Customer Reviews

Canon TC80N3 Timer Remote Control for EOS D30, D60, D10, 1D, 1V & 20D SLR Cameras

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This thing is very cool. You can do a bunch of different timer functions, and some combinations of them. You can set shutter length, interval between shots, time to first shot, and number of shots to take, plus you can just treat the thing as a remote release cable.

The display light is just fine for shooting at night, and there are not a lot of buttons, so you can learn to run the remote in the dark pretty fast.

My only gripe is the cable is not very long - 21 inches or something like that. Canon wants almost 1/2 the price of the TC80N3 for the extension cable. Most won't need anything longer, but it would be nice if it was.

I just purchased this remote for my Canon EOS 20D. Incredibly, there was no manual included. While I think that I can sort it out, I did find this website that had instructions for the manual:
http://eosdoc.com/manuals/?q=TC-80N3

This remote is a handy tool to have. It's very basic use is as a shutter release. It's best to use a shutter release for when your camera in on a tripod in low light situations. Using the shutter release in this way helps to limit camera shake which improves your images.

Other programmable features include a self timer, interval timer, long exposure, and exposure count. You are permitted to use any combination all or none of these settings making the possibilities virtually limitless.

I have used to self timer so that I could both take the picture, and be in it. The self timer can be set for just shy of 100 hours if you wanted to.

For time lapse, a combination of the interval timer which can be set for just shy of 100 hours and the exposure count which can be set for up to 99 shots should be set. The self timer can be used to delay the first shot if desired.

The long exposure can also be set up to just shy of 100 hours.

The settings can be entered at any time without worry of inadvertent alterations. Pressing the light button until the hold indicator is displayed will deactivate all but the light button or prevents the stop/start button from being deactivated once an operation has been started.

The TC-80N3 is operated by one CR2032 battery. I've had my remote for over 2 years and the battery is still going strong. I'm not sure how long the battery is supposed to last, but there is an indicator in the display panel to let me know when the battery starts to get low. If the battery is fine, I don't see the indicator at all.

There is a storage place on the back for your cameras RC socket cover if you have one. I use this with a Canon 20D so it is of no use to me. The plug connects to the camera simply by pressing the plug into the socket. To disconnect, pinch the plug on the side and pull out.

For me, this item is a must have. I enjoy low light photography and I get plenty of use just for this reason. It's great to have the option available for other photographic opportunities. It is clear to me that this is a well thought out, quality product by Canon.

PROS:
Acts as a simple shutter release
Programmable options include a self timer, interval timer, long exposure, and exposure count

CONS:
Cable only about 34 inches

Ideal as just a remote shutter control, or a fully programable timer.
Can be set up for just about any situation you are likely to need. I do a lot of time-lapse work, and this is just great for that.
You can set the delay time to the start of the first photo, and the time between photos in 1 second increments from 1 second to 99 hours.
The number of exposures can be set from 1-99, or continuous.
Using the bulb function, the length of exposure can be set in 1 second increments also.

About the only thing I don't like, is that I have been unable to find any commercially made connectors or cords that will allow me to use it with other cameras.

I never head out for a shoot without a Canon TC-80N3 in my bag. This interval timer is so critical to my work that I have 2 of them and an extra coin battery.

Pros:
Your creativity will be GREATLY expanded with this combined full-featured intervalometer AND cable release. Check the PDF User Guide link for the specs on what it can do for your photography using any Canon camera (SLR/DSLR) with an N3 port.

Cons:
* Too pricey. There are similar devices available at less than half the price of the TC-80N3.

* Buttons on the front are TOO small and grouped TOO close together for use while wearing winter gloves. This is a design oversight on Canon's part. You'll have to brave the elements by wearing only glove liners and/or fingerless gloves to properly operate the TC-80N3 in freezing conditions.

* At the VERY least, the start/stop sequence button should be larger than the rest and have a different texture on the button surface. This way you won't have to take your eyes off your subject to see that you're pressing the right button! This would also allow you to start/stop a sequence in low lighting conditions (i.e. by feel).

* Minimum usable interval time is 1-second between frames, even though it'll let you set it for 0-seconds (it stops operating after shooting the first frame when an interval of zero seconds is set; a programming BUG).

The ability to combine four different delay and interval modes makes this product able to accommodate almost any automatic-shooting situation.

You can control the delay until the sequence starts, the delay between shots, the total shooting time, and the number of shots.

That last one, however, is where the glaring flaw comes in: The controller is limited to 99 shots when you use the total-number-of-shots setting. In correspondence I've had with Canon, they have had no explanation for this asinine limitation. Even a modest CF card these days holds more than 99 shots, even in raw mode. For time lapse, 99 shots is woefully inadequate.

You can work around this defect by simply letting your card fill up or by doing the math and using the total-duration setting. But sometimes you want to shoot multiple sequences on one card. If you know you want about 300 frames (for example), it's annoying to have to baby-sit the camera and stop it manually, or to do the math and figure out how many seconds total your sequence will take, convert that to minutes and seconds, and then dial that into another setting on the controller. And if you then decide to use a different interval, you get to re-do all that. Dumb, Canon.

The fact is, this device shouldn't be necessary anyway. Every camera today should come with this functionality; it's technically trivial, since every one of these digital SLRs is a computer with plenty of on-board timers and logic for this task.

This is a great accessory. It is built very well (what was that other reviewer thinking?), it does most anything that I could expect of either a remote timer, or just a simple remote shutter release, and is very easy to use. Pretty much perfect in all respects.

The one caviat is that as pointed out by other reviewers, the unit shipped by Amazon does NOT come with a USA warranty card. That means that it is the same product that is shipped with a US warranty, but if you happen to reside in the USA, you are buying it "as is". There is no warranty in the US with this product beyond the return policy of Amazon.com.

If you live outside the US, the international warranty applies, and you are covered. Considering Canon quality, and the relatively cheap price of the timer, I'm not put off by this issue, but it is worth pointing out again.

I have purchased more Canon products directly from Amazon than I can count over the years, and this is the first time that they shipped me a grey market product that wasn't clearly marked as grey market on the website. Considering similar reports from Amazon purchasers of this product in the past, there is no excuse for Amazon to continue to violate truth in advertising standards of the photo industry at this point in time.

That being said, if the warranty isn't all that important to you for an item in this price range (I kept mine), go for it. If you are offended by thinking that you are buying a product from a US retailer, and expect to find a US warranty included in the box, steer clear of Amazon when buying this product.

I have had this product for over two years and used it extensively in my travels. Yes it has shortfalls and "may" be considered expensive, but for the price it is better than some other "aftermarket" designs for other Camera makes. For amature timelapse and timed exposures it works quite well. As far as a remote for instant low light or exposure shots it is expensive, get the Canon RS-80N3 Shutter release

The biggest complaints seems to be the limited number of shots [99] in certain modes and the shortness of the connecting cable length. Using the "continous" mode I have not failed to capture timelapse photos that filled my needs.

The short connecting cable can be corrected by purchasing the Canon ET-1000N3 extension cable [33 ft]. Now that at $2.50+ a foot, is expensive! But in my persuit of remote control capability a must have.

Battery life is fantastic, thousands of shots and still going strong. Of course like camera battery a spare is a blessing [and in this case cheap].

I think it is a good accessory, if you enjoy time lapse and have spent the money for one of the new EOS cam's then the price is comparable to your continuing outlay for your hobby.

A "gadgeteers must"..

Too each their own, that is what supports "Horse Races". Enjoy

I'm probably not saying anything new here... but it works as advertised, and would have gotten 5 stars if it weren't so overpriced. And good luck if you want to buy the even more overpriced cable extension. Once you figure out how to use it, (the rotating wheel is also a clickable button), it's easy enough to work. And for the fools that are complaining about how you can't turn it off... you don't need to, it's like a digital watch, it stays on for like 3 years. Oh, and you can do infinite captures, you just have to set the count to "00"... not sure why they don't advertise that or explain it in the manual.

This is a great product in all respects. After reading the product reviews, especially those that addressed the warranty I contacted Canon Customer Service regarding this issue. To quote Canon "This remote does not carry a warranty". Accordingly I don't believe Amazon did anything underhanded and it is not a grey market product. I have purchased a number of small and relatively inexpensive Canon accessory products and none of them has come with a Warranty Card. It appears this remote falls into the same category.