I've just taken delivery of one of these little things:
🔗Personal-Album-2-Image-117[linkphoto]Personal-Album-2-Image-117[/linkphoto][/link]

It's an MC-DC1 remote shutter release, which I've bought to operate my D80 and make the Bulb mode a bit more usable - the D80 bulb mode required the shutter button to be depressed and when it's released, the shutter closes. Thus, unless it's remotely triggered, the presence of a finger on the button will cause enough wobbles to wreck the photo.

The remote has a handy facility in that the shutter button can be locked open, ie you don't have to stand with your finger on the button throughout a 10 minute exposure!

The alternative way of triggering the shutter is one of these:
🔗Personal-Album-2-Image-119[linkphoto]Personal-Album-2-Image-119[/linkphoto][/link]

This is an ML-L3 IR remote, as supplied with the Coolpix 8400 and compatible with most Nikon cameras.

Now then... I wonder if the wired remote can be used with the Coolpix 8400?

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Very useful bits of kit however, if you would like to go totally remote then you can. My friend in Scotland produces a range of remote triggers that use RC units. You could if you are handy with a soldering iron adapt one of these cheap toy RC controllers and put one of the "triggers" on the servo output, especially if the camera has IR. This would allow you to trigger the camera from any angle and line of sight distance from the camera.

If you have a Canon camera the whole thing can be extended by utilising CHDK. You can also make a USB shutter release for a few quid by putting a small lithium battery in a switched circuit connected to a USB plug. I've been a bit fancy with mine and put a little buzzer with it when you fire the shutter so you know its gone off.

James's site is here http://www.gentles.ltd.uk/gentled/applications.htm 

If there is enough interest in UG remote photography I am prepared to put some pages up my KAP website to show how it can be done. http://www.kap.toadstone.com/ 

Peter.

I too just got the Ml-L3 the other day, tried it doing some lightpainting night photography up on the moors and its great. I was previously stuck with 30sec max exposure but I tried 2 minute exposures and its great being able to use the Bulb setting. Got mine from Argos for about 13 quid, not bad I thought.
Next I'll get those Cactus triggers for remote flashguns :thumbup:

BTW Vanoord, are you getting hot pixels? I use a D80 too and am getting a few when exposing for 2 minutes. Wasnt sure if this is normal or if my camera is faulty.

for my 350d I use one of:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15814 
but have been looking at
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15556  for a remote. It uses RF so should work over longer distances than the IR ones.
and
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13892 
for doing time lapse and other bits.
The CDHK project is fantastic though. Lets you do a lot of cool stuff

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