Shutter release hack steals guts from hands-free phone kit

Resourceful hacker Eagleapex has swiped the innards of a hands-free headset -- or, more specifically, the 3/32-inch plug and its wire, which lets him plug into his Pentax DSLR. He tossed in a couple of buttons and a little switch, crammed it all into a 35mm film canister (oh the irony) and now he's got himself a cable shutter release for snapping long exposure HDR pics and the like without jostling the camera. He based the hack on a similar -- if fancier -- one for a Canon DSLR, which you might want to peep if your camera be of that breed.

[Via Make]

Read - Pentax hack
Read - Canon hack

[Mike @ Mar 20th 2007 8:44AM]

There are many times I wish I had a remote shutter button for my camera. Really far zoomed in, long exposure shots, etc. Don't think I can use this on my Kodak though. heh.

[Dance for joy @ Mar 20th 2007 9:19AM]

Why use a $10 handfree kit instead of buying a plug for less than $2? The irony of it all is that he says he wanted to keep the project cost to a minimum.

[NarfPointZort @ Mar 20th 2007 9:38AM]

My thoughts exactly. Sure, it might be a little interesting. But its impractical, relatively expensive, and rather stupid.

[t-bone @ Mar 20th 2007 10:35AM]

Even if he did spend $8 more than he had to he probably saved at least $20 by making the shutter release himself.

[Del33t @ Mar 21st 2007 4:56AM]

$2.00 cannot pay for the (learning) experience and enjoyment some have in doing these projects.

[LT @ Mar 20th 2007 10:00AM]

Chances are he already had the hands-free kit and wasn't using it, hence the wilingness to rend it.

[Ken @ Mar 20th 2007 10:16AM]

"hence the wilingness to rend it."

Doth shall rue the day thou were willing to render thy kit asunder!

("rend it" ...what's with the big vocab words on engadget? :)

[Evil Closet Monkey @ Mar 20th 2007 10:33AM]

Best take all those photos locally -- airport security would have their rubber gloves on before you knew what was happening if you put that in your carry-on.

[Luke @ Mar 20th 2007 10:36AM]

Pretty cool, too bad the Canon version won't work with the D10.

[John Doe @ Mar 20th 2007 11:26AM]

Hmmm wonder what would happen if he walked through security with that.
"Sir please empty your pockets."

o.O

[sabih @ Mar 20th 2007 11:30AM]

this is old news, people have been doing this for a while with the canon cameras. the best is custom molding with epoxy the 3 prong connector of the 20d.

[Scott K @ Mar 20th 2007 4:38PM]

I've done this 3 years back when I first got my Canon 300D. All it took was a $2.00 hands-free kit from the local dollar store and a wiring rearrangement that took about 10 seconds.

[Matt Sandy @ Mar 20th 2007 5:38PM]

The Pentax k100d has a built in infrared sensor, just thought that should be said.