p.1 #2 · intervalometer for nikon mirrorless for astrophotography
1. It would help to know the specific Z body that you plan to use the intervalometer with. I don't have any mirrorless bodies but earlier Nikons DSLRs had different connection types depending on the body. The D850/D500 has a 10-pin connection for a remote while the D780 uses a Nikon MC-DC2.
The Z5, Z6 and Z7 bodies use the latter Nikon DC-2 while the Z8 and Z9 both use the 10-pin connection.
2. While you can use the internal timer I prefer using an intervalometer for reasons of precise control. While my D780 has the same 900 second internal timer as the Z bodies, my issue is the incremental jumps between times. It jumps from 30 to 60 to 90 to 120 to 180 to 240 to 300 to 480 to 600 to 720 to 900. With those steps if I want a 9 minute exposure my options are 480=8 minutes or 600=10 minutes. An intervalometer allows you to select a time between the incremental jumps.
As for brands. I have a MC-36A (D850/D500) and a Vello ShutterBoss II (D780). Both work fine. The Nikon is pricey but you can find them on ebay or other sites at 1/3rd of their suggested price. Same with Vello (Amazon/eBay) tho those tend to be much cheaper than the Nikon branded remotes.
p.1 #3 · intervalometer for nikon mirrorless for astrophotography
I placed order for astro modified used Z6 ( full spectrum plus astronomik 2 filter)
my issue is the incremental jumps between times. It jumps from 30 to 60 to 90 to 120 to 180 to 240 to 300 to 480 to 600 to 720 to 900. With those steps if I want a 9 minute exposure my options are 480=8 minutes or 600=10 minutes. An intervalometer allows you to select a time between the incremental jumps.
I am sure you are aware that the interval is from start to start.
So you include the shutter duration within the intervals for it to work properly
p.1 #4 · intervalometer for nikon mirrorless for astrophotography
NissanPatrol wrote:
I am sure you are aware that the interval is from start to start.
So you include the shutter duration within the intervals for it to work properly
Nope. Completely unaware as I never have used the internal timer (I probably should figure it out tho). I obviously know abt the extended timer but upon hearing about it I didn't think it was for me. I shoot mainly landscapes and I don't like touching my camera at all during long exposures, so remote shutters are what I gravitated to for a couple of reasons.
Delay adds a delay and sometimes I see the shot 1/2 second before I need to fire the shutter. Having a 1-2 second delay just wasn't for me. Having instant control over the shutter worked better for how I like to shoot.
I also use ND filters often and calculate my exposure time with Photopills which calculates down to the second. Coming from the D500/D850 the internal timer maxed out at 30 seconds which was no option at all when I needed a 2m exposure time for a 10-stop filter. So I gravitated to using and learning on an intervalometer because it gave me the control that I desired.
Once I purchased the D780 I never bothered with their internal timer because after years of using an intervalometer it had become 2nd nature to me.
