Wireless remote from behind the camera?

[Sterling]

I bought the ML-L3 wireless remote to use with my D90 and was somewhat dismayed to find that it only works from in front of the camera. Is there a way to wirelessly activate the camera from behind it?

[OsmosisStudios]

If you can creatively bounce the signal like you would a TV remote, then there's no problem. I've used my ML-L3 indoors by bouncing it off a few walls, but it takes practice.

The D90 does support the MC-DC1, which is a wired shutter release. Useful, but not wireless.

[wulf]

How far behind? If you are looking for a way to activate the camera but avoiding the shake from pushing the physical button, you can also stand behind but hold the remote round the front (or at least to the side).

Wulf

[Sterling]

^^^Yes, that's how I've been using it to avoid camera shake.

I'm thinking more of taking shots of animals, birds, insects, etc. where it would be handy to set up the tripod and then move back out of the way. I was also shooting at dawn the other day and the only way to get my shadow out of the shot was to set the self-timer and run. A 3 foot cord doesn't really cut it for those situations. It seems like a wireless remote like this would be a no-brainer on a dSLR. Am I the only one that would find it useful?

Are there aftermarket solutions to this?

[wulf]

I find that my D40 only stays waiting for the remote control for a fairly limited amount of time. It saves the battery running out but I think it would cause lots of missed shots with wildlife (as well as losing the ability to carefully frame each shot). I think the solution to that particular problem is a longer lens!

Wulf

[Sterling]

I think the solution to that particular problem is a longer lens!

Yes, you're probably right. It's just unfortunate that you can't buy a nice long lens for the price of a small remote.

[vandergus]

You could rig up a little reflector that would redirect the light from behind the camera onto the IR sensor. All you'd need is a shiny piece of metal with the appropriate bend and connected to the camera near the tripod mount. Shouldn't be too hard to rig up.

[CaptainNH]

If you're looking for "stealth", so you can be out of the way when you take the image (I use this technique for wildlife shots), you might like to look into a pair of pocketwizards.

With the correct cable for your camera, you can use the PWs to remotely fire your camera from 1600ft away. [Plus you can obviously use them for remote flash].

I sometimes use the setup for weddings when I want a shot from the galleries, but don't have time to run up and down stairs.

[inkista]

Originally Posted by Sterling

I'm thinking more of taking shots of animals, birds, insects, etc. where it would be handy to set up the tripod and then move back out of the way.... A 3 foot cord doesn't really cut it for those situations. It seems like a wireless remote like this would be a no-brainer on a dSLR. Am I the only one that would find it useful?

Are there aftermarket solutions to this?

No, you're not the only one, and yes, there are after-market solutions, mostly radio based so that you aren't line-of-sight and range-limited as you are with infrared. Pretty much everybody that makes a flash trigger makes radio-based shutter remotes, too. And the two often converge. (From what I gather, the same signal that can fire a flash can be used to trip a shutter; it's mostly just a matter of connectors). The Yong Nuo RF-602 is gaining popularity because it works as both a flash trigger or a shutter remote. Cactus also makes radio shutter remotes. PocketWizards can be used as shutter remotes. Cybersyncs, too. I really wouldn't be surprised if someone's figured out how to do this with V4s...

[deepspring]

I have a MC-DC2 remote for working behind the camera (Nikon D5000). I use my ML-L3 wireless remote for family portraits or other shots when I'm in front of the camera.