Olympus CABLE REMOTE with longer cord?

I'd like to get a cable remote for my E500/520, but the only one I can find has a cord that just a couple of feet long, and I really need one about 8 feet long. I want to set my camera up at my window over looking my bird feeders and control the shutter without moving and distirbing the birds. Does anyone know where I can buy a cable release with a long cord? Thanks.
--
JonySky

JonySky said:

I'd like to get a cable remote for my E500/520, but the only one I
can find has a cord that just a couple of feet long, and I really
need one about 8 feet long.

Click to expand...

Well, what do you know... I was convinced there was no such cable, but here you are:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Opteka-10-Remote-Release-Cord-Olympus-E-520-E-420-E-3_W0QQitemZ120361812844QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Camcorder_Remotes?hash=item120361812844

OTOH, maybe you could try with an infrared remote, although you'd be limited in positioning the camera and the range is dubious. Like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Remote-Control-f-OLYMPUS-E510-E410-E520-E420-RM-1-RM-2_W0QQitemZ320331758384QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Camcorder_Remotes?hash=item320331758384

Or you can try with this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wireless-Remote-Control-Olympus-E-410-E-420-E-510-E-520_W0QQitemZ350142233579QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Camcorder_Remotes?hash=item350142233579

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wireless-Remote-Control-Olympus-E-410-E-420-E-510-E-520_W0QQitemZ350142233579QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Camcorder_Remotes?hash=item350142233579

This wireless remote does seem to require your cable compartment to be open, though.

vlatko said:

JonySky said:

I'd like to get a cable remote for my E500/520, but the only one I
can find has a cord that just a couple of feet long, and I really
need one about 8 feet long.

Click to expand...

Well, what do you know... I was convinced there was no such cable,
but here you are:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Opteka-10-Remote-Release-Cord-Olympus-E-520-E-420-E-3_W0QQitemZ120361812844QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Camcorder_Remotes?hash=item120361812844

Click to expand...

Has anyone here used one of these? Anybody to offer a brief review?

--
'And only the stump, or fishy part of him remained'

http://www2.gol.com/users/nhavens
A Contemplative Companion to Fujino Township

with a 2.8 meter long cable {about 8 feet}. The part number is HRO 280, but it's not listed on their website and it is generally a special order part at most suppliers.

I got one for my E3, it comes with two leads one for the E1/E3 and one for the E4x0/E5x0. And best of all, it works completely with these cameras.
--
Cheers, Neil
http://www.nwilsonphoto.co.uk

I bought a cheap eBay cable, cut the wire and added a length of cable in the middle - it's 3 core - I think I used microphone cable - and provided you connect your extra piece of cable so the 3 wires keep the same connections you should be fine. You can solder the joins (and/or use audio plugs) or just twist the wires and tape them securely.
--
Doug

JonySky said:

I'd like to get a cable remote for my E500/520, but the only one I
can find has a cord that just a couple of feet long, and I really
need one about 8 feet long. I want to set my camera up at my window
over looking my bird feeders and control the shutter without moving
and distirbing the birds. Does anyone know where I can buy a cable
release with a long cord? Thanks.
--
JonySky

Click to expand...

--
Why not go with a RF remote now that they are so cheap?
I ordered this one a few days ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=110320727525
I will report back after I get it and get some experience with it.

Rolf

I did basically the same thing, but I cut the cord and attached a male mini headphone jack on one end and a female on the other, so it gives me short cord when needed and I can insert an extension in between when I need a longer cord.

works great.

Cheers
Gordo

Doug H said:

I bought a cheap eBay cable, cut the wire and added a length of cable
in the middle - it's 3 core - I think I used microphone cable - and
provided you connect your extra piece of cable so the 3 wires keep
the same connections you should be fine. You can solder the joins
(and/or use audio plugs) or just twist the wires and tape them
securely.
--
Doug

Click to expand...

--
'Gordo'
Gordon Williams
http://gordophoto.blogspot.com

I suggest wireless

I used to hack and build wireless remotes for the pany cams (fz30/50). I then adopted it to the oly types (e510 and e3).

but you can buy them on ebay as regular wireless pairs that plug right into the oly series (oly has at least 2 series for corded and an IR one, too). just be sure you get the right cord type - but do check out the wireless ones. they're more fun

--
Bryan
(pic stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/linux-works ) ~

I have an E-500 and the Oly IR remote. The remote works fine, but because of the location of the camera's IR sensor, the position of the remote to activate the shutter is somewhat awkward unless you're in the frame. If you're behind the camera, you have to reach around the body, position the remote in front within the narrow IR-effective area, and keep your hand out of the field of view. It can be done, but it's a pain. Plus you can only be an arm's length away from the camera.

I've used the IR remote successfully when standing in front of the camera and wanting to be in the picture. But when behind the camera, I think a cable release would be much better. Actually, having both is probably the best answer.

I'd be very interested in finding out how the cable release identified works.

Jack

That looks really cool for $25. And I don't even have a need for a remote! I look forward to your report.

Rolf K said:

Why not go with a RF remote now that they are so cheap?
I ordered this one a few days ago:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=110320727525
I will report back after I get it and get some experience with it.

Rolf

Click to expand...

I notice that Amazon has the Opetka wired cable release in 3ft and 10 ft lengths, as well for $12.95 and $17.95. Don't know how they work, but they are cheap enough.

Martin
--
http://www.pbase.com/mrd
C-5050, E-300 and E-520

I just ordered the 10-footer. I'll report back as soon as I get it.

Jack

JonySky said:

I'd like to get a cable remote for my E500/520,

Click to expand...

While the E-520 can use the RM-UC1, and cameras BEFORE the E-500 can use the RM-CB1, the E-500 CAN'T USE EITHER CABLE!

The only way to remote photography with the E-500 is via the RM-1 infrared (wireless) remote, or hooked up to a laptop via USB and using Olympus' Studio software in tethered mode.

According to Opteka, "Yes, it will work on the E-500."

I'll just have to wait and see---I have one on order.

Jack

jforkner said:

According to Opteka, "Yes, it will work on the E-500."

I'll just have to wait and see---I have one on order.

Click to expand...

I assume you mean this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Shutter-Release-Olympus-Digital/dp/B001MJX4MO

It makes you wonder then why doesn't it work on the E-330 since it came out AFTER the E-500? Don't be too disappointed when it doesn't work.

Mike_PEAT said:

jforkner said:

According to Opteka, "Yes, it will work on the E-500."

I'll just have to wait and see---I have one on order.

Click to expand...

I assume you mean this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-Shutter-Release-Olympus-Digital/dp/B001MJX4MO

It makes you wonder then why doesn't it work on the E-330 since it
came out AFTER the E-500? Don't be too disappointed when it doesn't
work.

Click to expand...

Yes, while both the E-500 and E-330 take the same common cable that Olympus uses for its consumer bodies, neither of those cameras had any connection for the pins in the cable that control the shutter releases. The RM-UC1 shutter release was not announced until the next generation (E-400 and SP-550UZ) and it used previously unused pins.

Well...maybe both. The following link from Olympus suggests (no, states) a remote cable release will work with an E-500.

http://www.olympusdigitalschool.com/Digital_SLR_Cameras/E-500/EVOLT_E-500_Shooting_Fireworks_Shows/index.html

And yes, that’s the one I ordered. I guess the proof of operation (or non-operation) will be testing upon receipt of the cable.

Jack

I wonder how Olympus Studio operates the shutter. I’ve used it to operate the shutter on my E-500 from my laptop while connected to the same USB port on the camera the remote cable plugs into.

This is all just speculation on my part, though. When I get the cable, I'll be able to verify operation or non-operation.

Jack

jforkner said:

I wonder how Olympus Studio operates the shutter. I’ve used it to
operate the shutter on my E-500 from my laptop while connected to the
same USB port on the camera the remote cable plugs into.

This is all just speculation on my part, though. When I get the
cable, I'll be able to verify operation or non-operation.

Click to expand...

There are 4 ways to set off the shutter on Olympus DSLRs (3 on the E-500/E-330):
1) Press the shutter;
2) Use a RM-1/RM-2 infrared shutter release
3) Use the appropriate RM-UC1/RM-CB1 wired shutter release cable
4) Use Olympus Studio

Basically with Studio, you can control the camera completely from the computer without touching the camera at all, so I imagine there is some sort of protocol that goes on between the camera and computer. Olympus uses its own protocol, and doesn't use PTP, which is a standard several other cameras use.

jforkner said:

I wonder how Olympus Studio operates the shutter.

Click to expand...

Studio controls the camera by sending COMMANDS via the standard USB connections, while the shutter remote cable (and video for that matter) uses ADDITIONAL connections that are on a proprietary USB connector (the E-500 only has connections for video in addition to USB).

The wired remote on the other hand doesn't have any intelligence in it, it's like a door bell switch on and off voltage to the additional connections.

Standard USB has FOUR connections (plus shield)...this is what you connect when you hook up your computer. In addition your E-500 has additional connections on its USB connector for video out. On NEWER E cameras there are additional connections for the shutter release which are not connected to anything on the E-500. So from 4 on a standard USB there are now 12.

As for the Olympus Digital School link you mentioned in the other reply:

http://www.olympusdigitalschool.com/Digital_SLR_Cameras/E-500/EVOLT_E-500_Shooting_Fireworks_Shows/index.html

it is NOT written by Olympus, it is "Brought to you by PHOTOFLEX" which is a lighting company. They are only using generic information and they aren't looking that closely when they write their articles. As well they aren't Olympus experts writing the article; it was probably written just as the E-500 was hitting the market, and they assumed it would still be using the wired remote like the previous E cameras did.

If you look CLOSELY at figure 5 (click on it to enlarge it) which shows the remote options, you'll see it not only shows the wired cable but it also shows the OLD STYLE cable release for Olympus OM cameras (which you CAN'T use on digital cameras).

Also in that image they DON'T show the wired remote that plugs into the USB connector the RM-UC1, but they show the older RM-CB1 which has a ROUND connector that plugs into the E-1, E-3, and the E-300 with the HLD-3 battery grip installed (I know this since I own the E-300 with HLD-3 and RM-CB1)...the RM-CB1 definitely won't plug into the E-500.