Timed Exposure Help

[Faidoca]

Hey there,
I have a Canon Digital Rebel XSi (450D) and I've recently been playing around with night photography, particularly capturing stars. The problem I'm having is this: If I want an exposure for anything longer than 30 seconds, I have to use BULB mode. This is a problem because I have to physically hold down the shutter button until I finish my exposure. This, of course, causes camera shake because I can't stay perfectly still. Ideally, I would like to press the shutter button to start the exposure, and then again when I finish, therefore I wouldn't be continually touching the camera. Alas, I can't seem to find an option like that. My only other solution is to spend over $100 CAD for a remote switch.

Does anyone know of a way to have a timed exposure longer than 30 second where I'm not touching the camera, or am I going to have to 'bite the bullet' and fork out the $100 for a remote switch?

Thanks for any help,
- Matt

[morts]

Originally Posted by Faidoca

words...

You can buy a wireless remote for about £20. Failing that, there's a tutorial somewhere where you can easily fashion a homemade wired trigger. Google for it.

As for holding down the button... just hold it down on the remote - tape it down if you need to

[Bluenoser]

I have the cable remote, it cost me about $30. Works fine for me.

[katia]

i got a remote for about 15 bucks on ebay. it's infrared, and i'm not sure if your camera is compatable with that, but if not, i bet you could find something similar for a reasonable price too!

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by morts

As for holding down the button... just hold it down on the remote - tape it down if you need to

The appropriate Canon-brand wireless remote uses a click-start/click-stop method like the Nikons. You press it once to open the shutter and once again to close it.

[Faidoca]

Thanks for the tips guys. I forgot about eBay... there are quite a few inexpensive remotes to choose from.

Thanks Again,
-Matt

[Kn1nJa]

Thanks for the info guys! I have an XSi as well and have been looking at getting a remote, and a lot of my questions have just been answered. THANKS!

[Jamesc359]

Funny... Most of the third-party remotes on Ebay all look similar to the ones available on a cheap (dirt cheap) Asian export site. Why if I didn't know any better I'd say there's a lot of Ebay sellers buying cheap remotes from Asian and flipping them here... ¬_¬