Shutter Release

A shutter release is a device that allows you to trip the shutter of your camera without touching the camera. A shutter release device is a necessary accessory for night sky photography, landscape photography on a tripod, self-timer shots, and more.

What kinds of shutter release devices are there?

There are two types of releases for cameras: a tethered cable release and a remote shutter release.

Cable releases are still used, but they are less common with the advent of digital photography. A less expensive cable release is attached to the camera in a cable release port and is easy to use. Consider the length of the cable before purchasing to be sure it suits your needs.

The more common shutter release used today is the remote shutter release that works wirelessly with your camera. The release is connected to the camera via a receiver, and you hold the wireless remote in your hand. The remote shutter release uses a radio frequency signal or infrared technology to trigger the release of the camera shutter. The radio frequency signal trigger offers the most versatility since you can be a long distance from your camera and still fire it at will.

Why do I need a shutter release?

There are several situations when using a shutter release will be extremely helpful to let you become more creative. If you’re using a remote shutter release or cable release, you’ll want your camera mounted on a tripod.

When your camera is on a tripod and exposure times are quite long, pressing the shutter button on the camera can introduce vibrations into the camera that have an effect on image sharpness. Using a shutter release means that you do not have to touch the camera to take the photos, allowing you to capture photos with extremely long exposure times. This simple tool will instantly improve the quality of your images!

When do I need to use a shutter release?

A shutter release is ideal when shooting scenes that require a long shutter speed that cannot be handheld; when it’s important to achieve shake-free photographs and critical sharpness; when shooting macro photography and telephoto images; or, when you need distance between you and the camera.

Some situations when a Shutter Release is useful are:

• When using a telephoto lens
• Landscape photography
• Macro photography
• Shooting star trails
• Shooting multiple exposures
• Using slow shutter speeds in low light
• Using slow shutter speeds to create movement
• Shooting dangerous subjects
• Painting with light
• Capturing momentary bursts of light/fireworks
• Shooting HDR images
• Self-portraits/selfies