Remote Controls

Remote controls for cameras are an inexpensive accessory that can be hugely useful for all sorts of different shooting applications. Also known as remote shutter releases, cable releases, or wired releases, these devices do more or less exactly what you’d expect them to do – allow the user to operate the shutter release on a camera from a distance.

Remote Controls

There are lots of reasons this can be useful. For one, a remote release removes the chance of image blur being caused by a camera shake. Even when a camera is mounted securely to a tripod, it’s easy to cause minuscule movements in the act of pressing a shutter that can compromise the sharpness of an image.

With sensor pixel counts and the resolving power of lenses climbing ever higher, the details of an image matter more than ever. This is especially true if you’re using telephoto lenses, as the effect of any camera movement will be magnified by the long focal length. For long exposures, it’s also critical. You might get away with a little camera movement if you’re shooting at 1/500sec – you definitely won’t if your shutter is open for 30 seconds.

There are also reasons you may want to be physically separate from the camera while shooting. For instance, you might be capturing a still-life or a studio portrait, and want to be able to make continual adjustments to your scene and your lights without having to move back and forth from the camera. Or, perhaps you’re capturing images of garden birds or other wildlife, and you need to avoid scaring away your subject.

Photography remote controls come in wired and wireless varieties. Wired releases plug directly into the camera, while wireless ones usually work via infrared (IR) communication or Bluetooth. With a wireless remote, you have more range and flexibility, while a wired connection can be more reliable, especially if you’re working outdoors.

Not all remote controls are compatible with all cameras. Whether or not a camera has an IR receiver, Bluetooth connectivity or a socket for a cable release will naturally dictate which types of remote control it can be used with. If you’re unsure, it’s worth double-checking with your camera manufacturer before purchase.

While some remote releases are simple shutter triggers, others allow you to change camera settings, toggle video recording, zoom in with the lens and more. Many remotes can also be used to set interval timings for time-lapse photography, to start and stop an indefinite-length bulb exposure, or trigger the firing of a flashgun. The capabilities will vary depending on the trigger and on the camera.

On many contemporary cameras, connecting wirelessly to a smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi can offer many of the same functions as a remote release. However, there are still plenty of reasons you might want to consider picking up an affordable remote control. If you’re out shooting on location, for instance, you don’t want the length of your shoot to be dictated by your phone’s battery.