Customer Reviews

Wireless Remote Shutter Release For Canon EOS 40D and 50D SLR Digital Cameras

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I use this product with a Canon EOS 40D. I normally buy nothing but Canon made accessories but I don't need a wireless remote shutter that often and decided to try a less expensive alternative. It was a good decision. The Vivitar unit works just as it is supposed to do and provides all the shutter functionality in a remote unit without the wires. I haven't tested the range since I'm usually within 20 feet of the camera so I can't comment on that particular feature; but, for my purposes I'm very pleased with the unit.

An external shutter release is virtually essential for several reasons, starting with sharpness.

Cable or wireless? Why NOT wireless? Expense? I tried the Opteka cable release for the 40D and had the same experience as others. Sure, it's far cheaper. Mine (like others') didn't work.

Vivitar offers this transmitter / receiver combination at a reasonable and attractive price (only 4 are available as I write, so I'm glad I acted).

It arrived quickly. I excitedly read the brief but clear instructions, set it up on my 40D, and it didn't work.

But THAT can't be because it's Vivitar.

Turns out, as the instructions make clear, your transmitter and receiver are supposed to be in synch when they leave the factory. But sometimes they're not. If you're having trouble, just re-synch. They show you how. Takes about 10 seconds.

And, naturally, the Vivitar wireless remote shutter release works flawlessly in one-shot mode, 2-second delay, or continuous (either triggered instantly directly from the transmitter or manually on the camera).

I'm going to be using this a LOT. Even MORE, I suspect, than just with standard tripod shots: I got a Gorillapod Zoom to go along with this Vivitar wireless release -- for much easier rapid "tripod" setups in the field.

And since Gorillapods work equally well as lightstands for placing master / slave Speedlights, I'll be getting another couple of those.

The great thing? With Amazon policies and security and products, you really can't beat the deal.

I've saved nearly $2,000 on purchases for this one camera system over the past two years. That's no joke.

Remote was priced right and arrived in no time. A quick read of the instructions and I'm now using the remote nonstop with my 50D. Compact size means easy to transport too -- doesn't take up room in the camera bag. I definitely recommend this for anyone looking to get an affordable wireless remote.

I owned a Satechi WR-A100 WR-A100 Wireless High Quality Remote Switch for Canon EOS-1V/1VHS, EOS-3, EOS-D2000, D30, D60, 1D, 1Ds, EOS-1D Mark II,III, EOS-1Ds Mark II,III, EOS-10D, 20D, 30D,40D, 50D, 5D, 7D Fully Compatible with RS-80N3 but for some reasons, it crapped out on me so I decided to give this Vivitar a try. The first one I received did not work. It was likely that there was a loose connection inside, causing the transmitter to function on very rare occasions. Before sending it back, I pressed hard on the middle of the transmitter and that finally enabled it to work, until I stopped pressing. The Vivitar's is quite small, only about 1/3 the size of my previous WR-A100. Being able to attach the receiver to the hotshoe is useful instead of letting it dangling, potentially causing camera movements. The button designs on the Vivitar's are logical, as oppose to the awkward shutter release button location on the WR-A100. The Vivitar's has more features, such as two second delay, than the WR-A100 and is also cheaper. The Vivitar's receiver works on CR2 3V battery and does not have an auto off feature. I've drained the battery on the WR-A100 many times by forgetting to turn it off; fortunately, the WR-A100's battery was rechargeable. Like the WR-A100, the Vivitar's connection to camera design doesn't allow it to "click" into the camera's remote terminal; what this means is that you really don't know if the remote has made contact with the camera's remote terminal unless you pushed it in hard. Canon's remote terminal is designed such that when their remote is plugged in, it snaps into place; Vivitar could have easily included this feature. Finally, it's quite odd that Vivitar specifically market this remote to 40D and 50D users as the connections are the same on the more expensive DSLRs.

I looked around for quite a while reading various reviews and looking at different remote shutter releases for my Canon 40D. In the final analysis, I decided on this Vivitar wireless model. When it arrived, I was quite surprised at a couple things. First, it is a lot smaller than I had expected. I anticipated something a little more substantial in physical dimensions. Don't misunderstand the intent of my statement-small is great! Here are some rough dimensions to help understand the scale of the devices. (I uploaded a few pictures that may also help with the scale of this product.)

Receiver: 2-3/8" L x 1-1/2" W x 1-1/8" H including mount -or- about 3/4" H not including mount. (Mount is not removable.)

Transmitter: 3-1/2" L (including retracted antenna) x 1" W x ½" H (thickness). Antenna extends about 4-3/4".

Lanyard is about 7-1/2" long. Chain with clip adds almost 3".

I like the fact that the transmitter has a two stage button. Push it half way to have the auto-focus on the camera engage. (The half-way point has a tactile feel.) At the half-way point, the LED turns green. Press the remote release button all the way down to release the shutter. When you fully press the button on the transmitter, the LED turns red signaling the device is busy and the shutter has been released. What happens with the camera depends on how you have the transmitter and the camera set. You may have a two-second delay, a single picture release-if your camera is set on single picture-and a set of five pictures. I typically set my camera for high speed shutter releases and the remote on single picture. When I hold the button down on the remote, it is like holding the camera's shutter release down. Nice!

One thing I had not read about in other reviews is that there is a lanyard included for the remote transmitter. I put the lanyard on the remote and added the small chain and clip to it using the split ring included on the end of the chain. It made this remote convenient to clip to a belt loop and stick in my pocket. That's a nice touch.

I've only had this remote shutter release for a short while but it works great as either a wireless transmitter with receiver or as a wired release, should you desire that option. There IS a bulb setting on the transmitter but it does NOT have a timer incorporated in it (other than the two-second delayed shutter release. If you are looking for an intervalometer or a release that can function for time-lapse photography, look elsewhere.

I'd buy this again in a heartbeat. Great job, Vivitar!

Great little gadget. Allows focus and trigger on 2 step button. Great range. Just plug it in and it extends your shutter release button to anywhere nearby. No setup, no menus, no fuss.

Just wanted to put a review to help other EOS 60D owners who might assume, like I did, that since this works with 40D and 50D that it will work with their 60D too... :-) It doesn't. The 40D and 50D use a mostly square three-pin remote connector, the 60D has a headphone-jack connector instead.

I did get this one for my cano40D by accident when i was at fry's, while i don't have any issues using it out of the box but then i realized they have thesame socket with my old wired that i was using before and also work on my 7D. Sure enough when i tried it with my Canon 7D... All just work together, i was surprised. Highly recommended.

Having read that some other wireless shutter release systems were slow or lacked good operational distance, this Vivitar system gets high praise. There is a very small manual included, I really suggest reading it. For a while I thought the shutter was sticking on long press of the remote, but it's a feature for continuous frame shooting (see below - under cons)

The packaging does mention that the remote works with the 40D and 50D but it works well with my 7D and 5D Mark II. I believe the reason why other Canon cameras aren't mentioned is because this remote will NOT trigger video. Pressing the shutter release in video mode with the 5D or 7D simply takes a picture.

There is a Bulb mode on the remote, which I have no current use for and have not tested.

The construction is plastic but feels solid and comes with strap for the receiver and key chain ring/chain for the remote. The old school telescoping metal antenna is something to be very careful with.

The Pros

There is virtually no lag from remote to receiver

Half depress focus works as it should - full press takes the shot. Holding down the shutter takes the burst rate of the camera. The LED diodes are a great assist for focus (green) and shutter release (red)

The 2 Second delay feature on the remote is a nice option

So far I've used it at a distance of 25 feet without no issues

The Cons

There's a feature of holding the remotes shutter release till the red led turns off (roughly 2 seconds). The camera will go into a continuous frame shooting until the remotes shutter release is depressed again. The only problem is that this doesn't always disengage the camera. You can keep pressing to hope to stop it or detach the receiver from the camera. I keep in mind I'm using this on the 7D and 5D MII - cameras not listed supported by this device.

Conclusion

I'm giving this a 4 star for 7D and 5D users. The only real issue is the occasional sticking shutter on a long press of the remote shutter. If you just need a single frame or quick burst, it's hard not to suggest this unit.

I primarily purchased this from Vivitar because they have had a good reputation in products and Canon's price for the same is way out of line.

After trying the product as soon as I received it, it works very well from the short distance I used it at. I will test further range soon. I gave 4 stars because when using the Canon 40d set on continuous shooting the product will take 2 shoots back to back, you must first change camera setting to single shot.

Other than that, so far it's working great at a price that one can live with