Outdoor Photography Canada

Intervalometer, timer remotes.

Submitted by PeterP on 1 July, 2012 - 13:44

Digital Photography Discussions

Trying out a fairly inexpensive

Vello ShutterBoss Timer Remote for my Canons this summer.
It is replacing another failed Canon TC-80n3 (the cord falls out, seems to be a common issue with this unit)

On the Plus side the Vello uses aaa batteries instead of the button cells in the Canon unit and it can be set to take 1-399 shots in a row or an infinite number of shots (until the batteries die in the timer or the camera)
The ShutterBoss is also almost 1/3 the cost the TC-80n3.

On the Minus side the Vello is an unknown quantity to me,
It might work great, or it might also fail the first time it is put to use.

Only time will tell, it will get put to use in Killarney provincial park and towards the James Bay area over the coming summer months.

I have same unit (branded as

Submitted by AndrewK on 3 July, 2012 - 18:04.

I have same unit (branded as Pixel) that I bought at Henry's last fall, when my super expensive TC-80N3 also failed (wires broke off right at the connection to the main unit - sound familiar?)

My unit works fine, though connecting the receiver to the camera hotshoe precludes adding a flash or bubble level. But unit can be operated not connected to the hot-shoe, it just flops around if you are moving with it connected (the hotshoe connection is simply to paark the receiveer in a stable spot).

Did this 82 minute time lapse last weekend at Warsaw Caves campground by setting the unit to keep shooting continuously (30 second exposures).

Just be aware that the receiver unit uses an "odd" non-standrard battery and I somehow found (while out in the middle of nowhere) that I must have left it turned on when disconnected from the camera so that it drained. Required a trip to the Source (fromer Radio-Shack) for a new battery.

Andrew Kulin

http://www.andrewkulin.com

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Generic Canon Intervalometers from China

Submitted by bobpollock on 21 September, 2012 - 09:17.

I have had limited success with the very inexpensive Chinese TC-80N3 generics on eBay.

My first attempt was unsucessful: I paid about $20 and received a device that looked like the TC-80N3, but didn't work. Following the vendor's instructions, I mailed it back to China adding $10 to my cost. However, I never received a refund or replacement. Because I used mail, I had no proof of return shipment, so PayPal would not process a refund either. Cost: - $30 for nothing!

My second attempt was somewhat better. I paid about $15 to a different vendor and received a device that looked and functioned just like the Canon model. However, the jog wheel is intermittent when adding units. But it works properly otherwise, so it's usable, just somewhat annoying to adjust the settings. Design is good, but quality control is bad. I've emailed the vendor for a replacement, but no response yet.

Even after paying $45 I consider myself ahead of the game. I have a usable device at a fraction of the cost.

Bob Pollock
Stouffville ON CANADA

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You are lucky it works! I

Submitted by PeterP on 21 September, 2012 - 23:38.

You are lucky it works! I trust ebay about as far as I can throw it :-)
Been burned more thatn once by shady sellers.

Now prefer to stick with reputable sources that stand behind their products like Vistek in Canada or B&H (where the Vello ShutterBoss came from) in the US.
Never had an issue they did not quickly correct.

If I remember that far back, at the time the Vello ShutterBoss was around 70$cdn including customs/taxes and Purlator shipping right to my door within a few days.
This it the version for the 3pin connector on the 5D's
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/749827-REG/Vello_RC_C2_ShutterBoss_Timed_Remote_for.html

So far it is working flawlessly!.
But it's only been 4 months, have to wait to see how it holds up after a year or so.

Peter
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