My Canon TC-80N3 Timer Remote review consists of a few things. If you’re looking to use a tripod for landscape photography and need something that will give you much better control with your bracketing or intervalometer functioning, then this bad boy will give you uninterrupted results. If you’re often out in the landscape, running timelapse or astrophotography than it’s worth getting to know this invaluable accessory.
It took me some time to work out why this remote is so strong. First of all, I used to get really hung up that there were no timelapse features built directly into the Canon hardware or firmware. This is still quite limiting, however for a business to introduce extra products and accessories to counter this is typical. On a consumer level you have to learn to love these products for what they are because if you go Canon, this is the only brand name option worth considering.
The remote onscreen display and simplisitc button aragment for one hand use.
Let’s start with a short break down of the features. Bracketing, Intervalometer, Long-Exposure Timer and Self-Timer. I have a couple of main purposes here, the bracketing and time-lapse features specifically. So in this review, I’ll be talking more particularly about these two. First off, self-timer is pretty straightforward, it works like any other shutter timer that’s already built into most DSLR cameras. Set the time you want to trigger an image, usually in seconds, minutes or hours. Nothing groundbreaking here.
Moving right along. For those of you interested in product photography, landscape or architecture, this remote does exactly what it says it does. For bracketing, I have had the least amount of luck, it does work well, however, I rather key in my intervals of images than letting the camera take control. It does have some benefits when you are working within a smaller bracket of time, but for the most part, I allow the time so I can bracket the images I want to include. Experiment with this and you’ll come up with some very interesting results.
An arangement of what to expect straight out of the box.
As for the intervalometer mixed with long exposure settings, I am really impressed with how it weighs up against other remotes of a similar price point and feature offering. I have never replaced the battery, which really is just the same battery you use in a standard watch, so the chances of it dying are slim. The battery is rated to last up to 3 years, and so far mine has last 7. I would say that while I write this article, I'm thinking about getting a backup!
Canon has developed a strong and sturdy locking system for the remote trigger. I am wrapped by this because I have had many cables in the past that do ware thin at the connection point. There is nothing worse than having to use some tape to keep cords plugged incorrectly.
A detail of the connection mechanism
One thing I have been disappointed about this remote is that there is no way out of the box to attached the remote directly to a tripod. In my mind, you would rarely use this device without using a tripod, so it’s hard for me to understand why I would have it hanging from the side of my camera blowing in the wind. So I go a few velcro straps from my local hardware store to fasten it to the leg of the device. Some will say that it might rattle around and cause the tripod to move, however I beg to differ. I will post a photo of it here soon.
I have included a list of additional features and summary of features you might be interested in;
Remote Shutter Release - Handy for many different reasons as you can imagine.
Interval Timer - The simplest function for perfect timelapse movies.
Exposure Count Setting - An easy way to keep track of how many frames you’ve captured
LCD Display with Backlighting - Really good at night, really bright and responsive
Enter Settings with a Single Thumb - Super smooth and easy control, I can’t see how anything could be any simpler.
I have had a lot of fun using this simple device over the years, it has helped me on many occasions, especially when I use multiple cameras at once. Automation has allowing me to walk away and let a timelapse roll even while I’ve been sleeping during the night. There really are unlimited possibilities when you take control of how you utilise time in photography. So experiment with different ways of working with time and light to uncover your own breath taking views.
I hope you enjoyed this article. The links in this article are linked to Amazon, any purchase you make behind this wall goes toward supporting me and my work. You can see what else is in my bag here to find other products I use on a daily basis. Thanks, Tim.