How many cable releases do you buy a year?

bags27

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I seem to lose one every 3 or 4 outings. I'm currently on a photo trip. Started with 2, and now down to 1. If I had more photographic days, I'd probably have to find a store and by a back up. Grrrr..... Probably should tape a backup onto the tripod leg. But then I'd lose that one, too....
 

Chan Tran

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I bought 2 in 47 years. The 2 of them are different. One is the standard one for the F3 and others. One is for the F2.
 

MattKing

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Check your sock drawer!
FWIW, I've never lost one. I have a spot in each camera bag where they go.
 

Paul Howell

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I did lose one, came off the camera when I was carrying it on a tripod, retraced my path could not find it.
 
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bags27

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Paul Howell said:
I did lose one, came off the camera when I was carrying it on a tripod, retraced my path could not find it.
Click to expand...

That's happened to me twice. I think they just get up and scamper into the bushes.
 

Taylor Nankervis

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At last known number, I have 6 in active use, none are new or replacements — nor any purchased within at least the last 20 years!

Two are Gepe stainless braided disc-lock (30cm); two are vintage Pentax red/brown cloth-braided disc-locks, one 30cm Linhof long-throw plunger T-lock and a spare Pentax 20cm cloth-woven release that is kept in the car (never had to use it!)

During the COVID lockdowns (remember them? Now a very distant 5 years back!), I pondered how to free up my hands when I was juggling cable releases and cameras, keeping in mind Rule 1‡. From that, I constructed a small clip, attached to my lightmeter lanyard, where a cable release (or two) is dropped into, essentially just hanging there, which frees me up to wrangle another camera etc.

Still using a Canon electronic remote — a quaint throwback to when remote cords were simple and uncomplicated — bought new with an EOS 1N + PDBE1 back in 1994.

______________________________________________________________________________
‡ No. 1
Nothing, not least of all cable releases, filters, film, or whatnot
(and certainly not cameras!), should ever be put down on the ground.
 

Sirius Glass

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I have bought very few cable releases during my life time, may be two or three usually with a locking device for long exposures.
 
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Harry Callahan

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I once lost one when doing long exposures at night - but it was found the other day. Wondering if you should tie something onto the cable release... like a red card having the size of a credit card maybe... making it easier to be found if lost and harder to overlook when laying around somewhere...
 

Pieter12

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If I shoot LF, I'll be guaranteed to lose one every fews months. I seldom use a conventional cable release with 35mm and MF cameras. My more modern MF cameras have electric remote release cords that cost a fortune so I am quite careful with them when I do use them.
 
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bags27

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Great idea! I have a small 18 percent gray card with a ribbon. I'll tie it on my best cable release.
 

Harry Callahan

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bags27 said:
Great idea! I have a small 18 percent gray card with a ribbon. I'll tie it on my best cable release.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much - but i still think the card should have an obvious color like red for example, so it is easier to find in the grass for example - but a grey card should help too.
 

BAC1967

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Back when film cameras were super cheap I bought almost every one i came across at estate sales and such. They were very cheap. Needless to say, I have enough to last the rest of my life. I've lost a few and broke a few over the years.
 

DWThomas

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Hm-m-mm -- I'll guess about 0.1 per year.

Over 50-some years I've had a few that deteriorated to the point I had to junk them, and yes a couple have vaporized whilst stumbling around outdoors. I have about four mechanical ones currently active; one being about 20 inches long. For electrocuting bits I have three remotes encompassing two different interfaces, plus an inexpensive Velo wireless goody.
 

Taylor Nankervis

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Harry Callahan said:
Thank you very much - but i still think the card should have an obvious color like red for example, so it is easier to find in the grass for example - but a grey card should help too.
Click to expand...

Get a length of fluoro pink or green flagging tape (used for surveying, building peg-outs, etc.); attach a length to the card (or anything else) and you can be very sure it will stand out as very visible in the worst of conditions!
 

Harry Callahan

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Yes, like this - on the other hand if the grey card bags27 has is bigger than a credit card it also should suffice.
 

loccdor

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0.13 per year

I should get another one though.
 

AERO

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Harry Callahan said:
Thank you very much - but i still think the card should have an obvious color like red for example, so it is easier to find in the grass for example - but a grey card should help too.
Click to expand...

ORANGE IS better..thats why airports paint stuff orange....
 

JerseyDoug

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I sometimes misplace a cable release in the house but I have never lost one outdoors. I only attach a cable release to a camera once the camera is on a tripod. And I always remove the cable release from the camera before I remove the camera from the tripod. The Nikon AR-2 cable release I use for the LTM Leicas and the Nikon F s permanently attached to the tripod with a length of carpet thread. The cheap generic cable release I use for my other cameras lives in my camera day bag.
 

bdial

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One year I bought 10 or 20 from the “$1” sale table at a camera show. Haven’t needed to buy any since. Mainly so that every LF lens could have its own, along with a few spares.
 

Rockaway Studios

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I use SinarCopal Shutters with their dedicated, extra long throw design and special thread cables, and Kapture Group one-shot cables. Both are sort of rare birds and not inexpensive. Plus I am a big believer in having backups - against oddball failures which always seem to come at moments where the added expense of a backup is cheap insurance compared to not getting a job done on time.

I have never lost one. Nothing like paying over $100 for a cable release to permanently cure any tendency to leave the things lying around.
 
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