Remote Control

Although I own a Pentax remote control F for use with my K20D, I am unable to use it because the button is too small and set below the level of the case. Because my fingers are not that able I need a remote release that has a large button and if possible not set below the surface of casing, is there such an item available, if so who makes it and where is it available from. Many thanks.

Ephotozine have one - click on shop above and then on on Pentax Misc accesories.

SRS also have one, which is more expensive.

There are plenty on e-bay too I believe.

Or go for a wired remote - a generic one is just as good as the Pentax one, and one of the Canon ones also works with Pentax.

I use a wired remote that's listed for the canon(ugh!)450.

Look at this for a cheap wired remote or this for a wireless one.

Others are available on Ebay, just search for 'Pentax remote'

What about super glueing a small pad on top of the button so it is easier to find and press?

This one will do what you want. LINK I've got the same one. I don't have any trouble with my fingers, but because only one button is used for Pentax cameras (top right hand button) and it's made of soft rubber and projects 1.6mm you can push it down with anything, even put it upside down on a table and push it from the back or push it against your knee, hardly any effort needed. The other buttons don't do anything so it doesn't matter if you push them. Works 100% as long as the infra red pick it up. In the UK as well.

shim

Thanks will check out your suggestions and search out the plastic although they seem very reasonable compared with what I paid for the Petax one that I am unable to use should have asked or looked at one first.

Sure this is a stupid question but can you AF with the remotes you are advising by half clicking, hope you understand what I mean.

I wish to take birds through double-glazing so I do need to focus first.

Jackie

Yes you can AF with the remote.
I am not sure if they all differ from each other but I believe that most of them if not all you are able to AF by half pressing.

But there is a setting in the menu where you can adjust it to focus first before shutter release with remote, or just directly release shutter as you press the remote button.

What I have though it focuses first BUT only if I have kept the AF.S on. If I select AF.C (continuous focus) the moment I press the remote button it fires the shutter. This is irrespective of what you choose on the menu settings.

let me know if you need any further detailed explanation, I will be glad to go through it with you, as I have explored this particular area a bit deeply just in the past couple of days. Not widely experienced in the general field but this one I dived deeply just a few days ago while shooting some macro . So if you need any more help just drop a line

Regards

Amin

Hi Amin, thanks for your response, are you speaking of any particular unit or do they all work much the same?

I find with the Pentax one that by the time I have managed to focus and then fire on continuous and then managed to turn the thing off I have 100 shots of an empty twig. That is why I am looking for one with a larger button but do not wish to find I get a big button in exchange for the ability to AF.

Jackie

I got mine from here, this one remote

The added benefit about this one is it comes also with the wire and you can attach it if you want to use it cabled. I use mine wireless, it suits my purposes, in fact I haven't even taken out the cable out of the plastic . Still tucked in there as the wireless feature gives me all I want from it.

I am not sure if it will resolve your problem with the finger/thumb size, as I haven't seen the pentax one, but I would think that this button is quote good, hmm let me take it out and check it. I got an idea, want me to take a macro picture of it and show you the true size? , I can gladly do that. No problem at all .
Just give me a few mins and will upload it in my server and you can then click the link I will send and you can browse the full resolution image .
But check also if it has all the features that you require, as i said i am able to focus with the button. My bird shots on tripod I always use AF by remote, I just aim and bring it a touch closer then press the remote and it will just focus and immediately release the shutter.
With macro I just put the knob of the camera on AF.C and manually focus and when I press the button it fires without searching for AF. I will run this test again just to make sure again, I am about to take a macro shot of a daffodil so I can do this right now and you will have your remote image too

talk in a while

EDIT: this is the other link with more detailed features link

I'll check on the one I posted and get back later.

It's quite easy to make a wired remote from an audio cable and put whatever switches you want on the end of it. Maybe you know someone who could put together what you want. Here's a link to show you how Link

shim

Sorry, just tried it and the one I posted just fires the shutter. I mainly use it on manual and that suits me. You can press the button on the Camera to AF if your focusing on a bird feeder and then just use the remote to fire the shutter.

The one Amin posted looks very good, I may get one myself.

Hope you find one that suits your needs.

shim

Shim
The one I got from SRS is really good. You get the options in a pretty simple way. There are a few more options in the remote but I quite frankly haven't explored them including something to do with the flash firing, not sure though, but as I haven't needed to explore further at this stage I just laid it on the back burner, might come back to it at a later stage. But the features I am using are pretty good in it.

You have to set AF with the remote in the custom setting menu otherwise you can't do it.

Thanks Gwyn, you are correct, I've just looked in the manual. If it's turned on it won't take the picture until it's focused. So that remote control that I posted can be used with AF. I can't imagine that I'd use it but other people might. I'm from the old school of manual focus cameras, but have always used the focus confirmation since the MEF came out.

With it turned off it takes a photo no matter what the cameras set to and doesn't bother if it's in or out of focus.

Thanks for your post Amin, I'll be taking a look at that remote shortly.

shim