This video at the bottom of this post is pretty straight forward so there’s not much to add here. This is a Remote Switch with Digital Timer for controlling your camera’s shutter. I’ve gotten into Astrophotography and some YouTubers that I watch for tips recommended using a dedicated camera remote with interval timing and I couldn’t agree more.
Trying to access the camera’s menu upside down
As I explain in the video, most cameras can do interval timer shooting, but it can be awkward to get to those settings if your camera is hanging upside down while it’s pointing at the stars.
Also, the most recent time I tried to use the camera’s built in timer, it froze after 183 pictures. I have a feeling the camera overheated in the 90 degree weather, but still. It is much easier and straightforward to use this inexpensive timer.
Remote Shutter Release
Being able to use it as a remote shutter without needing to turn it on or without batteries is another nice bonus. The Fuji Camera app for my Fuji X-T3 has a remote shutter function that works most of the time, but every so often it loses connection and I have to restart the app, wifi, and the camera to get things to connect again. Using this remote, it’s a guarantee to work.
Without further gilding of the lily, if you’re interested in a remote shutter, check out the Vello Shutterboss II. See the video for a full explanation of its functions.
Note: There are at least 5 different versions of this product. The remote is the same on all of them, but they’ve changed the plug depending on what type of camera you have. The one I bought is the Canon with ‘Sub Mini Connection’ model. It works with any camera that has the 2.5mm sub mini connector, including my Canon 70D and Fujifilm X-T3.