Possibly an easy question, but I just want to be sure. I think it will help me to use a cable shutter release (hopefully that's what it's called). I have a Canon 7D Mark II. Does anyone have recommendations for which one to get? Thank you.
Hi Barbara, have you used any cable releases in the past? As all my gear is manual hardware I cannot recall taking a photo without a cable release beyond my iPhone......
With that said there are so many options in types, lengths, locking, non-locking, manual, wireless, cloth covered, plastic coated, etc. It might be worth poking around at B&H, Adorama, if you're unsure about a style........
To answer your question simply: I use all Gepe brand units, 12" to 16" lengths, cloth covered, non-locking. For ease of use I have a release on each Large Format lens so no field changing in cold weather needed. However, I have a home made double cable release I use on all my Medium Format lenses as the process is slightly different with a mirror release first and then a shutter release. But again, the conjoined 2 cable releases are actually the same brand, style, and length as the rest of the units...
.....And yes cold weather changes can be a challenge there. Although with my new upgraded Glomittens I hope less of an issue overall......
As you mention using Canon digital you might opt for a wireless release. That might be much easier over the manual units, but then again, there are a few styles of those and I cannot say which is a better thought on that arrangement........
Posted by Richard Ditch on August 5, 2017 at 6:47 PM
think it will help me to use a cable shutter release
Why? What makes you think that? Is this to assist with the broken wrist?
A Cable release is primarily used to trip the shutter without your hand on the camera and thus avoid jarring the camera. Most often used with slow shutter speeds and with the camera mounted on a sturdy tripod. They also had a use with gunstock mounted camera and lens so that you could trip the shutter release from a trigger on the gunstock.
The other common use for a cable release is with a remotely mounted camera while you hide nearby in a blind.
As Paul indicates there are various types. In the days of mostly mechanical film cameras you could screw a cable into or over the shutter release button on the top of the camera - I used to do that with outdoor macro shots. By the late 90's many cameras had a port for a cable that worked electronically. I have one of these as well made by Nikon that fit a terminal on the D70/D200/D300, but not the D7000/D7200. For the new cameras I have a Shutterboss by Vello. In addition to simply tripping the shutter it can be used for long exposures and interval sequences.
Thanks, Richard and Paul, for the Shutterboss suggestion. I will look into that.
Let me see if I can explain why I was thinking about it. It is because of my wrist, and it's because though it is getting better and I hopefully will get out of the cast on Thursday, and I can type in the cast now (I'm typing this), one thing I can't do and don't know how long it will be before I can is sort of (not sure this is the correct word) twist my fingers/hand/wrist. So on the 7D Mark II if I want to use the back button with my thumb for AutoFocus and use my index finger to press the Shutter Release that is not a "natural" position because of how far down the Shutter Release is, and it may be a while before I can do that. I may have to wear the removable brace I'm going to hopefully get on Thursday to do photography to be safe. Using a tripod doesn't help with this.
So really I want something to take the place of my index finger on the Shutter Release button so I don't have to twist my hand and wrist, not for any other reason, and I would like it to work as fast as if I were holding the button down for multiple frames.
Maybe I should just use the pressing the Shutter Release button halfway down to focus instead of doing this. That's what I've done for a couple of days toward the end of this past week while using my macro lens. I'm not sure.
Posted by Richard Ditch on August 6, 2017 at 12:39 AM
I suspect any cable would be rather inconvenient for the sue you describe. I don't know where it would connect to your 7D II - what does your user manual say? I'd guess there's a port on the side somewhere for sn electronic release. Then the cable would have to be the proper length and be flexible enough to reach whatever place would work for you. Except for when you are actually taking shots it would just hang down and get in the way. The "Half press" option sounds much better, and that's the way I've shot my Nikons since they got auto focus.
Buy the Canon cable release. Problem solved because there's only one for the 7D2. Good news is it also works for many other Canon bodies should you ever change. If you have money to burn, buy a radio popper such as pocket wizard.
BTW - I knew what you meant but the proper lingo for our electronic marvels is "remote switch". Call Hunt's & they'll take care of you. John Duggan or Gary Farber.
Posted by Dennis Plank on August 6, 2017 at 9:10 AM
Barbara: I'd go with the half press and give it a while to see if it works for yoj. If it doesn't and this turns i to a long term problem with your wrist see if you can find someone who's handy with electronics. The remote release is nothing but a switch. You could add a low profile push button anywhere that works for you and connect it to the shutter release port on the side of the camera. I'd bite the bullet and buy the Canon remote release even though it's outrageously expensive and just cut the switch end off to une the plug and wire. It's a Canon proprietary plug and I've had an after market one break off in the socket in the middle of a Yellowstone trip.
This might sound complicated the way I described it, but it would really be pretty easy to do if you end up needing it.
Thanks again, everyone. I should also have mentioned that I have plates and screws in my wrist and lower arm now (the surgeon described that area before my surgery as "mush," but he didn't tell me that until after the surgery, thank goodness). That's what worries me. But it may be that he'll tell me at my next appointment that after X time I won't have to worry about how I move anything at all. I'll let you know what he says on Thursday. Thank you again.
Barbara, Mush doesn't sound good! I wish you the best with your wrist. I too have a plate and screws in my left wrist, but it was because I slipped on ice and tried to catch myself and hit the edge of the cement sidewalk with my wrist rather than my hand and the Dr. said I shattered it.. But, I am now able to use that wrist as if nothing was ever wrong with it, holding that 100-400 mm L lens with a teleconverter and a 5D Mark III, playing golf, etc. So, hopefully it will be similar for you. I did look online and found exercises to do for it, and I worked hard on it and never had to take therapy with a physical therapist. They work some miracles with the plates and screws these days.
Posted by Mark Seaver on August 7, 2017 at 11:01 AM
Barbara, for what you want to do, the simplest cabled shutter release should work fine. They activate autofocus at half press, just the the shutter release on the camera, and take the picture with a full press. Your 7D mark ii takes the (almost) standard for Canon, 3 pin connector. I've used a Vello RS-C211 for a decade on my 5D and 7D models.
Discussion
11 repliesWith that said there are so many options in types, lengths, locking, non-locking, manual, wireless, cloth covered, plastic coated, etc. It might be worth poking around at B&H, Adorama, if you're unsure about a style........
To answer your question simply: I use all Gepe brand units, 12" to 16" lengths, cloth covered, non-locking. For ease of use I have a release on each Large Format lens so no field changing in cold weather needed. However, I have a home made double cable release I use on all my Medium Format lenses as the process is slightly different with a mirror release first and then a shutter release. But again, the conjoined 2 cable releases are actually the same brand, style, and length as the rest of the units...
.....And yes cold weather changes can be a challenge there. Although with my new upgraded Glomittens I hope less of an issue overall......
As you mention using Canon digital you might opt for a wireless release. That might be much easier over the manual units, but then again, there are a few styles of those and I cannot say which is a better thought on that arrangement........
Why? What makes you think that? Is this to assist with the broken wrist?
A Cable release is primarily used to trip the shutter without your hand on the camera and thus avoid jarring the camera. Most often used with slow shutter speeds and with the camera mounted on a sturdy tripod. They also had a use with gunstock mounted camera and lens so that you could trip the shutter release from a trigger on the gunstock.
The other common use for a cable release is with a remotely mounted camera while you hide nearby in a blind.
As Paul indicates there are various types. In the days of mostly mechanical film cameras you could screw a cable into or over the shutter release button on the top of the camera - I used to do that with outdoor macro shots. By the late 90's many cameras had a port for a cable that worked electronically. I have one of these as well made by Nikon that fit a terminal on the D70/D200/D300, but not the D7000/D7200. For the new cameras I have a Shutterboss by Vello. In addition to simply tripping the shutter it can be used for long exposures and interval sequences.
A quick look at B&H and they have tons of these for various units at very reasonable prices too..........
Let me see if I can explain why I was thinking about it. It is because of my wrist, and it's because though it is getting better and I hopefully will get out of the cast on Thursday, and I can type in the cast now (I'm typing this), one thing I can't do and don't know how long it will be before I can is sort of (not sure this is the correct word) twist my fingers/hand/wrist. So on the 7D Mark II if I want to use the back button with my thumb for AutoFocus and use my index finger to press the Shutter Release that is not a "natural" position because of how far down the Shutter Release is, and it may be a while before I can do that. I may have to wear the removable brace I'm going to hopefully get on Thursday to do photography to be safe. Using a tripod doesn't help with this.
So really I want something to take the place of my index finger on the Shutter Release button so I don't have to twist my hand and wrist, not for any other reason, and I would like it to work as fast as if I were holding the button down for multiple frames.
Maybe I should just use the pressing the Shutter Release button halfway down to focus instead of doing this. That's what I've done for a couple of days toward the end of this past week while using my macro lens. I'm not sure.
This might sound complicated the way I described it, but it would really be pretty easy to do if you end up needing it.