Help finding an intervalometer

Discussion in 'Beginner Questions' started by Natalya Williams, Apr 8, 2019.

  1. Natalya Williams

    Natalya Williams New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2019
    Messages:
    1
    I recently got a Canon EOS 4000D. I'm looking for an intervalometer to start doing timelapses and I can't find one that has the correct thing that plugs into the actual camera. The 4000D just has a HDMI port and another one I'm not sure the name of (attached).

    If anyone knows anything about this and can help me find an intervalometer, it would be greatly appreciated!

    [​IMG]
     

  2. Ray-UK

    Ray-UK Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2017
    Messages:
    141
    Location:
    Rochester, UK
    Equipment:
    Canon 7D Mk II, Canon 10-22, Canon 24-105 L Mk 1, Canon 24mm 2.8, Canon 55-250 STM, Canon 100mm usm macro, 3x Metz 58 AF1 & too many film cameras, mainly Pentax
    The bottom socket is a USB connector that can connect to a PC or printer.
    Having looked at the instruction manual it makes no mention of remote shutter release so I don't think you can use a normal intervalometer with your camera, although remote control would be possible using the EOS utility program on your PC via the USB connecter.
     
  3. thenbman

    thenbman New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    Messages:
    6
    Equipment:
    50mm
    Yes this is an absolute disgrace. Unfortunately I can't find an intervalometer that fits either. I did do this workaround if it's of any help.
     
  4. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2017
    Messages:
    2,120
    Location:
    Fargo, ND
    Equipment:
    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    They make PC ports that go on the hot-shoe, is it possible to find one that works that way? That said looks like the smartphone solution may be more simple.

    Thinking this is a complete disgrace is rather harsh and uncalled for. Neither canon/nikon/anyone etc have al the ports and features built into their entry model dSLR, they add features as you go up through the lineup. You don't go to a car dealership and expect the entry level model to be fully loaded and go 0-60 in 3 secs do you?
     
  5. thenbman

    thenbman New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    Messages:
    6
    Equipment:
    50mm
    The hot shoe is another bone of contention, it doesn't have a centre pin. You can't use a third party flash gun. Whether you can get round the way you mention, I don't know I've just given up with trying. It was my fault I bought the camera, but your analogy is just so wrong. I think what I said is true, the camera is just a heap of junk. I have lenses from an old 1100D so I just saw a 4000D body and just as you do, or at least as I do, think it was going to be the same. I don't expect a top of the range car to go from 0-60 in 3 seconds, but can you tell me which entry level camera of any brand doesn't have a port to do timelapses and can't use a flash gun from another party. I can't and the 1100D is supposed to be entry level, it blows the socks off the 4000D, but like I say a decision I will rue.
     
  6. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2017
    Messages:
    2,120
    Location:
    Fargo, ND
    Equipment:
    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    I may possibly regret responding, but here goes....

    I mentioned that Nikon's entry doesn't have any extra accessory ports either, so the primary competitor has the same setup.
    Yes I would generally expect similarity between the X000D series, but it looks like they jumped the 3000 which was clue that it was not a direct upgrade and also was mentioned specifically targeted be the lowest price-point possible, so of course they took some features out, they have to cut costs somewhere to make it cheaper.
    They have also been adding many middle tiers between camera models and taking away and adding features to try to appeal to a variety audiences, this is nothing new the last couple of years (77d/200d/6d) . Was making the flash compatibility canon only kinda a dirty move, yes obviously. But since they are aiming for an even lower price point to pull in new users, it was a strategic target on their side making users buy a canon flash to recoup some costs. You want to save money by going 3rd party? Can you work around this yes, get a used 430 for on camera, and some used optical slaves off camera..​

    The point I was making is you get what you pay for, you bought the very cheapest model and got upset they made it difficult to do everything you wanted. Then resorted to calling it trash and junk because you didn't do enough research before purchase. At the end of the day you were not the target audience for Canon on this particular body, it was just a tempting price for you.
     
  7. thenbman

    thenbman New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    Messages:
    6
    Equipment:
    50mm
    I totally agree, I didn't do enough research and made an error of judgement. I don't watch every camera that comes out, I can't keep up. It was never meant to be a first camera, it was because I got lenses and I just saw a DSLR for the body £200 I never in my wildest dreams would of thought that it didn't come with the very basic stuff I was after. I knew it didn't come with a tilt screen and fire off 10 fps, or a mic port. The only thing that when I read and watched anything on about it, was that the reason it was cheap was that it comes with plastic mount, which I thought, well I can live with that.

    Never mind, I made a mistake, the stupid thing is, when I buy anything not just photography stuff, I research and research and just didn't on this occasion. In my defence though, it is a new camera, so there's not a huge amount of videos and stuff that I usually got to for reviews and any I did watch, never mentioned about the problems I've found.
     
  8. GDN

    GDN Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2018
    Messages:
    2,166
    Location:
    South Island, NZ
    Equipment:
    A little Canon stuff
    Don't you just love this type of thread.

    I brought something and it doesn't do what I expect it to do, so everything is an absolute disgrace and a heap of junk.

    Oh dear.

    I spent all of ten minutes, if that having a quick look on the net to find that this model is a stripped down entry level model. With even less features and options to make this model even more affordable from the previous entry level camera. By the looks of it, Canon are essentially trying to shoe horn another level of camera. For the low cost of the camera, it looks to be pretty good. Small, light, simple to use. I am sure that it would suit a lot of people out there.

    I am not a Canon fanboy by any stretch of the imagination. I own five different brands of camera. But I have each camera for a reason. But I can tell you that the main other brand that I use does have other "issues" with their entry level camera. Yes, there are users that report things that they are unhappy with. Some users of the other brand also complain about some of the other features, or lack of with some of the other more advanced models as well. So the grass is not always greener on the other side.

    I find it a little surprising to say the least that you didn't do a quick look on the net to see what you were buying. There is lots of information out there about this camera. I see that you use the internet to vent your frustrations, maybe next time use the same resource to do some research. I have owned a good few cameras, and before I part with any money, I do a little research about what I am looking to purchase. If the feature set doesn't fit, I don't buy it. I would never buy blind expecting things to work out. That is just asking for a massive disappointment.

    My advice to you would be the following.

    What are the features that you would like in a camera? I am talking about about sensor size, size of the camera, battery life, pop up flash, etc, etc. Then find the camera that fits your needs, and remember that you may want a little more out of the camera if you try a subject type in the future. Once you have found that camera, that is the one to aim for. Cost should be the last thing you look at, because as you are experiencing, the camera will not live up to your expectations if you base everything on this. If you give us a little information about what you are trying to do, and what your interests in photography are, someone will help you out there with suggestions.

    I would decide what camera would fit you the best, sell your 4000D, and buy new or used the camera that would suit your needs. Remember that not everyone needs the top of the range camera, and not everyone will suit the entry level camera.

    I hope that this helps.

    Gary
     
    rayallen likes this.
  9. thenbman

    thenbman New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    Messages:
    6
    Equipment:
    50mm
    Good morning Gary,
    I'm not venting I came on here to see if other people have found workarounds to my problems. I'm frustrated definitely. I can't understand why someone would defend Canon on the basic needs. I to have had and used a ton of cameras over the years from Sony, Nikon and Fuji. Of course they all have their problems but I've never encountered this. I have a Sony A100 from 06 its had its died now but it has all these features I'm talking about.

    As I said previously my fault but I think we have a right to voice viewpoint. I know there are people who have lived with the camera for a bit and there's more info who have the same views as I do.
     
  10. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2017
    Messages:
    2,120
    Location:
    Fargo, ND
    Equipment:
    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    I guess I don't see time-lapse as a basic need. The intro level cameras are aimed mostly at getting new users to jump up from a point and shoot like "Aunt Judy" who primarily take photos in the garden and at family events. Users who wan't to do specific techniques and have built up a bit of equipment I would argue are advanced amateurs and any camera brand aims their mid-tier cameras at that crowd and give them more customization for those who need it.

    I'm also not a canon fan boy by any means, in fact if anything I started as a pentax fan boy when I was young, even my medium format gear is Pentax. Canon was a decision i made 15 years ago when both them and Nikon were the 2 main players that were established in the DSLR market.
     
  11. thenbman

    thenbman New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    Messages:
    6
    Equipment:
    50mm
    I don't see timelapse photography as a basic need per se, but I certainly see having a place to put a remote shutter as essential, then in turn we can do what we want. You see if we don't make any beef about these things this is where we all fall into a trap of just taking it and I'm not prepared to do that. With the entry level cameras that Canon have come out with in the past 1000D-1300D they had all the features that I assumed and quite rightly it should have. They went for relative peanuts as well.

    I would also take your point about it being the cheapest camera body, if that was, well the only camera to be affected. But we have a real issue here and that's higher entry/mid level cameras being affected by the hot shoe case. I don't think people spending £600 on a Sl3 I'm not even sure if it's in the UK yet, but that's going to take people by surprise when they get their hands on that thinking everything is rosy in the garden. Hot shoe centre pin missing on that, the 2000D, Nikon must be laughing their socks off and they have made blunders themselves, but not like this, crippling cameras for people to buy extras only from them is just wrong and I think short term, they will get away with it, but when uni students and teachers for eg they going to boycott it, flash is essential in these situations and when people are already on a budget, they ain't going to be happy.

    I'm not anti Canon, well I am on this and I think it's a major point. But I've used Canon products, not just cameras and I've always find them sturdy and robust, albeit a bit boring, I wouldn't of bought the cam if I had that many problems in the past.
     
  12. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2017
    Messages:
    2,120
    Location:
    Fargo, ND
    Equipment:
    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    As I suspected not all triggers use the middle pin.... found this online: FYI on April 26, 2019, Godox issued firmware updates for the XPro-C, X1T-C, and V860II-C for EOS R, 2000D, and 4000D compatibility.
     
  13. johnsey

    johnsey Site Moderator Staff Member Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2017
    Messages:
    2,120
    Location:
    Fargo, ND
    Equipment:
    5dMk4, 5dsR, 5dMk2, 20D, 70-200 2.8L IS, 100mm 2.8 Macro USM, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 17-40mm 4.0L, TS-E 24mm 3.5L II, Rokinon 14mm 2.8; Pixma Pro-100
    Both the 4000 and the sl3 boast "Share instantly and shoot remotely via your compatible smartphone with Wi-Fi* and the Canon Camera Connect app." Clearly that's the direction they are going.
    Honestly I see that as a bonus, not a drawback. I've been using the canon wireless remote for years and both canon and Nikon use infrared for this, which is of course line of sight and can be tricky in the studio sometimes.
     
  14. thenbman

    thenbman New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2019
    Messages:
    6
    Equipment:
    50mm
    Yeh I'm not against progress as regards using wifi etc It's quite amazing things like bluetooth, wifi and all manner of radio signals. Of course it's a bit difficult for people without a smartphone haha Thanks for the Godox info. I do believe that 3rd party manufacturers will see this Canon thing and jump on the bandwagon, it's there to be had, with flash guns etc On Android and IOS people are always developing apps to compete with the major camera companies.
     
  15. KVD

    KVD New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2020
    Messages:
    4
    Equipment:
    EOS 4000D
    Hi Everyone. Is there a solution to this issue now? (Doing time lapse photos with Canon EOS 4000D).
    I'm trying the solution by thenbman, but I can't find the equivalent app for iphone and my friend's Samsung phone is a later version and the app doesnt seem to support this app - i.e. cannot connect to the usb canon camera. Thanks (this is really frustrating).
     

Share This Page