what exactly does a self-timer do?

[Chad]

Do these self-timers hold the shutter open for a selected period of time or do they hit the shutter button after the selected time period? If its the first, it would be handy.


Chad

[Bryce]

It is the latter. Usually used in lieu of a cable release or to allow the photographer to enter the scene before the shutter fires.
One minor exception that I'm aware of- the Fuji GS645s will allow the timer to be used to open the shutter for time exposures, which are ended when the shutter button is pressed.
I find the feature quite handy and would feel rather put out to live without it.

[Chad]

It is the latter. Usually used in lieu of a cable release or to allow the photographer to enter the scene before the shutter fires.
One minor exception that I'm aware of- the Fuji GS645s will allow the timer to be used to open the shutter for time exposures, which are ended when the shutter button is pressed.


Thanks for the quick reply Bryce. I'll keep an eye out for a Fuji GS645s.


Chad

[pvdhaar]

Neither, the self timer causes a distortion in the space-time continuum. The camera almost immediately takes the picture, but only just after it's been sent through a wormhole into the future by about 10 seconds.. :D

Well, it's an explanation, isn't it?

[Chad]

Neither, the self timer causes a distortion in the space-time continuum. The camera almost immediately takes the picture, but only just after it's been sent through a wormhole into the future by about 10 seconds.. :D

Well, it's an explanation, isn't it?


Uh, well yes it is, and I couldn't have come up with a better one..... :D



Chad

[dmr]

Neither, the self timer causes a distortion in the space-time continuum. The camera almost immediately takes the picture, but only just after it's been sent through a wormhole into the future by about 10 seconds.. :D


ROFL!

I was thinking about making some kind of smart@$$ reply about a self-timer being a value-subtracted feature on some cameras, but I can't top that one. :)

[David Goldfarb]

The self timer makes it possible for the photographer to jump into the picture while the rest of his family looks quizzically at the camera wondering when it's going to take the picture already.

http://www.echonyc.com/~goldfarb/who/22.jpg

[Xmas]

A self time can jam many of the between the lens cameras, avoid trying.

Kievs allow the self timer on B to give a 2 second (approx) speed.

Noel

[RayPA]

They're pretty helpful for those mid-long exposures (below your normal handheld capabilities) where simply depressing the shutter with your finger adds enough shake to cause blur. I've made decent exposures with a digital camera at 1/10~1/8 second. Set the timer, activate it, prop/stablize yourself (make like a human tripod) and wait for the timeout/exposure.


.

[Jamie123]

If I'm not mistaken there are self-timers that you can screw on to control the time of exposure. I've seen one a couple of days ago on an auction site.

[oftheherd]

If I'm not mistaken there are self-timers that you can screw on to control the time of exposure. I've seen one a couple of days ago on an auction site.

That would be neat. I never saw one. I have seen what others have mentioned, that allowed the time to be set that it would take to trip the shutter.

[rogue_designer]

here's an example of a traditional - delay timer on e*ay - item #180105634797

They're pretty handy every once in a while. I keep one in my LF bag.

I've not seen any mechanical ones that allow for timed exposures though.

[shadowfox]

The self timer makes it possible for the photographer to jump into the picture while the rest of his family looks quizzically at the camera wondering when it's going to take the picture already.



Nowadays, it's replaced by IR remote controls, which allows more time for the photographer to put his baseball cap on (or off) and for the family members to catch more bugs on their teeth ... say cheese!!