Remotely firing a shutter - how to ?

[Daniel Grenier]

Hi folks.

I need a way to remotely trigger a Copal 3 or Ilex 5 shutters a fair distance from where I will be standing (say a 100 ft or more?). A mechanical timer/trigger won't do as the triggering needs to be on-demand.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[Lazybones]

Use the Force?

[Kevin Crisp]

But beware of the dark slide.

[Ralph Barker]

Try looking for the remote triggers used for game or wildlife shots - essentially an RF or IR trigger circuit with a solenoid to physically activate the shutter. You may need to "creatively adapt" the usual thing to work a long conventional shutter release cable.

[Ron Marshall]

Buy a cheap radio controlled toy at Radio Shack, strip it and use the actuator to trip the shutter.

[JW Dewdney]

get someone to stand next to it and fire it for you. semaphore will do the rest.

[Jim Jones]

Shutters that do not require much force for tripping can be actuated by a solenoid from an old press camera. These solenoids can apply more force if energized by the charge on a suitable capacitor at a higher voltage than originally used.

[KenM]

Mables, and a good aim

JW had it right - drag someone with you and have them trigger the shutter for you.

Kevin: nice one!

[Dan Fromm]

I use to have an ex-Amiralty Automatic Dial Recording Camera made by Shackman. It had a solenoid-actuated Prontor Press shutter. Big hint there, I think.

So part of the solution is a solenoid that pushes when actuated plus mounting bracketry.

The second part is a radio device that closes a circuit when it receives a signal. I have a Kenlock R77 transmitter-receiver pair that I used to use to trigger a cine camera remotely.

And the final bit is, yes, a press shutter.

I suppose that you could rig a radio-controlled solenoid to cock a cock-and-release shutter, but the job would be simpler with a press shutter.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

[Lazybones]

Kevin: nice one!

Hey, I set it up for him!