Canon RC-1 Remote Control

Kryptix

Kryptix

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Does anyone ever find this to be a proper pain?

I've got one of these, and I bought one for my girlfriend too.

Originally, mine just stopped working so I tried another set of NEW batteries. Nothing. Another new... Nothing. I then chucked both those away and tried the original batteries and it worked fine. I got the batteries out of the bin and they too worked fine. Problem over.

The other night my girlfriend couldn't get hers to work, tried the same thing and in the end dropped it onto carpet and that hasn't worked since. I can put that down to the drop (which was less than 2 foot), so fair enough.

Now tonight, I went out to get a few shots and mine isn't working. I've tried new batteries and it still isn't working.

I dare say it'll work tomorrow randomly, but I can't figure out what the problem is. The batteries are new, and they're firmly in place. I've got the camera settings correct and I've fiddled with the switch on the remote, but I'm getting absolutely nothing.

Anyone else?
 
The RC-1 uses infra red and is pretty much line of sight in normal lighting conditions. Early bodies (300, 350 and 400) only had one receiver and this was mounted to the left of the lens (looking from the front) meaning that the RC-1 would only operate when used from infront of the camera.

The device is so simple that it's hard to imagine that you have two faulty ones.

Bob
 
Total pain in the butt that thing is!

I had exactly the same problem... some days it works, some days it doesn't. Its not a battery issue either!

I replaced it with one of the radio ones from HK via ebay- much more reliable!

PS Anyone want to bung me a few quid for my RC-1? :D
 
as stated by canon bob its infared needs line of sight.

Mate had problems with his [nock off rc-1], bought a wireless one of ebay problem solved, no line of sight needed.
 
Yep! same problem with RC-1, RC-5 and 2 multi brand rc's from feebay AND one from 7dayshop.com. None of them worked correctly or worked intermitently ? (sometimes) Gone the wireless route now with THIS ONE Problems solved! I was thinking it was the camera (Canon 350d) but my mates RC works fine, well at his house it does!


I have a photographic memory that was never developed
 
Canon Bob said:
The RC-1 uses infra red and is pretty much line of sight in normal lighting conditions. Early bodies (300, 350 and 400) only had one receiver and this was mounted to the left of the lens (looking from the front) meaning that the RC-1 would only operate when used from infront of the camera.

The device is so simple that it's hard to imagine that you have two faulty ones.
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Want to take that back after reading the other replies? :)
 
Kryptix said:
Want to take that back after reading the other replies? :)
Click to expand...

Sorry, no :)

I've had a couple of them (albeit a few years back now) and used them for macro shots...they never let me down once I'd realised how directional they were.

Bob
 
You got very lucky then. I'm aware of how infra-red works... Do you really think 3 of us on this thread are randomly pointing it at the floor whilst trying to get it to work?
 
Kryptix said:
You got very lucky then. I'm aware of how infra-red works... Do you really think 3 of us on this thread are randomly pointing it at the floor whilst trying to get it to work?
Click to expand...

So you know that it has a very lmited distance and can be affected by, natural light & other sources??

I never had a problem when I used one with my 350 & 400D just make sure you are bloody close and point it straight at the senser.
 
kiteninja said:
So you know that it has a very lmited distance and can be affected by, natural light & other sources??

I never had a problem when I used one with my 350 & 400D just make sure you are bloody close and point it straight at the senser.
Click to expand...
Yep... I've used it in dark conditions before with no problems. It wouldn't work last night so I went home and tried again indoors with no luck.

I know what you're saying, but trust me, it's not me... You're lucky to not have a problem!
 
I used one with my 400D for 2 years without a hitch - as long as I had line of sight with the sensor on the camera.
 
Another here that has used an RC1 before and never had a problem.
 
Must be me then... someone else will have more luck with mine if they've got a few beers worth of cash :D
 
I had exactly the same bother with my RC1, seemed to me like it had a mind of its own and would only work as and when it felt like it :bang:
I got a cable operated jobby from Hong Kong for about 6 quid to replace it and im much happier with that
 
Should work fine... always helpful to stand a little further back I find in case you miss the first time :D
 
I just had a thought... I've never strapped it to the next support so I've put the 'clip attachment' in the original box and I only ever carry the actual remote with me. Do you think it uses batteries when it's not clipped on? I know it may sound silly, but I put fresh batteries into it last week, used it for two shots and it has been in my bag until last night. I tried and it didn't work, so I just swapped the batteries and it's working fine again now.

What are the batteries called, and does anyone know where I can order a bunch of them online? They seem to eat them!
 
Just a thought on the intermittant operation....

You realise that the RC-1 won't wake the body up if the auto shutdown has happened. If you've got the body set to "sleep" after 1 minute then your time's up and you'll need to half press the shutter to get going again.

Bob
 
They're the correct type and don't look like they'll break the bank.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
You realise that the RC-1 won't wake the body up if the auto shutdown has happened. If you've got the body set to "sleep" after 1 minute then your time's up and you'll need to half press the shutter to get going again.
Click to expand...

I don't think so Bob... when i was fannying around with it on my 350D I was checking to see what the display was saying and all sorts, including pressing the on camera shutter release to see if the whole damned thing had locked up.

Nope, it was just flat refusing to work - even when held 1cm away from the IR receiver on the camera.

But other days it would work fine.... or work fine then stop.... or never work at all.

Much too random for my liking.
 
Only issue I have had, (with my knock-off) is a problem with auto-focus (and the camera going to sleep). Switching the camera to manual focus and I get a response every time. With auto-focus on, sometimes it couldn't lock, and sometimes it didn't even look like it was trying.
I was shooting still items from a tripod so not a bother to me.
 
Canon Bob said:
Just a thought on the intermittant operation....

You realise that the RC-1 won't wake the body up if the auto shutdown has happened. If you've got the body set to "sleep" after 1 minute then your time's up and you'll need to half press the shutter to get going again.

Bob
Click to expand...
Yep.

desantnik said:
I don't think so Bob... when i was fannying around with it on my 350D I was checking to see what the display was saying and all sorts, including pressing the on camera shutter release to see if the whole damned thing had locked up.

Nope, it was just flat refusing to work - even when held 1cm away from the IR receiver on the camera.

But other days it would work fine.... or work fine then stop.... or never work at all.

Much too random for my liking.
Click to expand...
As above!
 
Still getting problems with this.

I put new batteries in it last week, used it twice (clicked the button twice), and put it in my bag until yesterday. Got it out and nothing. New batteries and it worked fine.

How on earth is it eating batteries that quick? It's like they're being used all the time...

Are you meant to switch it off anyhow?
 
Oh yeah, what's the official Canon wired remote control called? I'm gunna buy one just-in-case. It nearly cost me big time yesterday. Luckily I had spare batteries on me.
 
ebay search for a wireless 450D remote and get the one that comes with a reciever and a handheld transmitter its about £15 takes couple days to come form hong kong works from upto 100m i have one and its never failed yet :D.


Here you go EBAY LINK
 
Like a few of the others, i have never had a problem with my remote either!
 
wontolla said:
Yep! same problem with RC-1, RC-5 and 2 multi brand rc's from feebay AND one from 7dayshop.com. None of them worked correctly or worked intermitently ? (sometimes) Gone the wireless route now with THIS ONE Problems solved! I was thinking it was the camera (Canon 350d) but my mates RC works fine, well at his house it does!


I have a photographic memory that was never developed
Click to expand...


Wontolla, i am interested in getting one of these. It says on the description that it works 'upto' 100m away. What distances have you tried at? Also how does this connect to the camera? Does the camera go in to sleep mode??

Cheers.
 
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