Customer Reviews

GSI Super Quality Multi-Function Timer Remote Control Shutter for Nikon D2H, D1x, D1h, D1, D2x, D100, D200, F5, D2Xs, D3, D300, D700, F6, F100, F90, F90x - Kodak DCS-14n - Fuji Finepix S3pro, Finepix S5pro, LCD Illuminated Screen, Exceeds the Nikon MC-30

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This product does what it's supposed to do. The build quality doesn't seem great, but it doesn't seem like it's going to fall apart either. I just don't know if it will stand up to rough treatment. The shutter button is very soft, but it's still easy to distinguish between half-press (focus and meter) and full-press (shutter release). The connector is easily inserted and removed from my D200 & D700. The threaded ferrule is not easy to get started, but I rarely feel the need to secure it with the threads. The friction of the inserted connector is adequate to resist the tug of gravity and normal handling, so I only thread it if I'll be moving the camera with the release installed. I actually attribute this problem to Nikon's connector design. All my devices with this connector suffer from the same problem - including the Nikon-branded one. There just isn't enough room for adult-sized fingers to easily grasp the ferrule and screw it in.

There are two cool things about the device that I didn't know when I made the purchase. First, while the device requires two AAA batteries for the timer functions, it works as a cable release with or without the batteries. Second is that if you enable sounds on the device (optional) the unit beeps every second while the shutter button is depressed. I think this is great for trying a variety of exposures in the 2 to 30 second range, so this is how I use it most of the time. Instead of having to adjust the timer for each frame, I just hold the shutter button and count the beeps until it's time to release. It's much faster to set up, and fraction of a second errors in exposures that long rarely make any noticeable difference. I often used the "Mississippi" method of this technique with my timerless cable release with acceptable results, but the beeping timer makes it far more accurate. Of course there's nothing to stop you from doing this for even longer exposures, but I tend to lose count of the beeps.

If I have anything bad to say about it, it's that the set-up for interval shooting isn't intuitive. There are clearly written instructions included, but since I won't use this feature often enough to remember how to do it, I need to keep the instruction sheet in my bag. I have no idea if other timers are easier, and if you do interval shooting on a regular basis this shouldn't be an problem for you.

All-in-all, I'd say it's a good buy.

I shoot a D700 and the TM-8 is a nice, seemingly well made and low cost alternative to the expensive Nikon MC-36. Works well, although the set up is a bit of a challenge. I would prefer a simpler unit to set in the dark, but there are workarounds. I wish the connector was a push in type, the Nikon 10 pin on three of my cameras are very hard to get threaded. Anyway, a decent unit...