Canon TC-80N3 Help

Hey everyone,

I have a Canon 5D Mark III which I'm using the TC-80N3 with. I'll be shooting moonbows at Yosemite this Monday, and needless to say I need to figure out how to work this thing.

I rented it from BorrowLenses and found the manual online, but I can't seem to still understand how the timer function works. Perhaps I'm simply not understanding how it works, but from what I remember, I should be able to set it to 30 seconds, and the moment I hit start, it opens the shutter until 30 and then releases it, correct?

Or is the timer just there for me to look at to know when to release the shutter?

Also is there any warnings of when the battery is getting low by chance? I know you can't shut it off, so I want to make sure it's going to last all day, being I have no idea how young the battery is.

Thanks!

The key part of Canon's description of the device is the "Remote Controller is a programmable electronic shutter release." So it is the device that releases the shutter. The shutter speed, be it 1/1000 sec or 10 seconds, is set within the camera.

The manual can be intimidating. Check the Canon TC-80N3 QuickGuide at http://www.learn.usa.c​anon.com …LC_TC-80N3_QuickGuide.pdf. It's 2 pages and offers a good starting point.

I haven't used mine for a long time and likely never will again since I have DSRL controller and ML but...from what I remember it has a timer for how long to wait before actuating shutter from when you hit start, how long to leave shutter open if shooting in bulb, how long to wait before next shot(if set to >1-99 shots) and how many shots to do(up to 99).

I'm not sure if it has a low battery warning since the only time I knew my battery was low was when I went to use it and it was already dead(it uses the same battery as a few other things I have and I keep the spares in my camera bag in case I want use sometime again and it's dead).

lovemyram4x4 wrote in post #16829174
I haven't used mine for a long time and likely never will again since I have DSRL controller and ML but...from what I remember it has a timer for how long to wait before actuating shutter from when you hit start, how long to leave shutter open if shooting in bulb, how long to wait before next shot(if set to >1-99 shots) and how many shots to do(up to 99).

I'm not sure if it has a low battery warning since the only time I knew my battery was low was when I went to use it and it was already dead(it uses the same battery as a few other things I have and I keep the spares in my camera bag in case I want use sometime again and it's dead).

Yeah, I always thought it was a bit of an afterthought of an accessory. I own one too.

ShutterAttack,

Hopefully this doesn't make you feel bad...but in the future, rather then renting one for $25 and having to send it back, just buy one like this for $32.75 and then you can use it forever. Intervalometers pretty much work the same and this is an area in which expensive is not necessarily better.

Bryan

bps wrote in post #16829585
ShutterAttack,

Hopefully this doesn't make you feel bad...but in the future, rather then renting one for $25 and having to send it back, just buy one like this for $32.75 and then you can use it forever. Intervalometers pretty much work the same and this is an area in which expensive is not necessarily better.

Bryan

Ahh, I hate the way Vivitar engineered it's plug. It always sits loose in the port, and I feel like I'm going to bend a pin.

Personally I like the Satechi for its versatility of being wireless up to 50 foot range. $60 at
http://www.amazon.com …-Compatible/dp/B004QDN2​ZC. Note that URL is for the model used with a 5DIII.

John from PA wrote in post #16829789
Personally I like the Satechi for its versatility of being wireless up to 50 foot range. $60 at
http://www.amazon.com …-Compatible/dp/B004QDN2​ZC. Note that URL is for the model used with a 5DIII.

Yes, I also have the Vello shutterboss as my backup intervalometer.

Thanks for the information everyone.

Was able to actually figure it out last night messing around, at least how I wanted to do what I wanted to do. I definitely will look into the other ones you suggested to buy, didn't really like Canon's $120 price tag.