Canon TC-80N3 Timer Remote Controller

[mojo]

The TC's advantage is that it's more than just a timer. It has three timers (and one counter) in it, each which can be set independently or in combination. 

In addition to what's been described below, the TC-80N3 also function as a straightforward remote shutter release. A slight press on the release activates the camera's metering and auto-focus and then a further press releases the shutter. There is also a lock position that permits manually setting a long exposure time.

A built-in light illuminates the LCD screen for 6 seconds each time it's pressed, and there is a lock capability that ensures that a pre-set combination of functions are not accidentally disturbed. Finally, there is a reset function to quickly put all settings back to zero.

Functions:
Little larger than a standard electronic remote release the TC-80N3 has quite a few more controls. But before looking at what they do let's understand what functions this unit is capable of and under what shooting situations you would use them.

The four primary functions are Self Timer, Interval Timer, Long Exposure and the Exposure Count Setting.

Self Timer:
Just like the self timer on your camera. Except where most Canon bodies offer either a 2 second delay or a 10 second delay, the TC-80N3 allows you to set any delay (in 1 second increments) up to 99 hours, 99 minutes and 99 seconds. Let's call it 100 hours. That's just over 4 days!

Interval Timer:
The Interval Timer can be set to any time period up to 100 hours as well. If you set it to 10 minutes, for example, one exposure will be taken every 10 minutes until either the film runs out or the Exposure Count limit has been reached.

Long Exposure:
This one is easy. It allows you to take time exposures up to (you guessed it) 100 hours in length.

Exposure Count:
This fourth and final setting permits you to set the number of exposures that will be taken, up to a total 99. If you set it to 3 exposures you can combine it with an EOS body's auto-bracketing capability.  For example, if you were about to shoot a rapidly changing sunset you could set the camera to take a three frame bracketed exposure every 2 minutes for the next 20 minutes. That would give you 30 frames, almost a full roll. While one camera was doing this by itself you could use a second camera to try alternative compositions and to explore lens variations. (See below for specific details on how to accomplish this).

A Special Technique*:
You would think that setting the TC-80N3 to be able to do a series of automated bracketed exposures would be straightforward, but it isn't. The trick is to set the camera itself to self timer mode (2 second is preferred to 10 second, if your camera model has it), and of course to auto bracketing. Then set the Interval on the TC-80N3 to how long you'd like the pauses to be between sets of exposures (say, 5 minutes). Next set Frames to the number of times that you'd like the series of bracketed exposures to be taken.

*Note that mirror lock up can't be used if you use this method.

In The Field:
Each of these capabilities is pretty useful in and of themselves. The real strength of the TC-80N3 though lies though in its ability combine them in useful ways as described in the example above.

Some other real-world applications include when doing astronomical photography. Star trails, meteor showers, northern lights — all of these require long exposure, sequential exposures and variable timing and counts. For example during a meteor shower you might want to set the camera up with a TC-80N3 set so that a new 5 minute-long exposure is taken every 15 minutes for the next 4 hours. The possibilities are endless.

What can you use it for?