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Pentax CS-205 Wired Remote

Reviews Views Date of last review
8 16,055 Mon July 17, 2023
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
88% of reviewers $27.37 8.75
Pentax CS-205 Wired Remote

Pentax CS-205 Wired Remote
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Pentax CS-205 Wired Remote
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Description:
Cable release for most Pentax DSLRs: the Pentax *ist D series, K100D series, K10D, K20D, K200D, K-7, K-5 series, K-3 series, K-1, 645D, 645Z, K-30, K-50, K-500, K-S1, K-S2, and K-01 (as of 2016).

Two stage button with slide lock for bulb operation

1.5ft cable length

Standard 2.5mm stereo connector

Not compatible with the Pentax K-70 (see CS-310).

Not usable with the K-m, K-x, or K-r (these cameras have no remote connector).
In Production: Buy the Pentax CS-205 Wired Remote
Price History:



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Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-8 of 8
Senior Member

Registered: April, 2014
Posts: 136
Review Date: July 17, 2023 Not Recommended | Price: $10.00 | Rating: 4 

 
Pros: Works properly with my Pentax camera, does not need batteries.
Cons: Excessively short cable. Over-priced (if new) cheaply made item that should sell for $10 — or $15 at most.

Because I bought mine used I paid about what they should cost new. The excessively short cable is absurd, the construction is cheap and there really is no excuse for the standard retail prices for these.

It does work, and it works well, though it feels nasty and cheap in use — and yes, the one I have is the real thing, not a cheap imitation. A cheap imitation would probably be better made. I will probably be seeking a third party alternative for this, or I may just buy the parts and make one. I will try it for a while longer and see if I can tolerate it, just to avoid wasting money, but I could make a better one-off item from $25 worth of parts easily found on eBay.

Not an item worthy of Pentax, I must say.
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2019
Posts: 1
Review Date: March 20, 2023 Recommended | Price: $29.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Works well
Cons:

Works well with my three Pentax DSLRs: 645D, K-1, K-3.

These days, however, I seldom use it as I prefer the freedom given by using a cordless release, in my case a generic Chinese-made transmitter and receiver set bought for around $30-00 from Amazon.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: April, 2015
Posts: 3,505
Review Date: December 9, 2022 Recommended | Price: $12.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: can be changed to CS301 with 3,5mm stereo jack
Cons: none

The CS205 can be used for the Pentax KP, K-70 and KF if one replaces it's


"standard 2,5mm stereo male connector"


against a


3.5mm standard stereo male connector (jack).

Then it works like a CS310 (but can't be used on all the other Pentax bodies anymore which require the 2,5mm jack)

Another very simple possibility is just to use an adapter: In 2,5mm, Out 3,5mm.

A but bulky...there are those having a short cable as well... then it fits a bit nicer.

Very cheap to be found. Just don't mix up plus and minus. If unclear, you need to measure it.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 8,085
Review Date: December 18, 2020 Recommended | Price: $49.95 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Phono plug style connector.
Cons: Cable could be a bit longer.

The “Cable Switch CS-205” (0.5 meter) was originally introduced for the Pentax MZ-L/MZ-6/ZX-L film camera. It also works on the *ist Series film/digital cameras and some newer DSLRs. I bought the CS-205 cable switch to use with my Pentax *ist film camera.

Pentax finally standardized on the CS-205 cable switch after going through “Cable Switch F” that worked on the SF Series, Z/PZ Series, 645N and some MZ/ZX series film bodies. (Not the MZ-S or MZ-L/MZ-6/ZX-L) and cable switch “CS105/130” that only worked on two cameras, the MZ-S and 645NII!

The phono plug style connector is better than the above older cable switch connectors, as you can insert it into the camera in any orientation.

The CS-205 cable switch is pretty basic, one press activates the meter/autofocus (if you are using AF) and a second press trips the cameras shutter. You push up the button to lock the shutter open for long exposures. (Bulb)

There is a slot on the cable switch that holds the plastic cap that covers the port on the camera, so it doesn’t get lost when the cable release is in use.

I bought my cable switch CS-205 online and it was new. I paid $49.95 USD.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: July, 2020
Posts: 131
Review Date: August 18, 2020 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: works with most Pentax digital cameras; works well
Cons: cable too short; price; plastic casing instead of rubberized casing; doesn't work with KP or K70 cameras

I learned the hard way, when B&H said the CS-310 cable switch works with "most Pentax DSLRs" and bought it before learning in person that the CS-310 does not work with my K10D (and learned after looking more deeply that it only works with the KP and K70 cameras). The CS-205 evidently works with all other Pentax digital cameras, including the K-1. (Oh, B&H has changed their blurb now on the CS-310, and they kindly exchanged the CS-310 for the CS-205 when I pointed out their faulty advertising, but it was a pain; I lost two weeks of active use where I needed the cable switch.) And in all the online blurbs on these cameras at the Ricoh and Pentax Forums webpages, there is nothing saying what I have just stated. The Ricoh owner manual for KP camera says it uses the CS-310, but the owner manual for the K-1 does not say which cable switch it uses; I am assuming it uses the CS-205 (I think I saw this somewhere online but can't find it now). I'm about to get the K-1 and will update this comment if somebody else hasn't done so first. Why is it so hard to find out this kind of information? What the heck, Pentax?

As for the CS-205, it works fine on my K10D and my K-3 II, but it's a very awkward port on the K10D and not the easiest to insert the plug into the port. Bad design. But it works well aside from the bad port design on my K10D, and it hasn't fallen out in lots of use (I use it for astrophotography with long exposures). The port on the K-3 II is better, though the rubber door is a pain to deal with (this has nothing to do with the cable, of course). And I would prefer that the cable length be 2-3 times what it is, for more flexibility, and I'd prefer that the casing be rubberized instead of hard plastic, so it is less worrisome in hitting (and making loud sounds) when accidentally hitting my tripod while dangling in the dark.

As for people getting non-Pentax cable switches, fine; I prefer to get Pentax stuff for Pentax cameras (incl. lenses; my Sigmas have good glass but just don't work as well with my cameras as the Pentax lenses do). And remote switches aren't for me because of the astrophotography. But this is too expensive (new) for what you get; it should be more like $30, in my opinion. Make the casing a more sturdy rubber and double the cable length, and I'll be fine with paying $50 (and I'd upgrade my rating to a 9 or 10). Oh, and having a nice pouch to hold this cable release would be very practical and useful.
   
PEG Moderator

Registered: August, 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Posts: 57,759
Review Date: May 15, 2019 Recommended | Price: $25.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Does exactly what it supposed to... fires the shutter
Cons: None for me

Ricoh Pt No 37248

Using either my tripod or the Platypod with a ballhead on, more and more recently.

But believe it or not... here in Scotland we've had a few brighter days recently, where the usual infrared trigger (Pentax Remote Control F) has become a bit hit or miss, even with its new battery, purely due to bright conditions.

So I managed to pick up of these secondhand this morning, from my only local camera store (Ffordes). For just £20.00, the normal new UK retail price is £30.00, so a happy bunny and lets be honest... it is just a switch.

As luck would have it, the socket for this on K1, is on the righthand side when viewed from behind the camera, so my universal RRS L-Bracket does not block access to it.
   
Closed Account

Registered: March, 2015
Posts: 8,694
Review Date: April 12, 2016 Recommended | Price: $35.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Reliable, no batteries needed
Cons: A little expensive, short cord length

This Pentax wired remote control is well made and is much better quality than the cheap alternatives. The button has good sensitivity and I find half pressing it to achieve focus makes me more connected to the camera than the IR remotes. Both types of remote are good and have there advantages and disadvantages.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2010
Location: Somewhere in the Southern US
Posts: 12,285

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 4, 2012 Recommended | Price: $8.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Works well, simple design, common connector
Cons: short cable, expensive for what it is

One of the advantages of this wired remote over the IR remote is that you do not have to initialize it in the menus for it to work. Another is that it drains no power because nothing new has to be turned on in the camera.

It lists for something like $25 but several sellers were cleaning them out recently and I got mine for $8 shipped

It works a treat with my K-5 (some had questioned if this older accessory would work with the K-5/7 series).

I don't like the short length of the cable but it can be extended by getting a standard stereo cable like those used for headphones and it works great. I've used the cable release with the extension a couple of times and it works great. Any 3.5mm M/F stereo line cable / mp3 extension cable will work to extend this release.
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