I'm looking for a cable release that will give me 10 seconds to run back into the picture and join my family in the shot. You know, like the self-timer on a 35mm that allows a few seconds so you can get back in front of the Christmas tree for the annual picture...

Does anybody make a mechanical device that counts to 10 and then depresses the shutter release via the cable?

-- bill youmans (bill@greatgrips.com), March 31, 2000

Answers

Why does it have to be done by cable? Adorama sells a device that screws into the manual cable release connection on your camera and works like a self-timer (though I'm not sure it delays exactly ten seconds). I use it occasionally with my Pentax 67 camera but as far as I know it will work with any camera that has a place for screwing in a manual cable release. If you're interested, let me know and I'll try to provide more information. It isn't expensive - maybe $15 or so.

-- Brian Ellis (bellis@tampabay.rr.com), March 31, 2000.

Why not just use an air release? Kaiser makes 2. A 16' and a 32' one.

-- Bob Salomon (bobsalomon@mindspring.com), March 31, 2000.

Brian, I am interested in this product.. what is it called.. is it in Adoramas catalog?

-- Bill Glickman (bglick@pclv.com), March 31, 2000.

B&H has two listed in their catalogue. Go to:

http://www.bhphoto.com/photo/acc/cables/releaseac.html

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), April 01, 2000.

I have used the kind of device Brian has on my Pentax 67. The one I have has such a strenght that it can damage the attached cable release or the shutter release mechanism. One has to be carefull.

-- Paul Schilliger (pschilliger@vtx.ch), April 02, 2000.

I bought a self timer on ebay for $7. it works great for this purpose.

-- paul schuster (paul@schusterphoto.com), April 04, 2000.