Any way to get my Pentax remote-controlled?

Kaiowas · 09-13-2015, 12:18 PM

Hi everyone,

currently i am on holidays in the middle of nowhere in Poland, and the Starlight is just beatiful. Unfortunately i dont have any kind of Remote control for long Bulb exposures. So i wanted to know if there is any way to cheese a remote for my Pentax k-5, any kind of trick?

I tried a Samsung App, but it needed some kind of infrared Extra to work. Second thought was to try out a TV-Controller, maybe it's infrared could trigger my cam, but no success. Lastly i got a Mecablitz 58-2 Flash but there i also couldn't find a way to trigger my camera.

If anyone has another idea i would be thankful.

best,
Kaiowas

CDW · 09-13-2015, 12:32 PM

I believe this page may be helpful:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/bulb-mode-on-a-k5-38488

vonBaloney · 09-13-2015, 12:39 PM

Some TV remotes do work, you just have to find the right code (a universal remote where you can program it for any TV is helpful) and the right button. And then you'd set the camera for 1st press down and 2nd press up for bulb mode. (You can't "hold" a button with IR remote.)

derekkite · 09-13-2015, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by Kaiowas

Hi everyone,

currently i am on holidays in the middle of nowhere in Poland, and the Starlight is just beatiful. Unfortunately i dont have any kind of Remote control for long Bulb exposures. So i wanted to know if there is any way to cheese a remote for my Pentax k-5, any kind of trick?

I tried a Samsung App, but it needed some kind of infrared Extra to work. Second thought was to try out a TV-Controller, maybe it's infrared could trigger my cam, but no success. Lastly i got a Mecablitz 58-2 Flash but there i also couldn't find a way to trigger my camera.

If anyone has another idea i would be thankful.

best,
Kaiowas

What phone do you have? Some have ir, some don't.

There are inexpensive ir triggers available, probably at a camera shop.

**UncleVanya** · 09-13-2015, 01:18 PM

Self timer is insufficient?

Wired cable remotes use a headphone jack plug. My guess is you could rig one with a small switch and headphone cable.

stevebrot · 09-13-2015, 01:28 PM

"DSLR Remote" App for Android...uses the IR blaster on most recent Android phones. Free.

Steve

DeadJohn · 09-13-2015, 01:31 PM

Originally posted by Kaiowas

...If anyone has another idea i would be thankful...

Use manual mode. You'll be limited to 30 seconds but anything much longer than that is going to cause the stars to trail, anyway. Set the shutter mode to 2-second delay to prevent vibrations from pressing the button.

If there's a local store selling Canon but not Pentax supplies, note that some Canon wired shutter release cables fit Pentax. Canon uses 2 different jack types and 1 of those is the same as Pentax.

Oldbayrunner · 09-13-2015, 01:38 PM

+1 for DSLR remote. Works with my Android phone and k5lls.

**interested_observer** · 09-13-2015, 02:04 PM - **1 Like**

Use a hat of something to cover the lens without touching it. Cover the lens, trip the shutter manually, move the hat - letting the light in. Then reverse it when you want to end the exposure - cover the lens with the hat, and trip the shutter again to close the shutter. There is an option in one of the menus to allow you to push the shutter once to open it and again to close it. Pull the camera manual on line and search for the option.

vonBaloney · 09-13-2015, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by interested_observer

Use a hat of something to cover the lens without touching it. Cover the lens, trip the shutter manually, move the hat - letting the light in. Then reverse it when you want to end the exposure - cover the lens with the hat, and trip the shutter again to close the shutter. There is an option in one of the menus to allow you to push the shutter once to open it and again to close it. Pull the camera manual on line and search for the option.

Duh. You win. The rest of us blinded by technology...

Sandy Hancock · 09-13-2015, 03:43 PM

Originally posted by interested_observer:

There is an option in one of the menus to allow you to push the shutter once to open it and again to close it. Pull the camera manual on line and search for the option.

On my K-3 and K-S2, the 7th option in the C menu is "Bulb mode options". Set that to option 2.
Then use either a hat as suggested above, or the Pentax Infra-red remote control. The latter is inexpensive, weather sealed and works well. But so is the hat I guess

**UncleVanya** · 09-13-2015, 06:00 PM

Originally posted by Oldbayrunner

+1 for DSLR remote. Works with my Android phone and k5lls.

The OP mentioned that their phone loans the ir port needed.

narual · 09-13-2015, 07:07 PM

If it helps -- Pentax uses the same wired remotes that Canon does.

Or you can just program it in interval mode. Have it take a 30 second shot every 45 seconds or something.

j0n4hpk · 09-13-2015, 07:15 PM

Try the Jue Ying Remote Control RC-4, mentioned somewhere in this website as a remote trigger. If you have other makers DSLRs or even some film SLR cameras, you will need only this one.

Kaiowas · 09-14-2015, 12:27 PM

Thanks alot for all the replies! Indeed i didn't need more than 30 Seconds Exposure, because Stars started to draw lines. Simply used 2s Delay Mode.

A bit offtopic, but as far as i know the Camera exposures a second time in Bulb Mode with closed shutter to have a "Noise Negative" and then to distract it from the real image. So i guess there is still a big plus for using Bulb Mode instead of normal Shutter Speed even if i Bulb less than 30 seconds?

09-13-2015, 12:18 PM	#1
Kaiowas New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 8	Any way to get my Pentax remote-controlled? Hi everyone, currently i am on holidays in the middle of nowhere in Poland, and the Starlight is just beatiful. Unfortunately i dont have any kind of Remote control for long Bulb exposures. So i wanted to know if there is any way to cheese a remote for my Pentax k-5, any kind of trick? I tried a Samsung App, but it needed some kind of infrared Extra to work. Second thought was to try out a TV-Controller, maybe it's infrared could trigger my cam, but no success. Lastly i got a Mecablitz 58-2 Flash but there i also couldn't find a way to trigger my camera. If anyone has another idea i would be thankful. best, Kaiowas

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09-13-2015, 12:32 PM	#2
CDW Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Location: Big Island, Hawaii & Utah Posts: 457	I believe this page may be helpful: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/bulb-mode-on-a-k5-38488

09-13-2015, 12:39 PM	#3
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Some TV remotes do work, you just have to find the right code (a universal remote where you can program it for any TV is helpful) and the right button. And then you'd set the camera for 1st press down and 2nd press up for bulb mode. (You can't "hold" a button with IR remote.)

09-13-2015, 01:09 PM	#4
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Originally posted by Kaiowas Hi everyone, currently i am on holidays in the middle of nowhere in Poland, and the Starlight is just beatiful. Unfortunately i dont have any kind of Remote control for long Bulb exposures. So i wanted to know if there is any way to cheese a remote for my Pentax k-5, any kind of trick? I tried a Samsung App, but it needed some kind of infrared Extra to work. Second thought was to try out a TV-Controller, maybe it's infrared could trigger my cam, but no success. Lastly i got a Mecablitz 58-2 Flash but there i also couldn't find a way to trigger my camera. If anyone has another idea i would be thankful. best, Kaiowas What phone do you have? Some have ir, some don't. There are inexpensive ir triggers available, probably at a camera shop.

09-13-2015, 01:18 PM	#5
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,381	Self timer is insufficient? Wired cable remotes use a headphone jack plug. My guess is you could rig one with a small switch and headphone cable.

09-13-2015, 01:28 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	"DSLR Remote" App for Android...uses the IR blaster on most recent Android phones. Free. Steve

09-13-2015, 01:31 PM	#7
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	Originally posted by Kaiowas ...If anyone has another idea i would be thankful... Use manual mode. You'll be limited to 30 seconds but anything much longer than that is going to cause the stars to trail, anyway. Set the shutter mode to 2-second delay to prevent vibrations from pressing the button. If there's a local store selling Canon but not Pentax supplies, note that some Canon wired shutter release cables fit Pentax. Canon uses 2 different jack types and 1 of those is the same as Pentax.

09-13-2015, 01:38 PM	#8
Oldbayrunner Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1,665	+1 for DSLR remote. Works with my Android phone and k5lls.

09-13-2015, 02:04 PM - 1 Like	#9
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Use a hat of something to cover the lens without touching it. Cover the lens, trip the shutter manually, move the hat - letting the light in. Then reverse it when you want to end the exposure - cover the lens with the hat, and trip the shutter again to close the shutter. There is an option in one of the menus to allow you to push the shutter once to open it and again to close it. Pull the camera manual on line and search for the option.

09-13-2015, 03:26 PM	#10
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by interested_observer Use a hat of something to cover the lens without touching it. Cover the lens, trip the shutter manually, move the hat - letting the light in. Then reverse it when you want to end the exposure - cover the lens with the hat, and trip the shutter again to close the shutter. There is an option in one of the menus to allow you to push the shutter once to open it and again to close it. Pull the camera manual on line and search for the option. Duh. You win. The rest of us blinded by technology...

09-13-2015, 03:43 PM	#11
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,267	Originally posted by interested_observer: There is an option in one of the menus to allow you to push the shutter once to open it and again to close it. Pull the camera manual on line and search for the option. On my K-3 and K-S2, the 7th option in the C menu is "Bulb mode options". Set that to option 2. Then use either a hat as suggested above, or the Pentax Infra-red remote control. The latter is inexpensive, weather sealed and works well. But so is the hat I guess

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09-13-2015, 06:00 PM	#12
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,381	Originally posted by Oldbayrunner +1 for DSLR remote. Works with my Android phone and k5lls. The OP mentioned that their phone loans the ir port needed.

09-13-2015, 07:07 PM	#13
narual Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Bend (Notre Dame), Indiana Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,988	If it helps -- Pentax uses the same wired remotes that Canon does. Or you can just program it in interval mode. Have it take a 30 second shot every 45 seconds or something.

09-13-2015, 07:15 PM	#14
j0n4hpk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 293	Try the Jue Ying Remote Control RC-4, mentioned somewhere in this website as a remote trigger. If you have other makers DSLRs or even some film SLR cameras, you will need only this one.

09-14-2015, 12:27 PM	#15
Kaiowas New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Thanks alot for all the replies! Indeed i didn't need more than 30 Seconds Exposure, because Stars started to draw lines. Simply used 2s Delay Mode. A bit offtopic, but as far as i know the Camera exposures a second time in Bulb Mode with closed shutter to have a "Noise Negative" and then to distract it from the real image. So i guess there is still a big plus for using Bulb Mode instead of normal Shutter Speed even if i Bulb less than 30 seconds?