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What do you recommend for an external intervalometer
- Thread starter MikeM58
- Start date
ChrisBeere
Forum Enthusiast
You will need one for each camera as the port interfaces and drivers are different.
I only have experience with Canon cameras so can't speak for Nikon.
I have the official Canon intervalometer and a few Chinese knock offs that are literally a tenth of the price.
The Canon one gives you a consistent exposure time but the knock offs frequently have fractional differences from the nominal exposure you specified. Not a big deal but annoying.
In the field the Chinese knock offs actually fare better with gloves as they have protruding hard plastics buttons and the Canon has soft rubber tipped ones that are a pita..
Chinese knock offs also go into hibernation and don't consume battery whereas the Canon is permanently on.
Knock offs use AAA and the Canon uses Lithium Ion CR 2032.
Canon cable is really short, knock offs are considerably longer.
They all get the job done.
I only have experience with Canon cameras so can't speak for Nikon.
I have the official Canon intervalometer and a few Chinese knock offs that are literally a tenth of the price.
The Canon one gives you a consistent exposure time but the knock offs frequently have fractional differences from the nominal exposure you specified. Not a big deal but annoying.
In the field the Chinese knock offs actually fare better with gloves as they have protruding hard plastics buttons and the Canon has soft rubber tipped ones that are a pita..
Chinese knock offs also go into hibernation and don't consume battery whereas the Canon is permanently on.
Knock offs use AAA and the Canon uses Lithium Ion CR 2032.
Canon cable is really short, knock offs are considerably longer.
They all get the job done.
Last edited:
W5JCK
Senior Member
I use cheap $20 Neewer units, which are Chinese knockoffs. They work fine, are inexpensive, and the two AAA batteries last for months.
nyairman
Leading Member
Another non-canon choice is the PIXEL intervalometer . A little more expensive than the cheapest Chinese models but with extensive options not found in the cheaper ones.
This includes a long transmission range and very long battery life. I have had mine for 3 years and they have never missed a frame. I just changed the original batteries that came with it.
On cold nights (any night for that matter,) I mount the receiver on the camera hot-shoe, plug it in to the camera side port, set the transmitter to the desired exposure settings and press ENTER and I go to sleep. The instructions are a little hard to follow but with a few trial runs it is really easy to figure out.
I found the PIXEL intervalometer on Amazon.
This includes a long transmission range and very long battery life. I have had mine for 3 years and they have never missed a frame. I just changed the original batteries that came with it.
On cold nights (any night for that matter,) I mount the receiver on the camera hot-shoe, plug it in to the camera side port, set the transmitter to the desired exposure settings and press ENTER and I go to sleep. The instructions are a little hard to follow but with a few trial runs it is really easy to figure out.
I found the PIXEL intervalometer on Amazon.
How are the screens, where it comes to viewing the info on them? Are they easy to use, meaning to program them is straight forward?
nighthiker
Senior Member
Hi!
Well, I have several timers, but prefer the original Canon because of the robustness and easy to 'program'. Yes, they are overpriced.
To be honest: There are only small differences between the timers, and it depends on your individual needs which one suites you best. The differences which I realized:
- Batteries (AAA or button cell) and their lifespan. On/off button and is it safe against unintentional 'on'.
- 'programming' can be easy (Canon) or a little bit cumbersome, but with a little bit of training any timer can be 'programmed' without problems.
- Robustness of cable in the cold (sub-zero). I have had cable breaks in winter times on several Canon timers but I could fix it with a new cable. No problems any more since I take more care of the cable.
- Very few timers have a 'double-interval-loop' which is helpful for some images.
- Some timers have interchangeable cables so that you can use them for different cameras. That's probably an interesting idea, but I don't like the additional socket as it can be a potential weakness (e.g. humidity).
- Weight as I like it light (for trekking).
- Some buttons are better to use with gloves and other are better protected against unintentional use.
- Remote timers without cable need more batteries and have a delay, but a cable break in cold weather isn't possible any more.
- Some cables (Canon N3) are very hard to plug out again if you use an L-bracket as there is nearly no place for - my - fingers any more and Canon is using a 'spring' to prevent unintentional unplug.
- I haven't seen big differences concerning the display, but mine is getting scratches after a while which makes it harder to read. I might use a protection foil in the future.
Just look at the images and info e.g. on Ebay/Amazon and order two cheap versions for testing. You will find out what you need.
Well, I have several timers, but prefer the original Canon because of the robustness and easy to 'program'. Yes, they are overpriced.
To be honest: There are only small differences between the timers, and it depends on your individual needs which one suites you best. The differences which I realized:
- Batteries (AAA or button cell) and their lifespan. On/off button and is it safe against unintentional 'on'.
- 'programming' can be easy (Canon) or a little bit cumbersome, but with a little bit of training any timer can be 'programmed' without problems.
- Robustness of cable in the cold (sub-zero). I have had cable breaks in winter times on several Canon timers but I could fix it with a new cable. No problems any more since I take more care of the cable.
- Very few timers have a 'double-interval-loop' which is helpful for some images.
- Some timers have interchangeable cables so that you can use them for different cameras. That's probably an interesting idea, but I don't like the additional socket as it can be a potential weakness (e.g. humidity).
- Weight as I like it light (for trekking).
- Some buttons are better to use with gloves and other are better protected against unintentional use.
- Remote timers without cable need more batteries and have a delay, but a cable break in cold weather isn't possible any more.
- Some cables (Canon N3) are very hard to plug out again if you use an L-bracket as there is nearly no place for - my - fingers any more and Canon is using a 'spring' to prevent unintentional unplug.
- I haven't seen big differences concerning the display, but mine is getting scratches after a while which makes it harder to read. I might use a protection foil in the future.
Just look at the images and info e.g. on Ebay/Amazon and order two cheap versions for testing. You will find out what you need.
Lyle Aldridge
Senior Member
I'm sure opinions on this would vary, but I also use the Neewer units. For what it's worth, I think setting them is a little tougher than a microwave oven, and easier than most digital wristwatches.
W5JCK
Senior Member
The screens can be backlit so they are easy to read. BTW, Neewer is just one of many brand names for these intervalometers. There are many other names but they all seem to be identical, just branded differently.
Programming is fairly straight forward once you figure out the instruction, which of course are in Chinenglish! Good luck with that! Basically they have four settings:
- Delay Timer, which sets a time duration to start the intervalometer. For example, if you want the timer to start at 02:00 but you need to be someplace else at that time, you could start the delay timer earlier, say 00:00 with a 2 hour delay before it starts. I’ve never had a need for this feature, so I haven’t used it.
- Long Timer. This is the shutter length setting and sets how long the shutter will be open.
- Intrvl Timer. This is the length of the interval between shots.
- Number of Shots. Sets how many images to take.
These cheap intervalometers tend to keep the shutter length the same for each image, and the interval between images seems to remain the same. However, they don’t always produce the exact shutter speed you enter. They can be a bit inaccurate. For example, if I set the Shutter length to 1 min I might get 61 sec or 59 sec. If I set the interval to 5 sec I might get 4 sec or 6 sec. I test it out before hand and make any necessary adjustment, although a second or two off is usually no big deal for me.
--
Best Regards,
Jack
AP Focusing Tips: http://w5jck.com/nightscapes-focusing.html
Website: http://w5jck.com/nightscapes-gallery.html
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jackswinden
Sony RX100M3, a6000, and a7
Rather than buying two intervalometers (one for the Canon camera, one for the Nikon camera) you could consider buying a cheap laptop, and use with free control software such as APT (AstroPhotographyTools).
The laptop screen would free you from having to use the camera back fixed lcd screens,
In addition, you can then use all sorts of astro software tools.
Regards,
Andy
The laptop screen would free you from having to use the camera back fixed lcd screens,
In addition, you can then use all sorts of astro software tools.
Regards,
Andy
Good idea, but seeing that I am going out to a site, I hate the idea of carrying another piece of equipment that needs to be powered. Still, it is another option.
I chose a basic laptop with an low spec processor and an 11-inch screen: the battery life for astro work is over 10 hours or, effectively, all night. So, yes it needs power, but doesn't need external power provided it starts with a full charge.
Andy
Andy
D
Dr_Love
Guest
As a Sony shooter, I'm admittedly too much of a cheapskate to purchase the Sony battery grip. I have 2 Meike battery grips for A7Rii and A6500. The wireless remote has a built in intervalometer. One remote can actually power both cameras at the same time if set to the same frequency. Not bad considering the price of these grips, the remote intervalometer is like a nice little bonus with the grip.
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