DIY Shutter Release for your Canon DSLR
Posted in Sacramento Experimental, Sacramento Commerical Photography by Roger on January 15th, 2007
Here is a very simple diagram for a DIY Shutter Release for your Canon DSLR. See Chris’s Link in the comments section for Pentax instructions.
What you’ll need.
(1) One - 3/32” Stereo Audio Plug (MUST BE STEREO, NOT MONO)
(2) One – Small Toggle Switch
(3) Two – Momentary Switches (SET TO OPEN)
(4) Wire – Small Gauge Insulated wire w/ at least 3 insulated wires within the main outer insulation. (I used 20’ basic telephone wire and only used 3 of the 4 wires in it.) (length depends on how long you would like your shutter release to reach.)
(5) Wire – Small gauge scrap wire, for wiring switches
(6) One – Project housing or Something to mount your switches on
Wiring
The long end that comes out of the bottom of the Audio Plug is where your ground wire (black) needs to be soldered. This wire will go to each of your switches as shown in my diagram.
The audio plug will have 2 small areas for your last 2 wires. The area nearest the plug, is the area where the Auto Focus wire (green) will need to be soldered. The other end will go to one of your Momentary switches.
Next the small area next to the ground tab and below the auto focus area is where you’ll solder the Shutter Release wire (red). This wire will go to both the Toggle switch (blub lock/release) and also the last momentary switch(single release).
Lastly, attach all your switches to a small project housing and you are finished.
It is a pretty simple project and shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes from start to finish. I think I have about 8 bucks wrapped up in mine and it works like a dream.
raincontreras.com » DIY Shutter Release for your Canon DSLR says:
[…] Probably the simplest, and best-explained DIY Shutter Release project for Canon DSLR’s. I’d still probably let an electronics supply and service shop still do it for me, since I’m not at all ready to poorly handle soldering irons again (I did so, poorly, in high school). […]
January 16th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Geoff says:
Is there a positive or negative on the momentary switches? In other words, does the ground have to go on a particular post?
February 2nd, 2007 at 4:44 am
Roger says:
Nope either way is fine. There are a few different types of switches you can buy. These are “open” switches, meaning the circuit is open (not a complete cirucit) until the button is pressed (closed/circuit complete).
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:01 am
Geoff says:
Works great! Doing a bulb shot however seemed like there was a certain order you needed to follow for it to work.
February 4th, 2007 at 4:09 am
Ernesto Andrade says:
Please can you tell me if this dispositive is ok for a A510 canon powerShot
http://clinecompany.wordpress.com/2007/01/15/27/
Thank you very much
Ernesto Andrade
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Chris says:
Hello, Do you have any idea if this would work for a Pentax camera? The plug looks like it will work. I wonder.
March 8th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Roger says:
@Ernesto & Chris:
Sorry guys I do not know if they will work on your camera. It’s pretty simple concept so if the plug works for your camera I don’t see why it wouldn’t. If you get it work, it would be interesting to know.
Thanks
March 8th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Chris says:
I just bought a hands free kit from Radioshack that has the same plug. I took it apart and connecting various wires does the same as the setup above. I’m going to put it in an enclosure like yours and make a howto in Instructables. Thanks for the inpsiration!
March 10th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Chris says:
I tried to send you an email but it bounced. Can you drop me line? I have a question about the project. My contact info is at my website.
March 13th, 2007 at 2:49 am
Chris says:
I posted a similar tutorial on Instructables for my Pentax DSLR.
Check it out!
March 14th, 2007 at 1:01 am
reginald says:
Very interesting, do you guys know how to make the wireless model?
March 15th, 2007 at 12:24 am
Roger says:
Not yet.
March 17th, 2007 at 3:58 am
Daniel says:
If I use the cord from a mouse, Would that work?
March 18th, 2007 at 4:19 am
Roger says:
You can use anything that has 3 or more wires. You will only need three. The phone line I used has 4 so I simply used all of them except for one.
March 18th, 2007 at 5:13 am
Daniel says:
Thanks Roger. I’ll see how I go tomorrow.
March 18th, 2007 at 5:33 am
Max Cascone says:
One gripe: you’re using a plug, not a jack. In other words the plug is the male part of the equation and the jack is the female. Other than that, great work!
March 19th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
tony olsen says:
For a housing, an old film canister would be cool..
Tony
March 20th, 2007 at 1:23 am
richard says:
Don’t think my 10D has a port like this
March 20th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Gadget News » Shutter release hack steals guts from hands-free phone kit says:
March 20th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
RSS fabriek » Blog Archive » Shutter release hack steals guts from hands-free phone kit says:
March 20th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Shutter release hack steals guts from hands-free phone kit -- oGadget.com - The Gadget Blog says:
March 20th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
My Geek News: All the latest news, just for Geeks! says:
March 20th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Luke says:
Yeah, my D10 definetly doesn’t have a port that would fit this…
March 20th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Tony says:
Is this the same connector that fits the camera end of an EOS 30D?
i thought the camera end of the remote release was a cannon only connector. Seems odd they are using an audio connector.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos30d/page4.asp
[interface pannel of 30D]
March 20th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Tony says:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/CanonEOS30D/Images/connectors01.jpg
(Better pic of 30D interface pannel)
March 20th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Paul says:
Yeah, I can’t see this thing being very useful on the 10D, 20D, or 30D, as the remote interface is completely different (as seen in the images posted by others.
March 20th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Paul says:
I’ve just verified that this DYI is useless on anything other than the Rebel, RebelXT and RebelXTi
March 20th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
John J Housser says:
If you’re using a newer Canon DSLR, like the 20D, 30D, or other, you could purchase a standard cable release (check ), most of which have a stereo jack in them.
I have one of these releases already (a no-name one off ebay, cost about $10) for my 20D, and am planning on using this technique to make an extension so that I can put my camera up on a long pole.
Great instructions!
March 20th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
ZTMax: Latest Gadget and Technology News » Shutter release hack steals guts from hands-free phone kit says:
March 20th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
DSLR Photography » DIY Shutter Release for your Canon DSLR says:
March 21st, 2007 at 3:30 am
Jose Antonio says:
Any idea for Nikon D200
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:33 am
Roger says:
I think the Nikon’s are strictly wireless. Not to say that there isn’t some way to get it done though.
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Pentax & Cannon DSLR cable shutter release from hands-free cell phone kit » says:
[…] make button to do this work for us. step 3Solder up the connections Using the diagram below from Roger Cline, Assemble and solder your buttons and switch. Test it often to avoid mistakes. When you’re […]
March 23rd, 2007 at 7:52 am
esotericsean says:
thank you soo much! this worked perfectly! i’m amazed at how simple these cords are (figured they’d be more complex).
you could even throw a timer into the circuit to automatically set different exposure lengths.
here’s a picture of the one i just made: link
March 23rd, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Maria’s Photography » Blog Archive » DIY Shutter Release for your Canon DSLR says:
[…] To read the full post visit CLINE&COMPANY […]
March 26th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Joe Reifer - Words » Blog Archive » Bits and pieces says:
[…] your own shutter release for a Canon dSLR (via Photon […]
March 26th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
adam says:
I just made one also but I like to call it the deluxe version.
http://www.blibberblabber.com/photos/IMG_0943_1.JPG
March 26th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Roger says:
Hey Adam Great job. I may have to modify mine w/ the extra jack and plug. Thanks for sharing.
March 26th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Canon Hack: Shutter Release for Canon DSLR - Litratista.org says:
[…] [source] […]
March 26th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
gil.org.mx » Blog Archive » DIY: Disparador! says:
[…] Bueno, desde hace días habia visto este disparador, control remoto para la camara, estuve viendo y si quedaba la entrada y todo el show, hoy me fui a comprar las cosas para hacerlo, lo hize un poco más a mis necesidades, pero el concepto es el mismo, aquí las fotos. Foto 1, Foto 2, Link para hacerlo. […]
March 27th, 2007 at 2:51 am
Corbeaux says:
Thanks for this, it worked well. The hardest part was getting a box to stick the switches into. I ended up just leaving them hanging.
April 10th, 2007 at 2:44 am
karno says:
Hi! Enyone know how to make automatic releaser wich releas every 10 minutes? Thanx for idea or plan.
May 10th, 2007 at 1:08 am
admin says:
Buy something like this:
http://www.harbortronics.com/products2000.asp
or…Build something to the effect of…
http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk/Circuits/Timing/5_30timer.htm
you would have to rig it to a toggle switch that essentially holds down the shutter. Seems like it would be worth a try.
May 10th, 2007 at 8:35 am
karno says:
Thanks a lot admin. That’s exactly what I need (the second one)!!!
May 11th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Adam says:
“I’ve just verified that this DYI is useless on anything other than the Rebel, RebelXT and RebelXTi”
I was so happy when I read this, just bought all the stuff to build it and then realized I didnt check exactly what models it works on…..I have the XTI so can’t wait to put this to use
May 27th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Isaac says:
Hi there! I was led here from http://www.instructables.com/id/E39XW91POAEZ7C935Q/ which tells (pretty much) a finished what to make this. I was inspired by that, so I wanted to make my own, except that i am very confused as to what I re-wire. Here are two links of the chip: Your help is greatly, GREATLY appreciated! (please e-mail me back at isaacster39@gmail.com) thank you so much!
May 28th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
Isaac says:
sorry, I forgot to give you the links! http://fastphotography.googlepages.com/IMGP6037.JPG/IMGP6037-full.jpg and http://fastphotography.googlepages.com/IMGP6038.JPG/IMGP6038-full.jpg
thanks very very much!
May 28th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Roger says:
What exactly are those shots of? The diagram above is nothing more than switches and wire…no chips.
Roger
May 28th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Thor-Erik Rødland says:
Hi all!
I just started my own version of this. (It seemed so simple that even I could do it).
I actually used a mouse (computer type duh!) as the “box”, and added the blub-switch. Sorry, but the text on the webpage is in Norwegian, but the pictures are universal
http://fotografiet.blogspot.com/2007/07/hjemmelaget-snorutlser-for-eos-350d-mfl.html
Thanx for the tips!
July 18th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Marios Tziortzis says:
Thanks! I just made mine and it works great. Tested with a Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT).
I’ve built it without the burst switch since you can achieve the same effect by keeping the shutter switch pressed
July 31st, 2007 at 5:39 am
Don says:
Excellent instructions. I’d like to use an old stereo headphone. Can you identify as to which wire leads to the different contacts on the tip of the plug? Thanks.
August 1st, 2007 at 10:32 pm