Welcome back to Tech2 Tips where this time I’ll be taking a closer look at one of the smaller pieces of kit in my bag, which, despite its size, packs a big punch and finds a use on nearly every shoot I conduct – the MIOPS Remote Plus remote camera trigger.
So, what exactly is a remote trigger? Well. In simple terms, a remote trigger is something you use to make the camera operate without having to touch it. If you read my last article about bokeh, you’ll remember how I mentioned unintentional camera movement (UCM) as a source of blur we try to avoid. UCM - aka camera shake – occurs when we use slow shutter speeds and is most often addressed by using a tripod or some other form of support for the camera. Sometimes though, when the shutter speed is particularly low, even the tiniest movement imparted by gently pressing the shutter button can result in unacceptable blur, and, in those situations, you need something to press the button for you. Early pioneers of photography quickly developed mechanical cable releases which enabled the photographer to be “hands-off” with the camera, and these were still widely in use when I started my photographic journey in the 1970’s. Developments in technology and camera sophistication allowed these remotes to become electrical during the 1980s and eventually “wireless” thanks to infra-red technology in the 1990s, although these tended to be part of a larger camera “system” and were locked in to use on one particular brand or model of camera.
A sophisticated Canon wired remote trigger
Move on a couple of decades and third-party developers have used the advent of wifi and Bluetooth technology to create remote triggers to become ever more capable and “smarter”, controlling more camera functions with programming via mobile devices, as well as the ability to respond automatically to external stimuli such as light and sound. Even better, these triggers are not tied to one camera system, but can operate across most of the major brands by use of a dedicated cable for each system. For professionals like myself, who use different brands for different aspects of my work, this is important as it means I need only carry one remote and a couple of cables for most gigs.
Whilst there are a number of these “smart triggers” out there, the one I have chosen comes from MIOPS. I looked at a number of brands, including the Pluto and Arsenal products, but settled on MIOPS because it is part of a larger “system” itself, with other products such as rotation units (for time-lapse work) and sliders (for video or time-lapse) also available.
The MIOPS Remote Plus
MIOPS have a number of different trigger options available but I use the Remote Plus which is a compact unit that is controlled using a smartphone app. The build quality of this remote is excellent and the flexibility (with 10 different cables available allowing use on several hundred different camera models) is second to none. I have explored the full functionality of it without encountering any issues on Canon, Sony and Panasonic cameras and have achieved the desired results every time. The small size of the remote (about the size of a DSLR battery), means it is perfect to pop into even the smallest bag when packing light, but its small size is far outweighed by its capabilities.
The MIOPS Remote Plus on one of my DSLRS with the controller app on my phone
The MIOPS Remote Plus can be used for remote shooting (with basic cable-release, manual BULB, timed-release and self-timer modes), for time-lapses (and road-lapses using the GPS on your phone), for lightning photography (using the light-detect modes), and for high-speed photography scenarios using either a laser or sound trigger modes. The unit also boasts an HDR photography capability and a great little trick is the ability to use the “vibration” mode (in which the trigger responds to a shake of your mobile device) for capturing action photography because you can set the camera up and then watch the action directly (not through the viewfinder) whilst activating the camera at the optimum moment.
Personally though, more often than not, I use the trigger either as a basic cable-release (especially when shooting astro-photography to remain absolutely hands-off with camera), or in the manual BULB mode when shooting creative scenes at weddings and events, however, as you will see below, the results I have achieved from lightning photography are particularly impressive. I have also created some excellent night-lapses with the unit that you can see over on my personal Instagram channel (@mpvdave).
It does exactly what it says on the tin - triggered by lightning!
The Remote Plus has a rechargeable lithium battery (not removeable) and is charged with a USB cable provided. I find the battery life to be good but not exceptional (it will last all day from a single charge), though the battery does drain over time and you have to ensure it is fully charged before taking it out shooting. One of the things I do particularly like though, is the sophisticated, but easy to use, app that drives the remote. The trigger creates a strong and steady signal for the mobile device and works well even when your phone goes into power-save mode. Not only is the app simple and easy to use, but it also includes an extremely useful Neutral Density calculator for when using ND filters in the field and a solar calculator that shows first light, sunrise, sunset and last light for the current day and tomorrow in your current location.
The simple screen layout of the controller app
With this particular model priced at US $149 (including one cable of your choice – additional cables can be ordered for US $20 each), the MIOPS Remote Plus is very reasonably priced for its specifications and is an invaluable piece of equipment in my kit bag. I would struggle to think of a photographic genre workflow that couldn’t utilise a remote like this in some positive way because of its flexibility and small size and I make heavy use of mine on both professional assignments and personal projects. Being mostly a solo shooter, I have used my remote trigger as an assistant on location many times, capturing a second, usually wider, angle (or behind the scenes shots) remotely and allowing me to concentrate on getting closer to the action and the “money shots” I need.
With a variety of add-on kits available, including options for remotely triggering flash units, the MIOPS Remote Plus is a compact, highly versatile and sophisticated unit that offers significant workflow benefits and the ability for hands-off control of your camera in a wide range of shooting scenarios. Whilst not a good a human assistant, this little box of tricks can give you a virtual set of extra hands in the field and is highly recommended for advanced photographers looking to ease their workload and for less experienced enthusiasts wanting to capture more advanced scenes and imagery.
Next time in Tech2 Tips we take a look at one of Dave's favourite photographic techniques - contre-jour lighting...
Next time in Tech2 Tips we take a look at one of Dave's favourite photographic techniques - contre-jour lighting...
Disclosure - Dave is an ambassador for the MIOPS brand but did not receive any financial incentive for this article.