DIY - Pentax Cable Release CS-205

fengwei · 19th October 2004

Looked around but couldn't find a CS-205 release

. And it's too expensive if order one from the US. So just made one for myself

Materials: 1 motorola handsfree ($2.90), an old switch and a brass plate found at home.

Here you go

On/Off switch as autofocus (on and lock) :

Press the brass plate to take a photo (only after the autofocus switch is switched on):

Not so pretty looking but works great. Cannot use bulb shooting though.

Cheers!

Drudkh · 19th October 2004

Hey! Very innovative!

fengwei · 19th October 2004

Originally Posted by Drudkh

Hey! Very innovative!

Thanks

Drudkh · 19th October 2004

Originally Posted by fengwei

Thanks

Maybe you can show the guys how this DIY gadget was made, like the connections to the switch and brass plate?

Cheers! Happy Shooting!

fengwei · 19th October 2004

Originally Posted by Drudkh

Maybe you can show the guys how this DIY gadget was made, like the connections to the switch and brass plate?

Cheers! Happy Shooting!

Quite easy lah. There are three wires (some handsfrees like nokia's have four wires), normally the common wire is black. The other two, one is for autofocusing, the other is to release the shuttle. If yours has four wires, just find the two proper wires by trying out. You can try it out without hurting your camera by connecting each wire to the common wire. Whence you find out which wire is for which, the next step is very simple. Use two switches (mine only got one, so had to add a brass plate) to make the connections as desired. Be sure to connect it correctly so the shuttle will only release after the autofocus switch is on.

CS-205 is a mechanical release, not electronic one. Quite easy to dupilicate.

Cheers!

choen · 19th October 2004

Which camera model is this cable release for?
Was just looking through my old MZ series cameras and the connection socket do not resemble that cable's pin.

Well done.

fengwei · 19th October 2004

Originally Posted by choen

Which camera model is this cable release for?
Was just looking through my old MZ series cameras and the connection socket do not resemble that cable's pin.

Well done.

It's for Pentax *istD. Should work for some Canon Rebel cameras too.

Cheers!

Spyer2 · 19th October 2004

Yup an original wan cost about $95

Joko1974 · 24th April 2005

Any idea for further improvement to use it for bulb mode?

Gonna shot Mayday fireworks, I need it

fengwei · 24th April 2005

Originally Posted by Joko1974

Any idea for further improvement to use it for bulb mode? Gonna shot Mayday fireworks, I need it

That's easy lah. Just get a switch with three positions (off/focus/shuttle-release). The one I made, I have to keep my finger on the button as a "bulb mode"

BTW, you can get a third party switch for less than S$20 I think. It works as good as the original Pentax one.

Good luck!

k_istDS · 25th April 2005

Originally Posted by fengwei

That's easy lah. Just get a switch with three positions (off/focus/shuttle-release). The one I made, I have to keep my finger on the button as a "bulb mode"

BTW, you can get a third party switch for less than S$20 I think. It works as good as the original Pentax one.

Good luck!

Yes, I got my remote for less than SGD20 and it works just perfect..

Joko1974 · 25th April 2005

Originally Posted by k_istDS

Yes, I got my remote for less than SGD20 and it works just perfect..

Wah, good info

, where did you buy it? Thx in advance ... / joko

k_istDS · 25th April 2005

Originally Posted by Joko1974

Wah, good info , where did you buy it? Thx in advance ... / joko

Bought it at the CameraWorkshop.. and the remote is meant for Cannon.. ask them, they will let you try.. I remember the guy who sold me that was David.

Joko1974 · 6th May 2005

I've got one DIY for EOS 300d for 20SGD, it works well and got the first pict of fireworks using it.

robinhook · 16th August 2005

hi, fengwei, where did u buy your motorola handsfree, and what model or what model of handphone is it for?

fengwei · 22nd August 2005

Originally Posted by robinhook

hi, fengwei, where did u buy your motorola handsfree, and what model or what model of handphone is it for?

Sorry for the late reply. Didn't notice that this thread was still alive

I bought a couple of handsfree sets for Motorola handphones, just like a stereo earbuds but with a smaller plug. Make sure there are three sections on the plug pin (one common, one for focus and one for shuttle release).

Actually you can buy one used for some Canon SLR cameras. It's quite cheap and well built too. Cost around $20 I think, just like KK's.

Cheers!

19th October 2004	#1
fengwei Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bukit Gombak Posts: 9,105	*DIY - Pentax Cable Release CS-205 for Pentax istD and some Canon Cameras** Looked around but couldn't find a CS-205 release . And it's too expensive if order one from the US. So just made one for myself Materials: 1 motorola handsfree ($2.90), an old switch and a brass plate found at home. Here you go On/Off switch as autofocus (on and lock) : Press the brass plate to take a photo (only after the autofocus switch is switched on): Not so pretty looking but works great. Cannot use bulb shooting though. Cheers! Last edited by fengwei; 19th October 2004 at 01:52 PM.

24th April 2005	#9
Joko1974 Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 76	Any idea for bulb mode? Any idea for further improvement to use it for bulb mode? Gonna shot Mayday fireworks, I need it

16th August 2005	#15
robinhook Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Commonwealth Drive Posts: 61	Re: DIY - Pentax Cable Release CS-205 hi, fengwei, where did u buy your motorola handsfree, and what model or what model of handphone is it for?

19th October 2004	#2
Drudkh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,019	Hey! Very innovative!

19th October 2004	#6
choen Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: the mind Posts: 101	Which camera model is this cable release for? Was just looking through my old MZ series cameras and the connection socket do not resemble that cable's pin. Well done.

19th October 2004	#8
Spyer2 Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Payar Lebar Posts: 314	Yup an original wan cost about $95

6th May 2005	#14
Joko1974 Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 76	I've got one DIY for EOS 300d for 20SGD, it works well and got the first pict of fireworks using it.