When you do long exposures, you will need a remote cable. But did you know, that there is an original mechanical Fuji shutter release cable with an X-Series sign on it?
Fuji shutter release cable – Just keep it simple
Taking a picture at night might be tricky, since exposure times will go up. No doubt, a tripod will come handy. But in order to avoid blurred images from camera movement when you press the shutter button, you will require a remote release cable to decouple your body from the camera.
Sure, there are electronic solutions which plug into the USB port of the camera. But the problem is that you give up water resistance by using those, since you will have to leave the connector hatch open. The USB port is quite fragile too, sooner or later you might apply a stronger force on the release cable by accident and break the USB jack.
Wifi solutions are cool, with Fuji’s remote app there is a wireless life view on Android and iOS. And it’s possible to adjust the camera settings too. But I am not only referring to myself when I say that I don’t use the smartphone often to control my Fuji. It’s faster for me to pull a mechanical release cable out of my bag and screw it in, than searching for my mobile phone, starting the app, establishing connection on the cam, etc. I just screw the shutter release cable into the threaded shutter release button and am ready to go. And I don’t have to bother about the battery level of an additional device.
Premium model with X-series lettering
There are a lot of cheap release cables on the market, but Fuji is offering its own premium model with a proper branding. The cable is 50 cm long (about 20”) and apart from the texture-covered wire, it is made from solid aluminium.
Under the button there is a locking ring. By turning it, the release button will not snap back anymore until you unlock it again. This function is quite convenient when you use bulb mode for long exposure times. In fact, this is all you need! You don’t even need a watch, since you can see the time counter on the display of the camera.
My verdict
All in all I like Fuji’s shutter release cable, because with a mechanical release I am feeling more connected to the scene. I also like the spongy pressure point, since it reminds me of the time with my old Russian rangefinder camera. Sure, the Fuji shutter release cable is a bit more expensive than other similar models. But despite it’s simplicity it is solid and matches the built quality of the camera. And of course, don’t forget the X series lettering! You have to decide for yourself, if that’s worth the price premium. I confess I bought it.
Please don’t steal my images – just kindly ask, if you want to use one of them. All rights reserved.
