ML-L7 Remote Control for Z50

[Ernie Misner]

I done a little bit of night time landscape photography last evening with my Z50 and at first I wondered if I really should have bought the Nikon ML-L7 remote to save me using the shutter button and reduce shake etc, however I just used the 10sec timer on the camera and that was absolutely fantastic and shake free, I suppose the question is, do I really need to buy a remote control at all?

Yes, you'll really want a true remote in your future (and not just your phone). You can shoot a lot more efficiently with a remote and fire between bursts of wind much easier than using your timer.

 

[john isaacs]

I done a little bit of night time landscape photography last evening with my Z50 and at first I wondered if I really should have bought the Nikon ML-L7 remote to save me using the shutter button and reduce shake etc, however I just used the 10sec timer on the camera and that was absolutely fantastic and shake free, I suppose the question is, do I really need to buy a remote control at all?

I like having a remote if I'm trying to respond to something transitory like waves crashing on rocks, or if I have the camera up on a boom and am working to get the right composition, or if I just don't want to wait for the timer. I tend to use the 2 sec timer, just don't "punch" the shutter button.

A remote like the ML-L7 that doesn't need to be plugged into the camera is great, and I wish Nikon was consistent about the availability. I actually wish they had just kept the IR remote capability. Or they had put the remote jack on the front of the camera. Or they used the same plug. Or they used a mini plug instead of their proprietary plug.

In fact, I wish they had done nearly anything other than what they did do.

 

[Borami]

Is anyone using the ML-L7 and if so whats your views on it with the Z50?

I have it. It works great with many functions. You can shoot, video record, move focus point around, zoom in/out on the focus point, etc. There are two customizable fn buttons. I have them set as I button and playback. During HDMI playback it works great.

The camera forces you to choose between connecting to the phone or remote, which is saved when turned off. If you use snapbrige a lot you can have those menu options on the quick menu. While on the remote on mode, you simply turn on the remote and it's connected. And its battery lasts over a year.

Even cheap knock offs are available but I got Nikon for better build quality.

Edit: even while the remote is connected, the snapbridge Bluetooth sends over gps gps time data. But to download photos to the phone, menu item needs to be changed.

Edit2: upon further testing, when the remote mode is turned on, the camera doesn't get updated gps and UTC time data. Instead keeps on recording the last read data on new photos. This is a bug that needs fixing. But the Exit time stamps are correct.

Is there a tutorial on how to set it up somewhere?

No, mostly trial and error. But I'm not using it any more because it goes to sleep to quick and have to turn on and connect to use it again after a couple minutes. This makes usability not very good.

 

[Peter.K]

John the very annoying thing about this remote is that after a minute (on the Z50 at least) it drops out and needs re-enabling, I have dumped it and will just use the timer.

 

[john isaacs]

John the very annoying thing about this remote is that after a minute (on the Z50 at least) it drops out and needs re-enabling, I have dumped it and will just use the timer.

The ML-L3 has the same issue on my D750, but there is a setting c5: Remote on duration that can be used to extend the time (I set mine to 15 minutes just to make sure it doesn't time out and disable remote operation).

I would check to see if the Z50 has a similar menu item. I agree that the 1 minute is too short to be useful, and it really must be modifiable.

 

[Peter.K]

John the very annoying thing about this remote is that after a minute (on the Z50 at least) it drops out and needs re-enabling, I have dumped it and will just use the timer.

The ML-L3 has the same issue on my D750, but there is a setting c5: Remote on duration that can be used to extend the time (I set mine to 15 minutes just to make sure it doesn't time out and disable remote operation).

I would check to see if the Z50 has a similar menu item. I agree that the 1 minute is too short to be useful, and it really must be modifiable.

The connection with the Z50 is a Bluetooth connection and its the camera that closes the connection after 1 minute, search all my menus and definitely not configurable on the Z50.

It is a waste of money to be fair.

 

[john isaacs]

John the very annoying thing about this remote is that after a minute (on the Z50 at least) it drops out and needs re-enabling, I have dumped it and will just use the timer.

The ML-L3 has the same issue on my D750, but there is a setting c5: Remote on duration that can be used to extend the time (I set mine to 15 minutes just to make sure it doesn't time out and disable remote operation).

I would check to see if the Z50 has a similar menu item. I agree that the 1 minute is too short to be useful, and it really must be modifiable.

The connection with the Z50 is a Bluetooth connection and its the camera that closes the connection after 1 minute, search all my menus and definitely not configurable on the Z50.

It is a waste of money to be fair.

That's too bad.

It's also too bad that Nikon doesn't seem able to get these things right, or consistent. I would love to have a simple remote control that I didn't have to plug into the camera; that was the joy of the ML-L3. Not just Nikon, of course; nearly everyone has dropped stand along wireless triggers. But the inconsistency of Nikon is just frustrating.

 

[Peter.K]

Its mad isn't it and why 1 minute before stopping?

I agree Nikon so inconsistent.

I spent £50 on that only remote that will work with the Z50 and never thought it would be so rubbish.

 

[bolthead]

I thought it was just me at first, until I did a search here and found this thread. It's very frustrating, to say the least.

 

[RickC137]

I know this is an old thread, but I was looking if someone has implemented a solution now or Im the only one?
- I have build a remote for "bulb exposure" which can be driven by either
an external remote with a audio-plug (3.5mm), in most cases the cheap ML-7 clones have such a plug in between.
Setting hold and pause time in the z50 in the comment, automatically used when there is no device plugged in

control is done through US-plug using camra USB control commands, these olso work on D7xxx, z6,7 D500 etc...

All was done with a microcontroller + some connectors, but battery has to be supplied external. its a prototype.

Imo its too expensive (~80$ including external USB battery) for mass production
If someone has also a lot of time and some money to invest - a display and a housing + some keys would be nice to replace external timer
I ran out of money , long time unemployed ... so this project now moved to trash ...

 

[kramx]

use "i menu" for fast wifi on/off

 

[PerStromgren]

Is anyone using the ML-L7 and if so whats your views on it with the Z50?

I have it. It works great with many functions. You can shoot, video record, move focus point around, zoom in/out on the focus point, etc. There are two customizable fn buttons. I have them set as I button and playback. During HDMI playback it works great.

The camera forces you to choose between connecting to the phone or remote, which is saved when turned off. If you use snapbrige a lot you can have those menu options on the quick menu. While on the remote on mode, you simply turn on the remote and it's connected. And its battery lasts over a year.

Even cheap knock offs are available but I got Nikon for better build quality.

Edit: even while the remote is connected, the snapbridge Bluetooth sends over gps gps time data. But to download photos to the phone, menu item needs to be changed.

Edit2: upon further testing, when the remote mode is turned on, the camera doesn't get updated gps and UTC time data. Instead keeps on recording the last read data on new photos. This is a bug that needs fixing. But the Exit time stamps are correct.

Is there a tutorial on how to set it up somewhere?

I could not find one, so I wrote one myself! Perhaps could this be useful for someone out there?

Nikon ML-L7 Remote Control

User's Guide

This guide describes how to set up and use the ML-L7 (or clones) on a Nikon Z fc.

First use

1. The remote control has to be re-connected every time the camera goes into stand by. To avoid this to happen too often, set the standby time-out time to a reasonably high value. I have chosen 10 minutes:
   Select Menu → Pen → C3 → Standby timer
   Select 10 min
   Select OK
2. Pair the remote control with your camera:
   Select Wrench tool. → Wireless Remote → Save wireless remote controller
   Select OK
3. Hold the power switch on the remote for 3 seconds
4. Wait for an ”OK” message
   Select OK

Subsequent uses

You can leave the Wireless remote (ML-L7) menu in the ”ON” position at all times, even when you do not use the ML-L7. Having said that, there may be a saving of power if turned off; I don't know.

1. Turn on camera
   The Bluetooth logo on the camera blinks
2. Hold the power button on the remote until green light lights up
   After a couple of seconds (10 sec in my case) the Bluetooth logo becomes steady

You can now use the shutter release button and other function buttons on the remote to control the camera.

Auto focus and the ML-L7

The camera will only auto focus the first time you push the shutter release button on the remote. After that the focus distance will remain the same for all subsequent exposures, even after recomposing the frame. If you want to re-focus you must use the shutter release button on the camera.