So I have the camera on a tripod, I set it to “manual” and the exposure setting to “bulb”. I checked the battery in the remote… it performs. I even checked the infrared LED on the remote and it functions as properly (I filmed it with my camcorder’s “night vision” mode and the LED flashes when I press the button). I attempted pointing the remote at the camera from each imaginable angle and there is no response. I know that the sensor on the camera performs because I’ve utilized this camera with a diverse remote and “bulb” mode worked completely. The only factor I can think of is that the remote is not compatible with the camera, but then that’s false advertising due to the fact the ebay ad mentioned that it *IS* compatible:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Infrared-Remote-Control-Canon-Rebel-XSi-XTi-XT-RC-5-/220762127304
Are there any added settings on the camera that I may be missing? Some thing to enable the infrared receiver on the camera possibly? I may have reset the camera since the last time I utilized “bulb” mode.
Caoedhen: I spent twenty 5 minutes going through every single menu and submenu item I could find. I could not locate anything that had to do with the IR receiver on the camera. There is no setting nor button no menu item for it… at least, not that I could come across. And I messed with it for nearly half an hour.
Answer by EDWIN
I think you have to go into the menu and set the camera to “Remote”.
Answer by Paul R
Bulb mode is not particularly a lengthy exposure, it is an untimed exposure, the shutter stays open so extended as the shutter button stays depressed, or the signal from a remote is maintained.
In my encounter bulb is only practical with a cabled remote for a number of causes:
Most cable remotes for EOS cameras have a shutter lock button, the depress the shutter component then slide it into lock, the shutter stays open until you unlock it. The camera LCD shows a timer on the back to inform you how lengthy you have exposed for.
If you use the cameras own shutter button you have a greater chance of camera shake.
If you use an IR form you threat breaking the optical path from the remote to the camera, or the battery in the remote runs out.
Usually IR remotes will only fire once to trigger the shutter, it is up to the camera settings to figure out the actual length of the exposure, in bulb mode this will efficiently be the length of the signal from the IR. Almost certainly a fraction of a 2nd.
So you need to have to purchase either Canons very own remote with lock:
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/four-/6041114/Canon-RS-60-E3-Camera-Remote-Switch/Item.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518|cat:6041114|prd:6041114
or a cabled timer remote this kind of as:
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/17942118/JJC-Replacement-Canon-RS-60E3-Pentax-CS-205-Samsung-SSR-D1-Multi-Function-Timer-Controller/Product.html?_%24ja=tsid:11518|cat:17942118|prd:17942118
(Canon only do an official timer unit for the 60D/7D/5D/1D cameras not the rebels)
Answer by Caoedhen
2 items…
1. You have to turn on the IR receiver in the camera, otherwise you can press buttons all day long and it will not work. I do not use the XSi, but it should be a button press or two is all it requires.
2. For Paul… in Canon’s implementation (at least) of the IR remote and Bulb mode, the IR remote is really useful. 1st press of the remote opens the shutter, and the 2nd press closes it. The IR remote lets you get away from the camera and get into the picture oneself! I don’t know about this affordable Chinese factor he’s talking about, but the Canon RC-1 IR Remote operates this way.
Answer by Phineas Gage
Yes, there is a setting to enable the IR receiver but it is not anyplace in the menu and it really is not an clear setting either. No wonder so numerous individuals have difficulty with it. You have to change the drive mode of the camera to enable the IR receiver. The way to do this is turn on the camera and press the button to the left of the round “SET” button on the back of the camera. That button makes it possible for you to adjust the camera’s drive mode. Right after you push that button, one of the choices will be REMOTE. Set it to that and then bulb mode will function with your remote.