Help nikon wireless remote.

[robow]

About 2 weeks ago I got a nikon d5000 and I thought it would be a good idea to get a tripod and a wireless remote. My problem is that I can't get the remote to work I don't know if I am missing something or what. And I can't find any help online anywhere. can anyone give me a step by step idiot proof break down of what to do so I can be sure I am not missing anything. thanks

 

[fish crazy]

I just got my remote last week so I to had to figure it out & it is pretty easy .Just go to the menu & change the release mode.The release mode will give you symbols one looks like a remote w/2 for a 2 second release & the other one is just a remote for quick release.

 

[robow]

Tried that and it still does nothing

 

[BlueCorn]

I've seen camera's that won't worth with a remote when in full automatic mode. I have no idea if that applies to your camera.

 

[Misled]

I don't know which way the camera is facing, but I remember a thread a while back where someone had the same problem. With some cameras, you have to be facing the camera.

 

[robow]

Yeah i have tried all that in front of the camera on a bunch of different modes. I think I might have got a bad remote. I am going to stop back by the camera store to see if they can get it to work.

 

[TWallace]

At the risk of being ridiculed for linking to Ken Rockwell's site, have you looked at this? Ken does say some silly things from time to time, but his site does have a lot of useful info in an easy to use format.

The infrared wireless remote for Nikon DSLRs only works from the front of the camera, and on some the sensor can be blocked by the lens (depends on how big your lens is and where the sensor is). On my D90, when I use my Tokina 11-16, it's often hard to trigger the shutter via the wireless remote, as the sensor is on the front left, and if I'm off to the right, the lens blocks the signal. So, I recommend you find out where the sensor is (left or right side of the front of the camera), point the remote directly at it without anything blocking it and see if it works that way. Once you get past the signal problems with the wireless remote, it's actually very handy, especially considering how cheap it is. For aquarium photography, you can bounce the signal off your aquarium glass from behind the camera and it will hit the sensor just fine. I use it that way for macro photography, so I don't bump the camera.

 

[BennyFrank]

^ +1

I got very frustrated when I first got my Nikon remote until I figured out I had to hold it within 2" of the right/front side of the camera. Also, I'm sure you did this already, but if I remember right there was a plastic tab that had to be pulled to allow the battery to contact the terminals.