Remote shutter releases, also known as cable releases, are mechanisms that are dedicated to the camera and when attached allow the photographer to operate the cameras from a distance. They either come wirelessly remote, with buttons for flash operation as well as a shutter button, or they may consist of a length of cable or lead with a plug on one end to connect to the camera and a switch lock and release button on the other end.
After investing in one, you'll wonder what you ever did without it! But it must be one dedicated to your camera.
They perform two main tasks:
1) In low light situations, where the shutter is required to be kept open for long exposures; for example, photographing 'star trails' where the shutter may need to be open for two or three hours at a time and longer.
2) To assist in close-up photography or when the operator is concerned about possible camera movement as a direct result of manually operating the shutter.
The switch lock/button end of the lead is held by the photographer and once the photo is composed the button is then pressed for focussing and to release the shutter. If the shutter is required to be kept open (as with the star trails) the photographer presses the button and locks it down with the switch lock and then after a predetermined time the switch lock is released and the shutter closes.
