Remote triggering the G3 (fairly long post)

[WW50]

I have been experimenting with methods of remote triggering my G3 and need some help from
some of you guys that are a little more clever and resourceful that I am. (getting old)
I am trying to figure a way to place my G3 on a tripod very close to a bird feeder on my deck to take some very closeup shots of the birds feeding there. The position of the
tripod is about 13 feet from the kitchen door opening onto the deck. There is also a
bathroom with a window facing the deck, the window is about 10 feet from the tripod.

I have a laptop and have tried using remote capture software...this works great
at triggering and zooming the camera, but doesn't allow the camera to stay on manual
focus. The auto focus doesn't focus on the birds, but on a house about 40 feet behind
mine. The wireless remote supplied with camera would be ideal, but it doesn't quite have the range to work from either of my shooting positions.

I bought a 20 foot length of optical cable, thinking that I could just fire the wireless
remote in one end of the cable with the other pointed at the remote sensor on the camera,
that it would fire the camera, but it won't. Maybe I might have to experiment further there
to get just the right size cable, but it isn't that easy to find sources for the cable.

Have any of you guys attempted to do something like this? Anyone have any suggestions?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Moving the feeder to another position would be a last resort, as I love to watch the
birds from the kitchen when I eat and use the kitchen table for a desk.

Thanks,

Wendell

[tonymac]

Are you using the remote capture software that comes with the camera? If so you may want to check out PSRemote from Breeze Systems:
http://www.breezesys.com/PSRemote/index.htm

It has an AFLock and setting for AF Distance. I'm not sure, but I think that may solve the problem.

[4walls]

Have you tried moving the autofocus point in the G3 when you set up the camera on the tripod?

[WW50]

Have you tried moving the autofocus point in the G3 when you set up the camera

Know what? I haven't. If the capture software doesn't override that function, that will work. I'll try it today.

Sometimes something is just sitting there staring you in the face and you don't see it. You are the man.

Thanks,

Wendell

[phili1]

Hi Wendell.

You can use something like the Calumet lite link. they are used by Nature photographers for remote capture.

http://www.calumetphoto.com/syrinx/ctl?PAGE=Controller&ac.ui.pn=cat.CatItemDetail&ac. item.itemNo=CE1555&ac.cat.CatTree.detail=y&type=PR DINDEX

[WW50]

Thanks Phil...

The unit certainly looks like it may be a solution. I'm going to try and call them to get more information.


Wendell

[Roundeldog]

Hi, this remote cable is too complicated for me, if you shape some tin foil in an arc and tape it to the front of the G3 you can trigger the camera by aiming at the foil 16 feet from the rear of the camera. I thought that I would just give my pennyworth so I hope that you don't mind hearing from a newby.

[WW50]

Roundeldog....

I have not tried the tinfoil, but did try a mirror and it didn't work. I'll give the tinfoil a try. Great idea.

Thanks,

Wendell