Wireless cable release?

I know that sounds odd, but bear with me! Has anyone ever made a wireless remote release which screws into the standard threaded socket on the older film cameras to trigger the shutter?

This sounds like you need a 12v or 5v solenoid coupled to a threaded cable release. Then a means of the wireless triggering of the solenoid.

Consider a cheap 2 channel radio control set. Mount the receiver and battery on a plate that is sandwiched between the camera base and tripod. The servo can be mounted directly over the shutter button or at the end of the screw in cable release.

Range is enormous and will also work with digital.

Just a thought.

Best regards

Someone must have made a commercial version. Your going to need a motordrive anyway and they have an electric release so the ones for digital cameras might work such as Yongnuo RF-602 about £20 or get a camera with an electric release such as an SFX

The term "older film cameras" and looking at the gear profile of MX and ME Super sort of made me suggest as above. If a winder is fitted then even better but those to fit the MX/ME don't have electric release.

Maybe its not for either?

Best regards

Matts probably thinking of a Spotmatic

Spying on the sheep in the Welsh Wilderness

I think he's seen IceCam on the BBC Polar Bear Documentary

If you fit a Winder MEII to your ME Super you could use the contacts on it's cable release socket somehow.

I LOVE those little robot cameras! If anybody out there needs one built... I'm the guy you want to hire to build one for you!

I'm thinking MV1 in fact - I'm considering making a dashboard mount to take the same QR plates as my tripod (you can get the clamp bits to grab Arca Swiss-type plates easily at reasonable prices) with a view to ending up with a system whereby I can take a photo of whatever's visible through my car windscreen at a given point. With the 28mm f3.5 I have it should be ok if I just set a sensible aperture and prefocus (use the panfocal setting) then trigger the camera when something interesting appears.

This would obviously be quicker than stopping, picking up a camera, opening the window, etc. which is crucial as I want to use it while driving off tarmac to capture the moments which you'd miss by the time you got a handheld camera ready (like the deer standing on the trail in front of you which will take off if you move).

I do have a cheap Jessops winder (copy of the Winder ME II) which I've been meaning to make up a remote switch for, that might end up playing a part in the plan.

A rethink after going into one of the flightcases...

Amongst my collection of Pentax bodies is an A3000, which is much like an ME but with a built-in winder and the option of using full Program mode with A series lenses (or Av with everything). It has a built in winder using a couple of AAs, but the rewind crank is still manual (crucial for me as I need to leave film leaders out so they'll go into my daylight dev tank). It also takes a standard cable release thread.

I'm therefore thinking that the A3000 with an air release would be the quickest and simplest solution. I've been meaning to buy one for a while to play around with, that and the mounting for the QR plate wouldn't cost much. I've yet to sort the actual dash mounting part out but that shouldn't be too tricky.

link

Some MZ camera bodies will do this for you, should you want something more versatile than the A3/A3000.

Nah, I'll stick with the A3000. I already have it, it cost me next to nothing and the limited functionality is not a problem for what I'm aiming to do. I would rather bolt an £8 camera to my dashboard than something worth much more!

IIRC the only AF bodies which will leave leaders out are the MZ-S and Z-1? Both are just a bit too good for the use I have in mind.

That motorised time lapse rig is very clever but would be a bit bulky on the dashboard! My plan is to get the camera mounted as low as possible, peering just above the windscreen wipers. It won't be a distraction that way. Triggering it manually will be fine as I will only be using it while stationary.

I got a Cullmann 3080 Multipod for £10 brand new off ebay.
The side legs come off leaving a mono-pod and it has a security
strap to stop it falling over. Two flimsy suckers hold it
to the windows. Could also be used outside of the car or
against a shop window for street photography

Worth £20 not £70

I have a Winder ME II to which I fitted a remote connector many, many years ago. Discreetly installed it looks like it was always meant to be there - at base of grip. Takes a standard 3.5 mono jack - if anyone is interested I could probably be induced to part with it.