Monday, May 18, 2009

Nikon D90 Wireless Remote Control - ML-L3


Must Have, Most Popular Item!

This little Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control has to be one of the most popular accessories you can buy for your D90. I use mine all the time. It comes with a little soft pocket case you can attach to your camera strap so it's always right there for you. The best thing is the price! Slim wireless remote instantly triggers shutter without disturbing camera Ideal for subjects that are difficult to approach or for minimizing vibrations Includes pouch For use with Nikon D40, D40x, D60, D80 & D90 Digital SLR Cameras

Check it Out and Reviews Here!

39 comments:

Demens said...

And here is something even cheaper.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6236

I personally have two. One went through a washing machine with my pants. ;D
I immediately ordered a new one, but later on i found that it just needed a battery replacement.

Scbbbc said...

Wow, thats a good deal...

anne said...

Anyonhe got a solution to this?? I left camera on for two weeks, battery died. I charged battery, but camera won't reset, or operate. Tech support said: remove batter, wiht camera on, hold shutter release for 45 seconds...didn't work. Any ideas??
thanks, anne

Unknown said...

I purchased a ML-L3 for my D90 and it only fires the shutter on occasion during nighttime extended exposure shoots. It's on Manual mode, manual focus, bulb and remote. Usually when it won't fire...the shutter button won't work either...what am I doing wrong?

Scbbbc said...

Sali, I tried these setting and it worked fine. Remember standing behind the camera the remote is on your left side front! I used to have problems making the remote work all the time since for some reason i was always aiming it to the right side...Not saying this is your problem but it was mine for the longest of time...

Unknown said...

I stopped by the camera shop and they took my camera back in the darkroom and it fired every time. I came home and with the same damn settings and the remote right up in front of the sensor and it wouldn't fire... It only happens in low/no light situations...fires fine in regular light...I don't get it...and evidently only screws up when it's on the tripod and pointed at the moon!

Chip Ahoy said...

Hello. I'm experimenting. I actually have no present need for this, I'm just trying to understand my camera and to further understand Photoshop.

In David Bush's book, Nikon D90 pg. 186 Bracketing and Merge to HDR David writes:

1) ... activate the remote by pressing the Drive button ...

So far so good. That does work. Then:

3) Press the Drive Mode button and select Continuous High. This will ensure that all three bracketed shots are taken consecutively once you've triggered the shutter with the remote release.

Doing that takes it off remote. It's either remote or it's continuous, not both. What am I missing?

Then to confuse further,

4) Set the D90 to S (Shutter Priority). this forces the D90 to bracket the exposures by changing the shutter speed. You don't want the bracketed exposures to have different aperture settings, because the depth-of-field will change, perhaps enough to disturb a smooth merger of the final shots.

That instruction contradicts my understand of S priority. Shouldn't it be A priority? Does this basic thing change when bracketing is chosen?

I can bracket three photos with the same Aperture using the remote, but not continuously. It takes three presses of the remote and the camera refocuses each time.

Any thoughts?

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I was wondering if the remote can activate the video function of the D90. Thank you

Scbbbc said...

Sofialist, thanks for stopping by...As far as i know you can not activate the video with this remote!

Unknown said...

sali, do you have autofocus set? In single-server AF, the D90 won't fire until focus is achieved. Perhaps yours is hunting for focus?

Unknown said...

Ok so i got this little thing as a birthday gift and im super excited to use it and i press it and it doesnt work. is there a special trick to it? The box says nothing so i'm confused :( It came with a battery in it so im assuming that is'nt a problem. Am i doing something wrong?

Anonymous said...

Jennifer....you need to hold down the button on top of the camera, to the right of the display that has the picture of a little remote and timer icon above it. Hold down that button and rotate the command dial until you see a picture of a remote on the display. You camera should then be able to pick up the signal.

Scbbbc said...

Thanks Pip, for helping out jen....

Mansur said...

I noticed that once you activate the remote mode, when the D90 goes back into standby mode, the remote setting is gone. Is there a way to make it so that the remote mode doesn't change back to standard shutter release mode when the camera goes to standby mode? Thanks

Scbbbc said...

Mualij, You'll need to set your Remote on Duration in custom settings C5, The default is 1 minute but you can set it as high as 15 minutes! thats what i set mine to....Have Fun!

Mansur said...

Thanks! Works fine now :-)

Wildlife Seeker said...

Thinking of buying one but I hear you can only use it from in front of the camera. Is this true? Also, does anyone know the distance you can stand from the camera and it still works.

Lydia said...

I bought this little guy from the official J&R website. I notice that people who buys the one that says "for Nikon" can't take photos from the back of the camera. (Reviews) I can do that. I can also take photos from about 10 feet away and farther. I would recommend people speeding a bit more for the official remote which it only says Nikon, not "For Nikon".

Here it is if you're interested.

http://www.jr.com/nikon/pe/NKN_MLL3/

Vijay said...

Hello guys!
Thanks for the wonderful blog... I'm learning a lot more than I can understand from the manual. Esp. I was panicked when I couldn't on my remote control... Now I learned it from here...
From now on I'm also in to share my experience...
Regards,
Vijay

Anonymous said...

Thank you . I'm very happy that I found this blog. I'm a totally new for photo and i just bought D90. I'm really interested in Photos. I hope that someday i'll be good at it. I'll visit every pages of this blog. Thanks again. Bayasgalan From Mongolia

imhaf said...

This is the first time I com across this blog. All the tips given really works. Thanks and good work guys. Now I'm firing away with my newly bought remote..

Anonymous said...

Hi. I just bought the ML-L3 wireless remote and when I set the D90 to timer/remote via the command dial, and then press the remote, it takes a picture within about 2 secs regardless of how long the timer is set for. Can anyone tell me why?
Thanks.
Matt

Eightysevens said...

Is anyone aware of a wireless remote with an 'Off' switch? I bought the ML-L3 and got through two batteries, 9at £4 each), within a few days because it is set to turn off after about 2 mins. The remote being packed in my bag was continually being turned on as I travelled. £200 a year is alot to spend on batteries! Hence I returned it to the shop I purchased it from.

sarah said...

I'm having the same problems as Matt. When I'm in both remoter and timer mode, the picture is taken with a 2-3 second delay. Any way to change this?

galatas said...

In the settings menu (Timers/AE Lock > Self Timer) you can alter the timer delay and the number of shots taken for one press of the remote or shutter release button. That should take care of bracketing.

galatas said...

After changing settings in the menu it is important to click the OK button in the centre of the 4 way multi switch. If you exit without doing that your changes will not take effect.

galatas said...

@ eightysevens
A small pice of plastic or paper slipped between the battery and one contact will prevent your battery from becoming flat when travelling. A battery will last years under normal use.

cbatterylife said...

Great information thank

Lakevia said...

Hello I purchased the ml-l3 remote for my husbands Nikon dl300 for Christmas. I'm trying to figure out how to set it up before I wrap it. Is this compatible with this camera ? If so how can I set it up?

Scbbbc said...

Lakevia, I dont think the D3100 can use the ML-L3 nor the D300 if thats what you mean....

Lakevia said...

Ok thank you. Do you know which one will work for the camera?

Scbbbc said...

MC-DC2 Remote Release Cord is what I've read.

Anonymous said...

Simple question...to which I can't seem to find an anwser.

If the camera is on auto focus - does the wireless remote adjust focus for you? I want to be able to take self-portraits and need to be a certain distance away from the camera. This makes focussing difficult usually. I want to be able to sit in front of the camera, press down on the remote - have the camera focus and then take the shot.

Scbbbc said...

Yes if you have it on Auto-Focus it will auto focus on you when you use the remote! Have fun....

Ann V. said...

Is there a way to keep the remote setting active on the D90? I can set it up, take the shot with the remote..but if i walk away for a few minutes the remote setting on the D90 deactivates. Trying to work out the kinks for my wedding photobooth.

Scbbbc said...

Hello Ann, I think the max remote duration is 15 minutes...thats what I have mine set at.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I have the same problem as Ann V. I can use the remote but if I leave it for any length of time it resets to the normal shutter release. What's the point in being able to select the remote if it shuts off itself. It's really annoying!!
Stephen

baydogs said...

Hi-
I'm glad I found this blog. I don't pretend to be an expert with the D90 but I have been using it for a couple of years and shot many thousands of pics with it after being dragged kicking and screaming away from my old tank-like F-1 Canon that I used for about 35 years!
In response to the question about being able to use the ML-L3 remote to shoot bracketed, three shot bursts by pushing the button one time, I don't believe it can be done. (If it can, I haven't been able to figure it out.) You can bracket a picture by pushing the button on the ML-L3 remote, three times - OR - you can use a MC-DC2 wired remoted and push the button once and it will fire a three shot, bracketed burst.
I don't know if anyone from Nikon looks at these blogs but a suggestion would be to make a small REMOTE receiver that plugs into the same plug as the MC-DC2 so that an ML-L3 could be used from any position and also be used to fire a three shot, bracketed burst with one push.
(If I am wrong and I just haven't discovered a way to get 3 shot bracketed bursts with one push of the ML-L3,PLEASE tell me where in the menus to find it).
Thanks for all of the good info here.