Remote Shutter Releases allow you to take photographs using a remote control, freeing you from having to physically press down the shutter.

There are a lot of reasons why a photographer might need a remote shutter release system for their camera. Self-portraits and family photographs, wildlife or bird photography, and landscape or urban photography requiring long exposure times (a remote release will eliminate camera shake from pressing the actual shutter) are all popular uses. Other examples might be wing-mounted aerial photography, automotive photography, and candid or street photography. A remote release will allow you to shoot a subject with multiple cameras as well – one manual, one controlled via wireless remote.

Pictosnap might make one of the best – but little-known - wireless camera remote systems short of much more expensive options like Pocket Wizards. Unlike most other releases in this price range, the camera release uses radio waves, giving it a range of 300 feet and no line of sight requirement – solving the big problems with IR remotes. For instance, Canon’s RC-1 remote costs about $25, but has a dismal 16 foot range and requires line of sight, making it only useful for a very limited array of situations.

Pictosnap makes their release available with three different connectors, compatible with a huge range of Canon and Nikon cameras.

The Wireless Remote Release System

The wireless remote camera release is made up of two elements – a remote control and a receiver:

The Pictosnap Remote Shutter Release System

The remote control is small, allowing it to be easily concealed in-hand for self-portraits. A sliding cover reveals the red shutter release button, keeping it clean in outdoor, travel, or environmental situations.

The receiver unit plus directly into your camera, and the designers have thoughtfully included a Velcro strap to tether the unit to a tripod or nearby object (you do not want it hanging from the camera input – this will likely cause damage to both plug and camera.) A switch on top of the receiver turns the unit on and off (it’s easy to forget to switch this back to “off” when you’re done – I have done this and found the battery dead when I tried to use it again.)

The receiver takes 9-volt batteries, which are much easier to find than batteries used by other remote releases, like the CR-2.

Use and Performance

Using Pictosnap is easy. You plug the receiver into your camera, tether it to something using the velcro strap, and flip the "on" switch. That's it - now step away and hit the red button on the remote to start firing frames.

Pictosnap will even focus the camera for you. If your camera is set on auto-focus, pressing the button on the Pictosnap remote causes the camera first to auto-focus, then to snap the shutter. With the camera set on manual focus, Pictosnap will just fire off frames without re-focusing.

There's very little lag time taking a picture – pushing the button takes a picture virtually immediately. However, multiple frames seem to shoot at just about one every 1-2 seconds. It isn’t responsive enough to fire off frames in rapid succession.

The manufacturers claim a 300ft range. I haven't used it at this distance, so I can't validate the claim. I have however, shot photographs from over 100ft. away, with no problems, which already puts it far beyond the capabilities of similar products by Canon and Nikon.

Because Pictosnap is a radio system, it can also work through walls and other obstacles. Extremely helpful in many cases, but it will significantly cut down on effective range.

Price and Compatibility

Pictosnap makes three versions of their remote camera release - all identical except for the plug.

The PictoSnap 2.5mm version works with

• Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Digital Rebel XT, XTi, XSi (EOS 300D, 350D, 400D, 450D)
• EOS Elan II/IIE
• Elan 7/7E
• Rebel Ti/2000/G/GII/X/XS, IX/IX Lite.
• Other Canon cameras featuring the 2.5mm stereo plug remote interface

The PictoSnap P3 version works with

• Canon EOS 40D/30D/20D/10D/D60/D30
• Canon 1D/1Ds/5D
• Other Canon cameras featuring a 3-pin remote interface

The PictoSnap N10 version works with

• Nikon D100/D200
• Nikon D1/D1H/D1X/D2/D2H/D2X
• Nikon F6/F5/F100/F90/F90X
• Kodak DSC-14n
• Other Nikon cameras featuring a 10-pin remote interface

I'm curious as to why Pictosnap decided on separate units instead of one unit with exchangeable plugs, an approach that would give Pictosnap a lot more flexibility. If I upgrade to a Canon 5D MkII I'm going to have to buy a whole new unit.

All three models are $95. Shipping is a pretty outrageous $10, bringing the total cost of the remote to $105 if you’re in the US. International buyers will need to plunk down $25 to have the Pictosnap shipped to them. Customer service is responsive, though – you’ll generally get an answer to sales- or product-related questions within a few hours.

I believe the only place to get a Pictosnap wireless camera release is to order it from www.pictosnap.com.

Conclusions

While professional photographers working on critical, high-profile projects will want more flexible, powerful, or dependable products, Pictosnap is a great choice for more casual uses, amateurs, or working photographers on a budget. I've used it on trips to China and Japan, for studio work, for long exposures and self-portraits, and I've had great results.

Pros:

• Massive range + no line of sight requirement
• Able to work in auto-focus and manual focus.
• Plug and Play
• 9-volt battery is great - try finding a CR-2 or some other specialty battery in Fenghuang or San Pedro de Atacama

Cons:

• Could be more responsive when firing shots in very rapid succession
• A connector instead of different units for different cameras would make this system far more flexible
• Carrying one of these in your bag can sometimes make getting through airport security an ordeal.