camera again and the only setting I can find for the remote is, as you say, in the Function menu. I "unset" it and re-set it. It still doesn't work. I cleaned the IR receiver on my camera and that made no difference.

I'll read the Manual when it's finished downloading and if I can't get any sense out of my camera, I'll take a trip up to my local camera shop tomorrow. Hopefully, they will be able to set me straight!

Have a great day or evening in your part of the wrold.

clarkey.

If you go into your settings on here, you can enter your location. It's useful for us. It's not much use to you if we recommend a supplier in UK/Spain/Australia etc. if you live in Zagreb, for instance.

When you have set the function menu to use the remote, does the self timer light blink?

If it does, it could well be the remote that's faulty. To test it, point the remote at the lens, focus on the IR transmitter LED, press one of the remote's buttons and hold it pressed while you take a photo of it using a long'ish exposure. You might be able to see if the LED is on because some Pentax sensors can 'see' IR light. It'll probably show as white though, black if it's not working.

No, the self-timer light doesn't blink.

I did what you suggested and took three pics, just for triple fail-safe, with a 4 second exposure. and in each one, a small pinkish light shows where the IR beam should be.

This remote is a tiny thing, no bigger than a stick of chewing gum, and only has one button on it - I have a feeling it may not be what I want after all. I wanted one that focuses as well as releases the shutter! I think I'm going to take a trip to the camera shop tomorrow as it seems there is a problem with my camera.

Thank you for your help, Peter, it's much appreciated.

Cheers,

clarkey.

The remote operation, by default, will only release the shutter. If you want AF as well you need to set this to 'On' in the Custom menu.

NB. The remote needs to be aimed at the front of the camera.



To set up the camera for remote use, first press the Fn button.

Next, use the 'Up' button on the four way controller to select 'Drive Mode'.

Now select the remote symbol using the left/right buttons on the four way controller. You have a choice of 'remote' (immediate shutter operation), or remote 3 sec (3 second delay). At this point the self-timer lamp on the front of the camera will blink to tell you that you're in remote control wait status.

Choose the one you want, then press the 'OK' button. The self-timer lamp will stop blinking.

Press the Fn button. The camera is ready for remote control use.

Aim the remote at the camera, press the remote button - camera should fire.

Now, to get AF as well, go to 'Custom' menu, navigate through until you get to 'AF in remote control', set it to 'On' (it's 'Off' by default). Exit the Custom menu.

Now try the remote again, but note the camera will not fire until focus is achieved!

Hmmm, my Pentax Remote Control F has 2 buttons on it, one big, one small.

Hi Peter

My IR remote (Pentax F) has only one button. What does the other button on yours do?

The K10 at least allows me to fire remotely from behind as well as from in front of the camera.

Its a useful piece of kit for photographing people who are camera shy!

The main restriction I find is that it is quite short sighted -maybe only works up to 5 metres.

Cheers
Geoff

The second button on mine doesn't actually do anything on my K20D but it has a symbol of three trees of different sizes so I guess it operates the zoom on some cameras.

Maybe mine isn't an 'F' version, but it still works.

Hi John,

I'm sorry I missed your comment last night. Thank you for the info you gave me.

I thought I had already made all the settings you mention, but to be sure, I made them all again. It seems I must have missed one as my camera and remote are now "talking" to each other.

One thing is different though - the self-timer lamp doesn't flash until I've exited the Function menu and the camera is waiting to take a pic. (I did that part of the re-setting in front of a mirror to check!)

Hi Peter,

With the symbol you mention being on your remote, I would think you're probably right about it operating the zoom on some cameras - it seems a logical interpretation of the symbol! As long as it works, it's all good.

Thank you very much, both of you, I'm grateful for your help. I was dreading the cost of any repairs which may have been necessary.

Have a great day or evening in your respective parts os the world.

Cheers,

clarkey.