I have just purchased a 2nd hand EOS 500N with 28-80 lens for 100UKP(about 155USD) and I was wondering if I needed a specific remote release or do any remote releases fit?

-- Duncan Phillips (Duncan.Phillips@ed.ac.uk), May 27, 2002

Answers

In the good old days you could use any remote release with all cameras. Nowadays however you need a special remote release for each brand. The EOS 500N uses Canon's RS-60-E3. If I'm not mistaken you can use a standard mini-jack. http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a- fetch-msg?msg_id=000ux7 has some details about how to make your own remote control.

-- Jos van Eekelen (jos@compuserve.com), May 27, 2002.

OK, I know nothing AT ALL about electronics: all you need is a regular headphone cord and a little adapter that makes the head phone cord plug into your camera.(both at electronics/hobby stores) Cut the end off the cord however far away you want your remote to be, and strip the insulation off and there will be three tiny bundles of wires. At this point, you could follow the crafty instructions on how to build a whole little remote control box...or you could just touch the wires together. If i remember, connecting all three wires releases the shutter, toucing a certain two of them does auto focus, and another pairing of two does nothing. Experiment with no film in the camera, then mark them. And you will look so hardcore using raw wires.

-- peter bg (pbartzgallag@macalester.edu), May 27, 2002.

http://www.chantalcurrid.com/remoteControl.htm

-- NK Guy (tela@tela.bc.ca), May 27, 2002.

Those "hardcore" tech-types also need to know that it is possible to damage your EOS camera if the connector disintegrates into pieces. Read the horror story on the Elan 7E group:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elan7e/message/1932

-- elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com (Julian Loke @ .), May 28, 2002.