Mechanical Timer Shutter Release?

[loslosbaby]

Heya folks! Long have I lurked, now, I must speak.

I bought a "hink2u@ebay" revised Canonet for a year now as a test, and have made pictures with it that blow my Canon 1D1+L lenses away into the weeds. Most of all, people don't go "boing!" when they see it! Also, even though I am 300lbs and strong, a 1D+28-300L is as heavy as a rifle...and I'm tired of humping it. I have found RF's to be my thing. I shoot people, places, and things, and the RF will handle the 1st two handily. (Side note: No kidding, after a pro PJ I know got all his gear stolen in New Orleans, and bought 6 (six!) Canon S5 IS's and just used those in EWA-Marine bags for the rest of his deal, I'm sold and I'll use two of those for my light tent product stuff...the customers don't care, trust me).

So, I'm gonna take the plunge into a R3x, or R4x, not sure which at this second. Lenses will be w/40 1.4SC and 21/4P.

One of the things I'm missing is self-timer...and I'll be deviled-like-an-egg if I can find any mechanical self-timers out there in the world anymore. When I was a kid and my Dad had all kinds of stuff like Minoxen, the self-timer was just yet-another-thing around in the box.

What is the current state of the art thing y'all are using for self-timer?

Thanks in advance!

Greg

 

[troym]

You can still find mechanical self timers that screw into the camera's shutter release button. They pop up used on *Bay from time to time or you can buy a new one at the bigger camera stores.

I did a quick search on the B&H website and found this one.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/63958-REG/General_Brand__Accessory_Self_Timer_fits.html

 

[oscroft]

So, I'm gonna take the plunge into a R3x, or R4x, not sure which at this second. Lenses will be w/40 1.4SC and 21/4P.

If it's any help, the R4/21 is a beautiful combination - my R4A has the 21 on it almost permanently. (Mind you, I've heard that the R3/40 is also a beautiful combination, so I'm probably not really helping after all)

 

[payasam]

Greg, I've used self-timers primarily to keep the camera steady. If that's your aim, why not a cable release?

 

[loslosbaby]

Thanks for the info!

1) I might learn to fudge the R4 + the 40 with the 35 lines. Having a finder (that I care about) mounted all the time will be a drag-a-matic. If I just shoot a test roll, and think "three times the thickness of the line, in from the line" I can get by. R4 is awfully tempting.

2) Believe it or not, I am fairly big on the "Me and Honey at the Grand Canyon" type of BS shots once in a while...also, the oddball Mike Jitlov Wizard of Speed and Time composite shot.

3) Cables good..ummmm, electronic remotes with more batteries to die (and leak) baaaadddd.

Thanks guys! I'll get a HANSA and look hard for a Minox in the long run!

(you don't even know how much I'm gonna love selling that BIG backpack (Crumpler Karachi Outpost, big enough to put a typewriter in...switching to Tenba Gemini as I am a PB (soon to be MBP) 17" user)

Back to lurking!

G.

 

[oscroft]

Having a finder (that I care about) mounted all the time will be a drag-a-matic.

I'm the same. I find an external finder really slows me down, because I have to keep making conscious decisions about which vf to look through (and I've been known to "forget" I have a different lens on and just shoot with the in-camera vf on occasions)

Believe it or not, I am fairly big on the "Me and Honey at the Grand Canyon" type of BS shots once in a while.

There's nothing wrong with that. Cameras aren't just for art - they're great for capturing records of events in our lives too 🙂