Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control

Perform as described

Strengths: Small and good enough for reasonable distance

Weakness: Can't use it for more than 30 sec of shutter speed

Very easy to use. Just one button does it all. Operating distance is good enough--about 10-15 feet. It can also use as shutter release to reduce vibration, but it can only perform "bulb" for 30 sec due to camera (D70s) limitation. Use shutter release cord (MC-DC1) to perform longer "bulb" duration.

By jackm2211 - Jul 2, 2006

Nikon wireless remote ML-L3 for D-70s

Strengths: Light weight and very easy to use with convenient carrying case.

Weakness: Can be easily lost due to its size.

Very nice wireless control for Nikon D70s. There is no need to point it directly to the camera. It can be bounced on walls or pointed at the camera at various angles. You can't use it if its inside the case (unless you are 1 foot or less away from the camera). This remote control is very reasonably priced and a "must-have" for owners of Nikon D70s. Once the camera is set to receive the remote...
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Very nice wireless control for Nikon D70s. There is no need to point it directly to the camera. It can be bounced on walls or pointed at the camera at various angles. You can't use it if its inside the case (unless you are 1 foot or less away from the camera). This remote control is very reasonably priced and a "must-have" for owners of Nikon D70s. Once the camera is set to receive the remote signal, you can take as many shots as you want. I do not know how long the battery would last. I will have to update this review when I have more information. I'll guess, it should last a long time with the flat CR2025 3-volt, battery that it came with.

By edv91326 - May 27, 2006

Great accessory for sharp photos w no shake

Strengths: Quiet, very small, really tiny, reasonable price, includes battery and small case

Weakness: Range limited to about 15 ft, operation can be difficult from behind camera to fire shutter

This little remote is my answer to the lack of a cable release on (most) digital cameras ! I had only been using the timer on my older point and shoot digital camera and the timer on my new Nikon D50 SLR digital camera, when I finally decided to get this remote for the Nikon. I'm glad I purchased the remote, it's worth the price (I paid $16.95 online, a good price, it is higher at some other...
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This little remote is my answer to the lack of a cable release on (most) digital cameras ! I had only been using the timer on my older point and shoot digital camera and the timer on my new Nikon D50 SLR digital camera, when I finally decided to get this remote for the Nikon. I'm glad I purchased the remote, it's worth the price (I paid $16.95 online, a good price, it is higher at some other places). I have been photographing iris flower blooms and nature shots (including birds, deer) and wanted to get in the photo with my two hounds(who do not hold still over one second, so even a timer would not work for that), so this was the solution I needed. Others may have the same need, for "rapid quick" shutter use at the choice of a certain moment. The D50 has a small button that must be set to use this remote, and this button can be easily changed or punched accidentally, as I have done it, causing the remote to do one of the following; 1. be inactive and not fire the shutter, 2. have long wait time, or 3. activate the timer on the camera and not the remote. Thus, take care of the button on the D50 in using this remote.
The remote worked great with my flower-photography as I was able to hit the remote button and fire the shutter instantly. In contrast, when I have used the timer, even with a two-second delay, (the smallest delay available on timer setting), a breeze in that two-second delay would occasionally cause slight blur in the leaves and thus in the photo. The use of the remote on "quick fire instant" setting has eliminated that problem, as it fires as soon as the remote button is pressed. I guess an upgrade to the remote would be making it use radio frequency instead of infrared, as it does not always fire if the remote is behind the camera, you need to be at least at an angle to the front of the D50 where the sensor is located for IR. As I said, with impatient pets or children in the photo, the remote can solve that problem of needing instant shutter at the moment of choice.
I do recommend this accessory for Nikon camera use and I also recommend use of a tripod so that sharpness will be obtained as well as getting a shot at the right moment.

By dlgillilan - May 6, 2006

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote - Simple But Effective

Strengths: Small but not too small.

Weakness: IR (should've been RF)

I bought the ML-L3 wireless IR remote shutter release for my recently purchased Nikon D50 dSLR camera. I enjoy making virtual reality interactive panoramas, both cylindrical and full spherical and primarily use the remote to help minimize camera shake while acquiring the images. The ML-L3 is small - only 60mm long by 28mm wide and 5mm thick. The pictures I saw on the internet gave me the...
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I bought the ML-L3 wireless IR remote shutter release for my recently purchased Nikon D50 dSLR camera. I enjoy making virtual reality interactive panoramas, both cylindrical and full spherical and primarily use the remote to help minimize camera shake while acquiring the images.

The ML-L3 is small - only 60mm long by 28mm wide and 5mm thick. The pictures I saw on the internet gave me the impression that it was bigger. But small is good and the unit fits comfortably in hand without being too small.

Because the D50/D70/D70s cameras have their IR receiver on the front, I was concerned that the remote would only activate the shutter when fired from the front. Nikon describes a rather narrow operating angle and specifically states that the unit should be aimed at the front of the camera from a distance of 5m or less. It sounded as if the remote was more suited to people who want to be in front of the camera rather than simply operating the shutter remotely from behind.

Fortunately, the ML-L3 performs just fine from quite a wide angle. Indoors, the IR beam bounces off ceilings and walls allowing remote shutter operation from just about any position relative to the camera. Outdoors it is less forgiving, but it's still easy to use without including my remote-holding hand in the picture. I do have to be somewhat careful, however, when using my 10.5mm fisheye lens with its all-seeing 180° FOV!

So this little guy can be made to work from behind the camera in spite of the D50/D70 cameras' front-facing IR receiver. An RF signal would've have been a better solution, but that would've required changes to the camera's receiver electronics, so it's not really the ML-L3's fault.

The bottom line? This is a great little accessory to have in your camera bag. It comes with a small fitted storage case and the 3V CR2025 battery is included.

By rekkari - Feb 19, 2006

cool gadget

Strengths: works as advertised...small...good distance...inexpensive

Weakness: doesn't work through clothing

this should be included with every Niko camera...works as advertised...use it for long exposures so that there is no camera shake when you press the shutter release button. Very inexpensive, you can't go wrong for $15.

I haven't tested it's distance, but from 10 ft. it works great.

By dquant - Jan 10, 2006