DIY Rebel remote shutter release

I have seen in other thread about DIY shutter releases and we recently got a cheap piece of junk headset for a cell phone as part of an accessories package, so I though I'd try to make one out of it. It already has the 3/32" (2.5mm) plug.

This headset has a push-to-talk button (it may also have been a mute button, I don't know for sure as I never used it), so I though it may be super simple to use, just plug it in and it may work! Well I plugged it in and it would fire the shutter on my film rebel....continuously.​....

I decided to open up the compartment that the button is in and I found the button, and the microphone. I simply snipped the two wires leading to the microphone, plugged it in again and nothing happened... until I pushed the button. It worked flawlessly. I did not test AF though.

Here is the inside of the microphone/button compartment, showing the wires that I snipped. I eventually cut the wires right at the connection to the button.

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nice, I'll have to give it a try.
did it work on your digital body?

Red Dot wrote in post #5646095
nice, I'll have to give it a try.
did it work on your digital body?

The connector on the xxD, and xD bodies is a proprietary Canon N3 plug, so there is (are?) no adapters to try it with. I wouldn't have any qualms doing so, as you are only shorting things out that are made to be shorted out. You'll know if it works or not, and will be able to stop it without any damage occurring to the camera.

Also, as I said, I never had the chance to test it with a lens on AF. If someone gets the chance to try it, let me know what happens. The lens may be getting a constant signal for AF, I do not know.

DD.
Your Red Wings are tied 3-3 going into the third Overtime against Pittsburgh in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup.
Time to put on a pot of coffee.
I'm still watching.

Pittsburgh sccoed on the powerplay in the third overtime to extend the Stanley Cup Finals.
Game 6 Wednesday.
Good Night...

Nick5 wrote in post #5647614
Pittsburgh sccoed on the powerplay in the third overtime to extend the Stanley Cup Finals.
Game 6 Wednesday.
Good Night...

The bad thing is... I'm also an Eagles fan..... which means I need to hat those darn penguins.... penguins sure are cute though......

I've made this twice with different headsets. The button on different headsets might by wired differently - some might trigger the shutter without modifications while others will not trigger the shutter at all. For the ones I made, I crack it open, remove the ear piece section and the mic and disconnect all the wires to the button. I then connect the 2.5mm plug to my XTi and touch different wires together until I find the wires to trigger the shutter. I then solder these two wires to the button switch and put the casing back together. I also use a glue gun to insulate any stray metal contacts within the casing.

The remote shutter release works very well with my XTi, behaving exactly like a full-press on the camera shutter button. With a manual focus lens, it will just take the shot. With an autofocus lens, the lens will seek focus first and, if successful, take a shot. In BULB mode, keeping the button pressed will keep the shutter open. Since there is only one button and it's not a two-stage button like the camera's shutter, there is no way to mimic only a half-press of the shutter button.

" there is no way to mimic only a half-press of the shutter button."

Wouldn't that require 3 conductors? A common. one for half press, and the third for full press? When you were trying different pairs of wires did you come across a combination that would give a half press?

With only two conductors I don't see how it would be possible to tell the difference between a half press and full. The Bulb condition could be detected by software in the camera by press and hold of the button.

I bought one on eBay

It was $3.99 with $7.00 shipping and works like a charm.

http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

I also got a Chinese knock-off remote release which actually works better
than the Canon model but, I don't see my model on eBay anymore.

RPCrowe wrote in post #5653081
It was $3.99 with $7.00 shipping and works like a charm.

http://cgi.ebay.com …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

I also got a Chinese knock-off remote release which actually works better
than the Canon model but, I don't see my model on eBay anymore.

Yeah, but if you don't have time to wait for shipping this is pretty handy. And since you can get these headsets in the dollar store for, well... a dollar, this is good alternative. Especially for those who rarely use remote shutter releases.

I personally have no use for this, I actually have 2 wired remotes and a wireless remote for my 20D, but I thought this may help people out in a pinch.

Bob D. wrote in post #5652968
Wouldn't that require 3 conductors? A common. one for half press, and the third for full press? When you were trying different pairs of wires did you come across a combination that would give a half press?

If I remember correctly, there was a combination that gave only a half press. But there was only one button available on my headset so I left this disconnected.

A commercial shutter isn't that expensive and may be more robust, but the headset was lying around unused at home and works quite well.