When taking long exposures, such as during astrophotography, it is necessary to release the shutter without actually touching the camera. By touching the camera you are introducing vibrations which blur the image. There are three options available, use the on board timer, a 10 second countdown, or use a cable release (remote release).
My Canon has a cable socket, so I looked around for one on the internet and low and behold there were lots, ranging in price from £15 to £60 (for what I assume to be a switch on a plug!).
I decided that I would try and build one out of parts I had lying around at home, and this is my photography diy shutter release guide.
First thing I needed to find out was the connector that is used for the shutter release. After A little digging around I found it was a mini jack plug with three connections. I had a rummage around in my spares box and found a suitable donor.
This should work with any Canon 300/350d (Digital Rebel/Kiss)
An infra-red transmitter from an old VHS recorder that was used to control a satellite box.
A micro switch from an old joystick.
A data transfer cable for my first digital camera, to connect it to a Mac.
Canon RS60-E3 Pinout
There are three connections for the Canon RS60-E3 basic shutter release. Like the camera shutter button, you press half way to focus and fully to take the picture. This is achieved by bridging the connections.
Canon RS60-E3 Pinout:
- Bridge Ground and Focus - Camera Autofocus
- Bridge Ground and Shutter - Takes Picture
Since I will be using the cable when the camera body is attached to the telescope, there will be no lens to focus, so I am only interested in releasing the shutter, so a simple switch connected to 1 and 3 will do the job nicely.
When you build your own camera interface, you can split the auto-focus and shutter release function by using two switches or use two independent circuits.
Construction
Once I had snipped the Mac connector off the donor cable, I used a circuit tester to check which of the four wires goes to the correct pins. In this example I will be using the Black and the Red cable. Colours will of course be entirely different in any other cable so make sure you find the correct ones. I used a pair of snips to trim the rest back, and sealed them in with a glue gun.
Now carefully solder the two wires to the correct terminals on the micro switch, again use a circuit tester to make sure that it is functioning correctly.
I know my soldering isnt the best in the world, but it works.
I have already opened up the IR control and removed the LED from inside. I used some general purpose contact adhesive to stick the switch to the base, making sure that I had aligned the switch with the hole in the top. Let the glue set for a while before proceeding.
When the cover is reattached, the switch is visible below. All that is needed now is a button to press, and that came from an old remote control unit, that I never used.
Open up the remote, remove the rubber buttons and cut one out!
Put a little contact adhesive on the switch and the button, wait a bit for it to set and firmly attach.
One release switch, built in 5 minutes and it didn’t cost a penny.
