Back in June we reported that Haje Jan Kamps of Photocritic was working on a neat new universal camera trigger called the TriggerTrap. Since then, he has managed to raise a whopping $77,262 for the project through Kickstarter and is now announcing that the device has gone into production. The TriggerTrap can be triggered by pretty much anything you can think of thanks to its laser trigger, sound detector, intervalometer, and AUX-port. It’ll cost $125 once it begins shipping in February 2012.
With the introduction of iOS 5, Apple finally turned the iPhone’s volume up button into a shutter button and its headphones into remote shutter releases. However, did you know that many Bluetooth headsets can now be used as wireless shutter releases? As long as your device can wirelessly increase the iPhone’s volume (and not just its own) it should work. This means that even Bluetooth keyboards can be used as wireless remotes!
Regulatory paperwork published by the FCC recently has revealed details about an upcoming Belkin-made remote shutter release for the iPhone. In addition to allowing iPhoneographers to take pictures (or video) from a distance, the Bluetooth device also houses a detachable stand for propping your phone upright. No word yet on pricing or availability.
Amazon is selling the Photive ML-L3 Wireless Shutter Release Remote for Nikon DSLRs for just $2 with free shipping. The retail price is $30, so it’s a crazy 93% discount. No idea if the price will last — maybe it’s a mistake.
Need to hold down the shutter release for extended periods of time, but don’t want to shell out money for a remote shutter release? Flickr user Dennis Calvert found that a pencil eraser and hair tie do the job well, allowing you to do star trail photographs with bulb mode.
Do you use a similar “hack” to keep your shutter release button pressed?
I needed a foot switch for my DSLR camera so that I could take hands-free pictures. On a long-shot, I went down to the local Radioshack to see if they had one. As expected, they didn’t have any camera foot switches, but I did luck out that they had all the parts necessary to build my own. Here is how to throw together a 5-minute camera foot switch with easily obtainable parts from Radioshack. Read more…
Self-described creative technologist Thiago Avancini hacked this Atari 2600 joystick into a shutter release cable — complete with an autofocus control for his Canon T2i. The controller is considerably larger than the average cable release or remote control, but it’s a pretty nifty. Avancini has more photos of the contraption on his site, but so far, no DIY instructions.
Here’s a little DSLR accessory that might be a great Christmas present for a photographer you know. The Aputure Gigtube is a “remote viewfinder” that allows you to use the “live view” functionality of your camera off-camera. You can either mount it on your hot-shoe, or use it separately as a remote shutter release.
This off-camera view allows you to use you to compose shots in situations that you previously had to guess in. For example, you could have your camera high above you head on a monopod, yet still compose your photo using the off-camera live view. It’s also great for self-portraits and for shooting video, since the LCD swivels like the detachable LCD screens in point-and-shoot cameras.
The Aputure Gigtube is currently priced between $189-$190, and can be found for pretty much any Canon or Nikon camera that supports Live View.
