5-Minute Camera Foot Switch

I needed a foot switch for my DSLR camera so that I could take hands-free pictures. On a long-shot, I went down to the local Radioshack to see if they had one. As expected, they didn't have any camera foot switches, but I did luck out that they had all the parts necessary to build my own. Here is how to throw together a 5-minute camera foot switch with easily obtainable parts from Radioshack.

Step 1 Go get stuff

You will need:

(x1) 3/32" Mono Plug (part # 274-0289)
(x1) Sustain Foot Pedal (part # 42-4053)
(x1) 20' Stereo 1/4" female to 1/8" male Cable (part # 42-2561)

Comments

[rwizard]

Just put this together for my EOS t2i
.
Parts:
Hosa Stereo Breakout 3.5 mm TRS to Dual 1/2 in TSF - Mode YMP-137

On-Stage Gear KSP20 Keyboard Sustain Pedal

3.5 (f) mm to 2.5 (m) mm barrel adapter from Radio Shack - sorry no model number.

The Sustain Pedal mono phone (m) plugs goes into the black mono leg (f) of the Hosa splitter. This side is labeled 'Tip' on the Hosa.

Sustain cable to Hosa Tip leg, Hosa 3.5 into barrel plug, 2.5 into t2i

t2i on Manual.

Set t2i timer to 2 seconds.

Step on pedal, t2i auto focuses then takes photo. This is the same behavior you get if you use the Canon infra-red remote or the Canon wired remote.

Setting the timer on the Canon is required to make this work - same as Canon controllers.

Thanks for the original info. All parts from Amazon except RShack barrel adapter.

[artichoke1]

After much work i figured out a setup for my new canon t3i

6 Foot 2.5mm Stereo Male Plug to 3.5mm Stereo Female Jack
http://www.pchcables.com/6fo2stmaplto.html

Hosa Tech Stereo Breakout 3.5 mm TRS to Dual 1/4 in TSF
http://www.pchcables.com/ymp-137-bulk.html

M-Audio SP-1 Sustain Pedal
(important that you can set polarity for any pedal you are considering)
http://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-SP-1-Sustain-Pedal-102952298-i1154552.gc

the key here is the hosa tech piece which turns a stereo 3.5mm plug into two 1/4 mono plugs. one will be shutter the other if you wish can be hooked into a second pedal for autofocus (i dont need this). a schematic for the resoning behind this can be found here:
http://www.mariasphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/canon-diy-shutter-release.jpg

hope this helps someone

[jaylion]

It is just fantastic.....

[Light_Lab]

Most of the Panasonic cameras use a 4 conductor mini phone plug for the remote. You can get these plugs here and there eg Jaycar. Overall though I would get a cheap remote from eBay ( I got one not long ago for about $8) and just adapt the insides to a foot switch. This would also give you the pre-focus as well.
The thing that surprises me though is the interest in this; I can't remember ever wanting to take a photo with my foot. What are the typical uses for this?

[legionmanchild]

USE FOR FOOT PEDAL -
I've been setting up a white backdrop with a couple of soft boxes at parties that I've been going to lately and running a "photo booth" for everybody at the party. The pics have turned out awesome, its a really fun way to get killer pics of your friends. I've been trying to figure out how to make the entire experience more natural, especially for peeps that dont like their pics taken.
--Enter Foot Pedal---
By having a foot pedal where you pose, you can take as many pics as you want, and with somebody standing there "supervising", the pictures energy and fun increase 100 times. This way people get quite a bit more crazy because I setup all the goods, put in an empty 16gb card, and the everybody else just lets it rip. I come back at the end of the night, pack up, and upload all the pics to my server and then everybody can download them. Its pretty hilarious, I would recommend to all.

[Light_Lab]

Great idea; I have worked the photo booth idea into wedding receptions and engagement parties in the past but never thought of using a foot switch.

[randofo]

If you use a stereo plug you can get the focus, but then you would need a second foot switch, which would over-complicate it (or an expensive two position rocker pedal). I think I might make a more advanced version to do that at some point.

Why take pictures with my feet? After making 135 Instructables, I found that it is useful to have both hands free to actually make things, rather than have one tied up taking pictures. Using a camera timer is unreliable, slow and annoying. A foot switch allows me to keep the flow of what I am doing.

[Light_Lab]

Pretty sure I could hack the two stage switch out of a cheap remote into a two stage foot switch. Nevertheless I guess most of the time you would use a foot switch you would be in one spot with much the same focus distance. If so you could run your camera on a power adapter and set it for continuous auto focus. Then a single stage switch would do the job.

I really like this idea for enabling simple autophotography; most of the time when I have both hands occupied and need to take a photo I call my son into help.

By the way you may have sold yourself short saying "135 Instructables" your tag image says 150! Either way 135 or 150 it is an amazing contribution, congratulations.

[cshyde]

Radio Shack "you've got questions, we've got dumb looks". With Nikon you can opt for the infra-red remote which will auto-focus and will start the self timer. Its about the size of a car remote and costs 20 dollars.

[randofo]

Speaking from experience, the self-timer is less than ideal when you are actually trying to do things (like make an Instructable).

[riff raff]

Very cool.

Nice choice in DSLR brand, too. Pentax glass is second to none. ;-)

[jliddle31]

Please add Olympus to your list of cameras. that this won't work with. However, I do recall an Instructable of about 6 months so that modified a USB-type cable that would work.

[replicant2]

I have a nikon D60 and use an old Sky Remote control to activate the shutter. I am in the UK. You have to programme the remote a certain way. It's been a while since I did it but I'm sure a quick google will find the code.

[MadMonso]

Why wouldn't you just use part #274-327. It's a 1/8" Mono Jack to 3/32" Mono Plug Adapter. No solder required

[randofo]

Because they didn't have it in stock and the kid who worked there insisted that not a single Radioshack sold such a thing.

[! xD !]

Really tight! How much did it costcha? Also, can it be used with any brand camera?

[Oryctolagus habilis]

I have a Canon XTi & it does seem to have a mono plug for the shutter release as well (though the Rebel line has been undergoing some standards changes in recent versions -- such as switching from CF to SD -- so I can't speak for something like a T2i.)

[elimasmx]

You can't use it with some Sony cameras either.
My Sony A230 uses a wireless remote shutter and doesn't has any place to connect any kind of remote switch :/

[randofo]

It cost about $30 and can be used with any brand as far as I know.

[mr paloma]

i have a pentax k20 that one can buy a remote for, for only 20$. does the k7 not have that?

[randofo]

Can you use the remote with your feet?

[bertus52x11]

Not all brands use the same "audio" type plug as Pentax does. Nikon uses plugs that look more like the little plugs to connect compact cameras with a PC.
 
My guess is that Nikon doesn't sell these "custom" plugs seperately on the market. I'm not sure if the wiring is the same. I haven't dared to cut it open (yet).
You can find some a discussion about this in the Ible of deth2all.

[Kasm279]

My minolta, that doesn't work anyway, has a rectangular three pin connector for the remote.

[81377]

This is an easy to follow instructable and your step photos are well done. Unfortunately this will not work with my Nikon and many other cameras. It would be nice if you could provide an Instructable for these other camera types. Thank you for sharing.

[Kinyin]

Any idea how one could get this to work with a Nikon? As noted above, they used the more... USB'ish plug. Could I go buy a cheap shutter release cable and hack the end off or something? Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks.

[strehlow]

Get a hand-operated release like this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Shutter-Release-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001G9WAF2

Then cut the cord and put appropriate plugs on each end so the foot switch can be substituted for the button.

[elnino2783]

If you're being more mobile, it might be useful to use some velcro or other material as a foot strap

[frenzy]

MY COMPUTER, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[randofo]

That teaches it not to look at me the wrong way.

[CrLz]

Great idea!

[octopuscabbage]

But selfies in the mirror were working so well for me.

[bertus52x11]

Nice!
This sustain foot pedal, where is it normally used for or is it a "general" item?

[randofo]

Musical keyboards.

[bertus52x11]

Oh, I see.
Thanks.

[Swishercutter]

Make sure you get the "switch" type pedal not the "expression" type pedal. The expression type is a variable resistor. Switch type is much cheaper to buy anyways.

Great idea...I will have to remember this, especially since I have one of those pedals.

[rtty21]

I love it! I'm subing! 5 star!