| Author: | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: September, 2016 Location: Central Iowa, USA Posts: 173 | | Review Date: May 11, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small, reputable brand, good design, battery user-changable (requires small screwdriver) | | Cons: | Small | |
I bought a new Pentax camera and - as I often shoot from a tripod - needed to get a remote for it.
I checked the 'usual suspects' vendors for remotes - photo retailers and an online retailer, and saw the usual 'off-brand' remotes for sale... I already have two of those, each requiring a different kind of battery. Pentax also sells a remote - but the battery supposedly isn't user replacable. Groan.
I've always liked the design of the (now discontinued) Remote Control F - the battery it uses has a long shelf life, and the activation button is located in a recessed area of the control, so it wouldn't be easy to accidentially press the activation button while its stored in a camera bag.
I stumbled some NOS (New, Old Stock) Remote Fs for sale on an auction site, and decided to standardize my remotes on the Remote Control F. All three units I bought worked when I took them out of their factory packaging, but just to be safe, I replaced the batteries with fresh ones. With the right screwdriver (a really small phillips) it takes less than a minute to do. All work fine. There is an article on Pentax Forums that shows how to change the battery in a Remote Control F.
My previous remotes were a mixed bag - different vendors, different batteries, wildly different form factors, and both were much larger than the Remote Control Fs. I've had to replace batteries in both of my off-brand remotes, and never really trusted either of them. I wasn't looking forward to have to worry about another off brand unit - which would probably take yet another size of battery.
Yes, the Remote Control F is a small unit. If you're careless with it, you're gonna lose it. On the other hand, because it's small it doesn't take up much room in your camera bag. I store my Fs in a pocket in the tops of my camera bags - this is a thin flat area which suits the Remote Control F form factor and there isn't anything I keep in the tops of my bags that is gonna push the activation button.
Range of a remote isn't a big issue for me - I'm normally standing close to my tripod when I fire the remote. When I took the units out of their factory packaging, I tried them indoors - with their old batteries - from ranges of 8-12 feet. They worked fine. I understand that an outdoor test in bright sunlight might be a tougher test, but the Remote Control Fs have a reputation as a good design, and I was just testing to make sure that the units worked at all.
I've been using the Remote Control Fs for about a month now. I like the size and the quality of the Remote Control F. I'm only sorry I didn't go with them earlier.
| | | | | | | Closed Account Registered: March, 2015 Posts: 8,694 | | Review Date: April 12, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Good distance from camera, very easy to use, excellent battery life | | Cons: | None | |
This very basic IR control does its job well. My K-3 has front and rear IR sensors, so using this remote makes photographing in some situations very easy. Setting the 2 second or 12 second timer allows for the photographer to be in the shot as well without rushing to make it into the frame. I highly recommend this unit.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107 | | Review Date: January 25, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $13.99
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small, inexpensive, works like it should and as expected | | Cons: | | |
I love this little IR remote. Makes shooting from a distance a breeze as well as self pics. Bulb mode is no problem since you can lock the button down. it is very small, about the width of two pieces of gum and the thickness of two Quarters/euro coins stacked. I keep mine it it's box when not in use so it's easy to identify and find in my camera bag. A must have accessory in my opinion. I got mine for a nice price too! Fits inside a camera battery grip too!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 4,461 | | Review Date: December 18, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Works well | | Cons: | none | |
Not a great deal to add to the above save to say it is a handy gadget to have in your bag or in the battery BG-2 grip slot. Sadly, I seem to have paid a lot more for this item than everyone else. | | | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Dayton Posts: 24 | | Review Date: December 17, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | compact | | Cons: | no carrying case | |
This was my first experience with a wireless remote for my Pentax Kx. I could not be happier with it! With past cameras I had a wire, which I trusted to actually take the picture, but it does limit you quite a bit on where you stand, how you stand and...there's normally a wire in the picture if you wanted to BE in the picture...photoshop anyone?
I recieved this remote as a gift and the first real experience I had with it was on my honeymoon. We went to the Dominican Republic, where they have outstanding sunrises...at oh, 5:30 in the morning. My wonderful husband was a sport and came out one morning with me, but the other two I was on my own. The sunrises were so awesome that I, too, wanted to be in the action! I setup the tripod and camera and wandered down the deserted beach about 20' to start snapping with the remote. It shot great from any distance and really any angle, which I found very surprising.
One morning I did get caught in a downpour and while the remote is easy to hide, I was not awake enough to have the sense to hide it from the rain! It did very well! I don't know how weather resistant it's supposed to be, but it seems with quite a bit of Pentax gear, it holds up well against the elements.
It would be really nice to have some kind of little holster for this, that is specifically designed for the remote (not something I fudged!)
I also love the auto-focusing feature that the camera and remote have together. I never would have been able to capture some of those shots without it.
In a nutshell-this is the best remote! I wish I had more opportunties to use it! Guess I'll have to invent some...
 | | | | | PEG Moderator Registered: August, 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Posts: 57,818 | | Review Date: July 4, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Does what you expect | | Cons: | None, that I've found | |
Two quick adds to the above reviews when using with K10Ds & K20Ds.
The remote operates the camera from both in front and behind up to the remote range limit. 
It also fits neatly inside the camera grip (BG-2) which makes it much easier and quicker to find when needed, rather than the bottom of the Crumpler. 
Stop Press Update (17th April 2019)
You can actually change the battery in this unit yourself, just three wee screws, a button cell (CR1620, 3 V, Lithium, 70 mAh, Flat Top, 16 mm, @ £1.00 or so), just note how it comes out and which way up etc, a couple of minutes to do.
My remote range has now just gone back up from a two yards to eight yards, both outside on a dull day.
Not too shabby, my first new battery since 2008, can't complain at that.  | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: September 1, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, works reliably | | Cons: | Easily lost | |
Like the small size, but that same small size (and the black color) make this unit easy to misplace. I put it in a small bag along with other similarly easily lost items. Battery life? Don't know - owned it for over five years, and still on the original cell.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Posts: 1,852 | | Review Date: July 17, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Light - Simple - Good Range | | Cons: | Sometimes it is small | |
Got mine years ago, with an MZ7 camera; works with the MZ, *st, Optios, and the DSLRs
Battery life is impressive, a small CR1620 lasted me about 15 yrs and changing it was easy
As a side note, the remote fits in the pockets of the MZ camera straps so I have colected a few straps over the years to use with the DSLR
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2011 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 817 | | Review Date: January 6, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | No wire to camera, small size | | Cons: | Sometimes have to press more than once to activate shutter | |
Works fine. Sometimes when you press button the shutter doesn't go, suspect I'm not pushing the button down far enough. Nice unit though. Use this with a K-x so it's my only choice for remote operation.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: May, 2010 Location: Hong Kong / Irvine, CA Posts: 636 | | Review Date: July 13, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | very small very compact, fits in K10D grip | | Cons: | only 1 button | |
this is so small compare to 3rd party remote.
It's a must buy if you have a Battery grip for K10D / K20D.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 17,292 | | Review Date: February 20, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Bet way to shoot with a tripod, small | | Cons: | no case to clip to camera strap | |
This is an essential piece of gear to go with a DSLR. The remote does what it is supposed to. I don't use a tripod without a remote, but you can also use it with the camera on the ground, etc. I agree with Emily above that it would be nice if it came with a little pouch that clipped to your camera strap so you would never forget it.
One thing to remember, when you get done using the remote, take the camera off of remote mode because in remote mode shake reduction is disabled. I lost a few shots by forgetting to do this.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 4 | | Review Date: December 3, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, convenient, easy to use | | Cons: | easy to lose if not careful | |
This may not exactly be something everybody has to have, but when I got my camera, it was one of the first accessories I bought. I haven't used it too much, but plan on using it alot in the future. Excellent for group shots. Very easy to use, but also easy to lose ( I stuck it in my jacket pocket and almost forgot where it was). You have to set the camera to remote mode and check the focus; that's pretty much it.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2010 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 509 | | Review Date: July 18, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 9 |
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Works great! It's nice and small, but that is both a pro and con. There's no place to store it on my Kx, so it can be easily lost.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 154 | | Review Date: June 29, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | size and simplicity | | Cons: | size (!!) (bacause you can easily loose it) | |
a great addition ... makes tripod shots, self portraits easy ... small ... which can be a draw-back if you are prone to misplacing things ... maybe a key-chain ring on it would help there ... all in all ... simple and effective ...
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Posts: 18,076 | | Review Date: August 28, 2014 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small & compact (almost too small), acceptable range | | Cons: | Single function, no lanyard loop like WR version | |
Bonjour,
A nice simple remote that goes easily into the camera bag.
Handy to have for tripod work such as macros or home-made family portraits.
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