CANON TC-80N3: It's about Time.
Written: Aug 21 '05 (Updated Sep 11 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ergonomic, easy to use interface, good functionality, long battery life (3 yrs)
Cons: Fixed intervals only, no exposure control, not synchronized with camera, reversed controls
The Bottom Line: Much needed extended timing capability for EOS cameras and remote switch make this a must for the serious photographers.
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| theuerkorn's Full Review: CANON TC-80N3 TIMER REMOTE CONTROL FOR EOS 1V/1VHS... |
Most SLRs only offer a single timer (typically 15 seconds) and should you require more, the only solution would be to arm yourself with a timer and do it yourself. That is, if your camera doesn't offer a connection to a remote control. That makes things much easier, especially if the remote actually has a "brain" to fill in where most cameras only cover the basics. The TC-80N3 is such an intelligent device that extends most EOS cameras with a more sophisticated timer function.
MAIN FUNCTIONS
User Interface: The TC-80N3 sports 4 buttons and a multi-functional dial as well as a digital display. The large (Grey) button is purely mechanical and functions as a shutter release while the 3 other buttons (Mode, Start/Stop, Light/Hold) are used to control the timer. They are significantly smaller and feel somewhat spongy besides being on the hairy edge of being too small for thumb operation. The dial is used for easy adjustment of number value by simply scrolling up or down or acknowledge when pushed. The functionality is good but reversed, as numbers will decrease when scrolled "up" and so on.
Rating: ****-
Timer: The TC-80N3 provides a single timer to program one series of events lasting anywhere to 99 hours in 1 second increments. It can also count up to 99 repetitions. Given that it controls a single camera, independent timers are of no use due to possible interferences. The timer doesn't know anything about the camera's status and will run through its program whether the camera is ready or not.
Rating: ****-
Camera Control: Since the TC-80N3 controls only the trigger, all other adjustments are still to be made at the camera. This allows for a wide use with different cameras, but for more sophisticated sequences that modify exposure parameters, a control via PC is required. Hence, the recording 5 images for a HDR sequence (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) often has to be split up into 2 brackets (-2, -1, 0 / 0, +1, +2) and require to touch the camera at least once to change the exposure center point. Since the settings on the camera and the TC-80N3 are not synchronized, it's important to remember the correct settings on the camera. (i.e. when to use single shot, bulb, or continuous) However, biggest issue is the lack of synchronization with the camera status and therefor the timer running its program blindly.
Rating: **---
Self-Timer: Aside a slightly confusing name, this is pretty much a delay until the program is being started. This is useful to bring yourself into the picture or pretty much time an event without you being present. The latter requires that your camera can remain in stand-by to save battery and wake up via remote control - hopefully in time for the first shot. (The self timer wakes the camera up when counting down and this makes sure the first shot is not missed.)
Rating: *****
Interval: There are many applications where shots in defined intervals come in handy, like time studies (growing plants). With 1 second to 99 hr intervals most applications should be covered. Just be aware that mirror lock-up counts as one "shot" and this may not work for long intervals, where a shot is supposed to occur say every hour. In that case the interval needs to be set to 30 minutes and the bad thing about it is that the mirror spends one whole interval in the Up position. The TC-80N3 allows only for one fixed interval and the exposure count then is pretty much converted into the number of intervals.
Rating: ****-
Long Exposure: This requires "bulk" function to be set at the camera and pretty much extends the exposure time of the camera (typically 30 seconds max.) and allows to use it in conjunction with the interval timer. The time defined here is overridden by the camera setting should you select single shot instead of bulk. Further should you choose Continuous, the camera will keep firing at it's own pace until either the long exposure ends or the film / memory is full. This is really where a synchronization with the camera would be nice as it is very easy to "forget" setting the camera right - especially if it's scheduled for a time the camera is unattended.
Rating: ****-
Exposure Count: Up to 99 exposures can be scheduled and if not used with any other timer function, the increments default to 1 seconds. I also found that the camera recorded 1 exposure less than programmed. This problem does not exist when used with any timer and appears to be an issue with the TC-80N3. Further, when using mirror lock-up, 2 "events" are required to first bring the mirror in the up-position and then to actually fire the shot. Be warned that exposure settings lasting more than 2 - 3 seconds might harm the shutter mechanism, since the mirror spends the same time in the up position as scheduled between the shots.
Rating: ****-
Combinations: All 4 parameters above can be freely combined unless they mutually exclude each other. What the program finally means also heavily depends on the camera settings. Keep in mind that mirror lock will require an extra trigger event and bracketing works best in continuous mode.
Rating: *****
Remote switch: this function is equivalent to the remote switch RS-80N3 and consists of a mechanical switch that doesn't require any battery power in the TC-80N3 and pretty much mimics the trigger button of the SLR, including the focus lock when half pressed. This may also be one of the most often used features. Size and handling are good though there is no good tactile feedback when overcoming the half-pressed state and actuating the trigger. It's also just about big enough to actuate it with the most natural finger -- the thumb.
Rating: ****-
Size: The lightweight controller (85g / 3 oz.) is relatively small but also somewhat long with 40x20x143mm (1.57x0.8x5.63"). The flexible cable is 80 cm long. Overall the housing feels larger than necessary, but it's ergonomic nevertheless. The attached cable is long enough for most applications and soft enough to not shake the camera. An extension cable is available.
Rating: ***--
Compatibility: The TC-80N3 is geared towards "more serious" cameras with professional or semi-professional claims. Not surprisingly, most entry level SLRs don't provide the proper socket and therefor are not compatible (i.e. Digital Rebel). Hence the list is relatively short and includes the EOS 10D, EOS 1Ds Mark II, EOS 20D, EOS D30, EOS D60, EOS-1D, EOS-1D Mark II, EOS-1Ds, EOS-1v, EOS-1v HS Body, and the EOS-3. Others may not apply (unless newer and not yet listed).
Rating: ****-
TIME IS UP
The TC-80N3 is kind of expensive, especially if you consider that the timer function is relatively simple and should be no problem to be implemented in the camera directly. That of course still doesn't give you a remote switch, but those typically cost under $50 for the wired or $30 for the IR version.
Either way, when composing a HDR picture in Photoshop CS2, I found the timer quite helpful to control the camera and often 3 exposures are sufficient and very easy to deploy the bracketing (in 1 stop increments) on the camera and cycle between the shots either manually (shutter remote) or timer driven. Trickier lighting (greater dynamic range) might require 5 exposures per picture (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) and neither camera nor remote support this without touching the camera. However, all that's needed is to shift the bracketing center from -1 to +1. In those cases I sure wish the TC-80N3 would allow to control exposure as well (or the EOS-20D would allow to define 5 shots per bracketing).
Overall, the TC-80N3 is very helpful in applications where the camera has to be steady or simply needs to run unattended. Overall interface is easy to use once you get beyond the reversed thumb wheel. Functionally a little basic but overall good. I just wish intervals could be a more defined into a sequence of different length intervals.
© 2005, theuerkorn
FURTHER READING
Canon EOS 20D dSLR camera
Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel) dSLR camera
Canon EF 70-300mm f4.5-f5.6 IS DO USM zoom lens
Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS f4/5.6 USM zoom lens
Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM macro lens
Canon Speedlite 420EX external flash
Canon EF12-II extension ring
Recommended:
Yes
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