Canon RC-1 Wireless Remote Controller Review
04/08/2006
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There are times when you have your camera set on a table, cabinet,
fireplace mantle or tripod, and you want to take a group shot with
yourself in the picture. My Digital Rebel XT / EOS 350D has a 10
second timer that would allow me to get into the picture, but sometimes
10 seconds is just not enough. That, or maybe you need to take
a second shot because someone sneezed, blinked or wasn't ready
without having to go back to the camera. This was my excuse for
buying the RC-1 Wireless Remote Controller. As you can see on the
back of the box, this remote was made in Malaysia. |
| What's in the box |
|
There appeared to be only two items in the box :
1 - Canon RC-1
Wireless Remote Controller
1 - Instruction pamphlet (in different languages)
Includes batteries (two CR1220 lithium button cell installed)
|
Specifications
|
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Effective Range: |
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16 ft. (5m) |
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Wired or Wireless: |
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Wireless using infrared transmitter |
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Timer: |
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2 Seconds |
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Additional Features: |
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None |
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Batteries: |
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(2) CR1220 lithium button cell batteries |
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Size: |
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1" (25mm) wide x 2-3/8" (60mm) long x 3/4" (18mm)
thick with holder. The transmitter itself is only 1/2" (12mm)
thick. |
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Weight: |
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0.72 oz. (20g), Transmitter: 0.57 oz. (15.5g), Holder: 0.15 oz.
(4.5g) |
| |
|
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Compatibility: EOS 10s, Elan/II/IIE & 7/E, Rebel K2, Ti & T2
(date model only), Digital Rebel 300D, Digital Rebel 350D and IX
series cameras. |
| A close up view |
 |
 |
| Bottom |
Top |
 |
 |
Infrared
Transmitter |
Release
Button |
Canon's RC-1 Wireless Remote Controller comes already clipped to
the holder with batteries installed. The bottom view shows the
holder with four slots to install on the camera shoulder strap.
The infrared transmitter is that tiny clear bulb you'll see on
one end and. At the other end, you will see the tiny red release
button.
Accessing the release button is difficult at first, in fact, it
still is, even for small hands like mine. The first time I released
the controller, I dropped it. Over the course of a month, I must
have dropped it a half a dozen times. Thankfully this unit appears
to be durable. |
| Remote Controller |
 |
 |
| Controls |
Battery
Cover |
The release button is located at the infrared transmitter
end (we'll call this the top of the unit) on the left side.
To the right and below of the button is a three position
slide switch: lock, instant and 2 second timer (top). Below
the release button (left of the switch) is the battery cover.
You have to push down on the cover and slide to the left
to remove it. This will expose the two CR1220 lithium button
cell batteries. From researching the internet, the batteries
may last for years but, that depends on usage. |
| Holder |
|
Since I don't use the eyepiece cover, I decided to remove it from
the shoulder strap, put it in a small plastic bag and store
it in my camera case. The holder is looped to the shoulder strap
which would make the remote easy to access. I could place
the remote in my camera case, but I don't want to go searching
for it whenever I need it. Lately, I've seem to be using it a lot. |
| Using the Canon RC-1 Wireless Remote Controller |
 |
| Drive Mode |
To use the RC-1 Wireless Remote Controller effectively, you should
prepare the camera by changing certain settings. On my Digital
Rebel XT, Menu, tab 4, "Auto power off" is default at 1 minute.
Select a longer time, for example 4 minutes. Focus on the subject/s,
then set the focus switch on the lens to M (manual). You can leave
the camera on auto focus, but sometimes, for whatever reason, pictures
end up being slightly out of focus. Next, press the drive mode
selector button until the timer/remote appears on the
display.
Once the timer/remote is selected, you'll have four minutes to
use the remote. This is unfortunate because once the four minutes
expires without activity, you'll have to remember to lightly press
the shutter button on the camera to re-activate the remote feature.
It's similar when you have "Auto power off" set at 1 minute, you'll
have to press the shutter button every minute. |
Operating the RC-1 is pretty straight forward, but the button
does not work like the camera's two stage shutter button.
It's like pressing the shutter button completely. Slide the
selector switch on the remote to instant or 2 seconds. When
set to instant, the AF (auto-focus) assist beam will flash
once briefly, and the picture is taken. When set to 2 seconds,
the AF assist beam will stay on for about 2 seconds before
taking the picture. The 2 second setting is ideal, especially
when you are in the the picture, because it gives you sufficient
time to hide the remote. When the lens is set on auto focus,
and experience problems focusing, no picture will be taken.
For bulb exposures, set the camera's Mode Dial to M. Looking at the LCD,
set the shutter speed to "buLb", which is after 30". The
remote can be set to instant or 2 seconds. Press the remote button once
to open the shutter (when set to 2 seconds, there will be a 2 second delay).
Press one more time and the shutter will close.
|
In astrophotography, when using Mirror lockup (Custom
Functions, C.Fn-7) with bulb
(remote set at 2 seconds), pressing the button once will
lockup the mirror and, after two seconds, take the picture.
Pressing the remote button a second time will close the shutter.
The problem here is the AF assist beam. Even though the Custom
Functions, C.Fn-5, allows you to turn this feature off, when
the Digital Rebel XT is set on timer/remote, the AF assist
beam lights up anyway. To cover up the assist beam, use a
1/2" (12mm) cube of soft dark foam/sponge/neoprene and
wedge it between the grip and camera housing. This will not
totally eliminate the light, but will reduce the output significantly.
(About the moon: see below)
For astrophotography, may I recommend using Canon's RS-60E3
Remote Switch (see
review). |
 |
Remote
Sensor |
The remote will not work from behind the camera. You have
to be almost in front of the camera. In fact, the infrared
transmitter and remote control sensor have to be in line
of sight. The remote
control sensor on the Digital Rebel XT is located in
front on the upper part of the hand grip, below the shutter
release button. As you can see, the remote has more range
on the left side (when you're facing the camera). From behind
the camera, the remote will work when you point it at the
camera from the right side, but not the left. It's probably
the lens that obstructs the transmitters line of sight with
the remote control sensor on the camera grip. |
| Conclusion |
Canon's RC-1 Wireless Remote Controller happens to be one
of those accessories that is very convenient to have, but
not an absolute necessity. I've taken many pictures using
the 10 second timer on the camera, prior to the RC-1, with
a lot of success. However, after using the RC-1, I've never
went back to using the 10 second timer. Often times you won't
get the right shot the first time, which means another trip
to the camera and waiting patiently for another 10 seconds.
With the remote, you can take several pictures in succession
(and capturing candid moments) giving you the opportunity
to select the best one.
If there were any major cons I have about the RC-1, it is the distance 16 ft.
(5m) (with a fresh battery, it's closer to 18 ft. (5.5m)). I already knew that
prior to buying it but, after using it for a while and, when working outdoors
with larger groups, I wish the distance were greater, say 25 ft. or more.
:-)
Gary Kawamura
| About the moon photograph |
| |
Object: |
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Waxing Gibbous Moon |
| |
Condition: |
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Light haze, cloudy, city lights |
| |
Telescope: |
|
None |
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Camera: |
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Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT |
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Date Time: |
|
2006-04-08T19:51:49-07:00 |
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Shutter Speed: |
|
1/250 sec |
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Exposure Program: |
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Manual |
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F-Stop: |
|
F/8.0 |
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ISO Speed Ratings: |
|
400 |
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Focal Length: |
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260.0 mm |
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Lens: |
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70.0-300.0 mm |
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Notes: |
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Handheld, IS (image stabilizer), cropped, 100%,
no filters or adjustments |
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