Promote Systems Promote Control, Remote Control for Digital SLR Cameras

SKU: CZDRPCTRL1

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Questions & Answers

DANIEL C : Your tech specs page for the Promote say a Bulb Ramping and Bulb HDR Assistant kit is required for those modes with the Canon bodies but the Assistant kit is not listed on the Promote Accessories page. What good is the device if I cannot get all the accessories needed through you?THOMAS G : I think this customer is making an unrealistic request. The Bulb HDR Assistance kit is available from Promote Systems for $29.95. It consists of a hot shoe PC adapter and a cable with PC connection on one end and a Promote Control device connector on the other end. There are many special low sales items offered by camera and camera equipment that are not stocked by camera stores. Do some home work and stop being childish.MICHAEL G : I have used the Promote with a Canon 5D MKII with great success. I use the required 2 cables: shutter release & USB (camera to Promote). I do not know if there are any additional kits that have been added since my purchase, but all of the functions seem to work with just the two cables. I always use both, as it improves shutter response with the release cable. You can download the manual at the Promote website, it will give you step-by-step instructions. They also have an FAQ section as well. Cheers!
Shopper : 1) During HDR shooting is the frame rate limited by the camera or limited by the Promote? The reason for this question is that I frequently shoot HDRs handheld and rely on the fast shutter sequence of the DSLR to limit the movement between frames. 2) If one were to shoot the camera handheld is there a release button on the Promote that one could easily fire "blind" with the left hand while looking through the camera viewfinder. Thank you.TODD K : 1)The frame rate is limited by the Promote Control. You can buy a separate shutter release cable that connects to the promote, that will help increase the frame rate. But it is still not as fast as it would be it you shot it out of your camera. If you like to take handheld HDRs I wouldn't buy the promote. It is a good product but you it takes some time to set up for an HDR shot. With the promote you can't shoot in aperture priority, you have to shoot in manual mode and you have to program the shutter speed into the promote control. So it is a lot more cumbersome if you're used to firing off shots in aperture priority, like it sounds like you are. I find myself using the promote only when I have, if I can get away with only 3 shots from my D7000 that what I use. 2)There is a "start" button to start the HDR sequence. Problem is that you are going to need two hands to operate the promote. Because you must first have the camera in aperture priority to get the appropriate shutter speed reading from the camera, focus the camera, switch it to manual mode, program the shutter speed in the promote and the press start. If your camera is not set up on a tripod it will be extremely hard to do. Plus holding the camera straight for 3 shots is hard enough. Most people use the promote to take at least 5 shots. I don't think you could hold the camera that straight for 5 shots with one hand on your camera and other on the promote.THEODORE H : During HDR the promote takes the base line from your camera and then allows you to have as many exposures as you tell it. I think that it would be tuff to do that while hand holding. You can hang it around your neck but taking your hand off the camera and finding the the button would be tuff. You could try the timer and see it you can start it and then get reframed.THOMAS S : Promote limits the firing rate and it is slower than the camera's internal one -- about 1 to 2 sec per shot. I don't think you can release the shutter directly by pushing buttons on the Promote. but I could be wrong about that.RICHARD SMITH J : I have used this only with a Nikon D90, both with and without the cable release, the latter using only the USB cable. With the USB only it is a slow shooting rate that appears to be a function of the USB/camera communication path. With the cable release (which also requires, at least with the D90, the USB cable) it appears that the speed is only limited by the camera's shooting rate.JOSEPH P : 1. The frame rate is maintained and controlled by the camera. 2. You would need a remote shutter cable also sold by promote to make this realistic. This entire piece is way... Way too cumbersome for what I needed as I shoot real estate and streetscapes. I just shoot three and then adjust my bracketing to the next three. I guess I have a steady hand. The promote is a complete waste of money for me. Others have found it useful. I sent mine back to adorama and it was a cOmplete nightmare so keep that in mind ROBERT D : I have only used my remote so far for astrophotography. (Very long shutter times.) Per the instructions, it overrides camera controls, so up to 45 HDR shots are possible, with a range up to 9.0 EV. I liked the remote so well, I sold my Canon remote. Go to "promotesystems" web site for more info. Don't forget to get the right cables for your camera! Bob an Adorama customer
Shopper : Do you have a promote cable for Sony a700?KENNETH M : No, Nikon D7000GARY K : No I have a Promote for a Canon D5 Mark II and it works great!JIM N : Sorry, mine is for Canon.CRAIG W : It's a great product, but i know nothing about Sony's cameras or compatibility with Promote ControlCHARLES G : No, I do not. I have the cable for the Canon 5D Mark ii. I have not seen a cable listed for the Sony a700. Suggest you contact Promote Systems directly. Chuck GuildnerJOAN C : I'm sorry, This question was forwarded to me, but I don't know anything about the connection to a Sony a700. Good luck!

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2014-02-01T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Love it and hate the manual

Allows your camera to do pretty much anything, timelapse, long exposure, bulb exposure, crazy high braketing HDR's, HDR-Timelapse combo. But the manual is difficult. Probably because it works across different cameras and does somany things. But you have to dig out critical points onhow to use this things fromthe manual. DEFINETLY practise with it before you use a certain function!!! I've lost a ton of photos because I thought I new how it worked. But if it works, it will let your camera domany, many cool things. Just wish the camera manufacturers built this stuff into the cameras!!!!!!!!!! JUST MAKE SURE YOUR CAMERA IS SUPPORTED and PRACTISE with it!

SCOT T.

2013-12-30T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Perfect control!

I mainly use the Promote Control for time lapse and it does the job perfectly and is fairly easy to program. Once the intervalls are programmed, you can walk away and shoot other subjects while your time lapse is completing. I have used it for HDR also which allows more control than came programmed in my Canon camera.

Bristow I.

2013-03-04T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Great for Interiors Photography

I've had the Promote Controller since last year and have found it to be very helpful for creating bracketed photographs. My camera can only do 3 image brackets, so having the Promote Controller allows me to do as many as I want. For me it is typically 7 to 9 images. And I use it exclusively for photographing interior spaces. It is very easy to use and works great. The only negative I have is that it is a little expensive, but other than that, I have no hesitation in recommending it.

STEVE V.

2013-01-14T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent product & excellent company

I've been using the Promote Control for almost 3 years now and it's still my favorite accessory. I do paid Real Estate photo shoots and I have to deal with poor lighting most of the time, so bracketing is very common. I shoot with a 5dII which has very limited bracketing features, but with this Promote control the sky's the limit. This device has saved me so much time it has been well worth it's cost. I had to contact the company two times and both times they where very responsive and helpful. One time I had a cord going bad and they sent me new one no questions asked, and the second time I accidentally ripped one of the rubber covers off the top and they sent me a replacement right away. I highly recommend this product if your camera doesn't have bracketing features that meet your needs.

Jeremy

2012-05-24T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Invaluable piece of kit

Does exactly what it is supposed to. I use it daily for my HDR work, it saves me about 10mins per job, so up to an hour per day, depending on how busy I am. Not many products can offer that. It could use a little bump or something on the start button so you could easily find it when you're in a position where you can't see it, but that is the only thing I would change. I am so impressed I have purchased a second one as backup, just incase I do something silly and damage it (like drop it in a pool, etc). I have found it invaluable, and a completly neccesary piece of kit.

mjcrow

2012-05-06T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Best for HDR

Lets you make as many bracketed shots as you want

STEPHEN W.

2012-05-06T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

An essential tool for HDR photography

I've gotten several stunning HDR photos that simply wouldn't have been possible any other way.

BRUCE T.

2012-04-24T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Fun piece of kit

Got this for a trip to California and had lots of chances to use it. The time lapse was a first for me so I did 5 or 6 and everyone I have showed them to enjoyed them. As a Canon shooter I liked how easy it was to set multiple brackets. I had to back order the shutter release so I have yet to do any star/long exposures.

FR8Dog

2012-04-15T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Very useful for HDR & as intervalometer

If you are at all interested in serious HDR photography with several other features incorporated into this unit, including intervalometer capabilities, than you will be quite pleased with this Promote Control. Have used it for over a year now and could not be happier with it. Simple to use and very reliable.

LAWRENCE G.

2012-02-21T19:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Goes beyond my expectations

I am very pleased with how the Promote Control performs. After some trial and error, and viewing the on-line videos (highly recommended) I was able to create several sharp images using the focus stacking control. I've not yet fully tested the HDR function but my sense is that it will also perform well. While the price is a little off putting the device lives up to my expect ions, and beyond.

Stan

2011-12-25T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Love it!

For Tone mapped or HDR photography. That is my purpose. My new Nikon D7000 will only sequence 3 images at a time. This device will do 99. I generally do 5-7 images. Love it.

yachtsbroker

2011-09-17T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Product!

If your camera does not bracket enough stops via manual mode, this is the perfect solution. Able to bracket without touching the camera!

brada

2011-09-03T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Does what it is supposed to do, very wel

A quick read thru the manual and you are ready to go. Set up is easy. It does more than I expected. One of the rubber boots on the side of the unit that protects the outlets, came off the very first time I used it. Another came off the 10th time I used it. That was a bit disappointing, the design needs to be more robust. I also purchased an optional remote cord that did not fit well into the unit, pops out and makes inconsistent contact. Promote is sending a replacement, I will know then how that feature functions. The unit itself works as expected. Little pricey but it is the only game in town.

KENNETH M.

2011-03-24T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Fantastic device

I bought this device to simplify taking photos when generating an HDR (high dynamic range) exposure. It does the job brilliantly! I set my camera on a tripod, set it to manual mode, selected the aperture and focus and estimated the mid exposure (speed), then i set my promotecontrol to HDR mode, entered the mid exposure speed, the EV steps (I selected 1EV), and the total number of exposures (I selected 9), connected the promote control to my camera and pressed the Start button. I fed the generated photos to my HDR application (I use Photomatix) and the resulting image was just amazing! The PromoteControl is very easy to operate. When I used it for the first time, I flicked through the user manual supplied with the device, and within 2 minutes I had taken my first shot. It can be used to perform other functions: 1. In the "One Shot" mode, it either simply instructs the camera to release the shutter with the current in-camera settings, or attempts to preset a chosen shutter speed before taking the picture 2. In the "Time Lapse" mode it takes a number of pictures separated by a preset time interval, with an optional delay before starting the sequence. 3. In the ""High Dynamic Range" it creates a number (of your choice) of images with different shutter speeds based on the EV of your choice. 4. In the "Manual Hold" it allows you to expose manually. The camera shutter opens when the "Start" button is pressed on the Promote Control, and closes on releasing the "Start" button. It also has a "Focus" button that can be used instead of half-pressing the camera shutter release button. It also has the capability of being remotely triggered if the optional add-on is purchased. I love it, and very highly recommend it!

Michelle A.

2011-01-27T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Promote Remote

The Promote Remote is fantastic for HDR photography. I own a Nikon D90 which allows for 3 images to be bracketed. This is sometimes not enough as 5 or 7 images are generally required. Using the Promote Remote I routinely take 13 images knowing I have fully captured the entire range of light. I delete the grossly over & under exposed images after pulling into the computer. This way I know I have everything recorded. Nikon D90 users should definitely purchase the cable release. Be smart and buy two in the beginning. While out last weekend I slipped on ice and busted my cable.[...]

Reb P.

2011-01-11T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent Product for HDR Photography

I don't know how I used my 5D Mark 2 for HDR without this in the past.

DPC

2010-04-26T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

wonderful accessory

Product incredibly functional, great use is as a remote release for the HDR really a product that was missing from the world of photography mainly because easy to use and intuitive

scipionix75

2010-04-23T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

HDRi absolutely noise free

D5000 HDR 11 images at 0.3EV absolutely noise free real estate photos

CHARLES M.

2010-04-11T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

For the serius HDR shooter

This is a musr for the serious HDR shooter. Don't let the price stop you, it's worth every penny.

Keith5280

2010-02-02T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great Aid for HDR

Taking HDR Photos with my Canon 5D Mk ll

57guy

About Promote Systems Remote Control for DSLRs Camera

FEATURED REVIEWS

Great Aid for HDR

By 57guy

Taking HDR Photos with my Canon 5D Mk ll

Excellent product & excellent company

By Jeremy

I've been using the Promote Control for almost 3 years now and it's still my favorite accessory. I do paid Real Estate photo shoots and I have to deal with poor lighting most of the time, so bracketing is very common. I shoot with a 5dII which has very limited bracketing features, but with this Promote control the sky's the limit. This device has saved me so much time it has been well worth it's cost. I had to contact the company two times and both times they where very responsive and helpfu...

View full Review

Designed for serious amateurs and pros, Promote Control is an advanced remote control for digital SLR cameras from various manufacturers. It opens new doors for your creativity with its superior automation and intuitive ease of use.

It will have you taking High Dynamic Range (HDR) photographs, time-lapse sequences and much more in a flash. With the Promote Control, you can gain unprecedented, advanced control over your SLR camera in ways that will save you time, especially when taking either traditional or HDR photos.

Capture the World in a Whole New Light:
Among a multitude of easy-to-use features, Promote Control offers unique flexibility for exposure bracketing, which is commonly used to create High Dynamic Range images.

High Dynamic Range, or HDR imaging quickly gains popularity these days, thanks to stunning detail and tone range rendition. Promote Control propels HDR imaging forward by offering unparalleled flexibility, allowing for bracketing step variability previously not possible with in-camera bracketing modes.

Promote Control can also automatically put the camera into Bulb mode as appropriate when performing bracketed exposures longer than 30 seconds, requiring no further user intervention. The resulting images can be processed in a software application of choice to create a highly realistic image with a wide tonal range.

One of the most useful features of the Promote Control is an advanced Time-Lapsemode normally found only in middle to high end professional SLR cameras. Users can now perform Time-Lapse photography with any camera supported by Promote Control, including affordable entry level digital SLR cameras. An optional startdelay can be specified to start a Time-Lapse sequence after a certain time period has elapsed.

Get Sharper Photographs:
In order to boost the quality of their photographs, users can easily setup their Promote Control unit to perform a fully automatic, user-defined delay for Mirror Lock-Up before every picture is taken. Locking the mirror before taking a picture gives a tripod-based camera the ultimate stability required to take a perfectly sharp photograph. The Promote Control brings this important feature to every photographer's workflow in a seamless, sensible way. *

(* Some features are subject to be supported by the camera, and may require an optional separate shutter cable. Shutter cable availability may vary by the camera brand and model.)

Because it's highly customizable, the Promote Control can be calibrated to match your personal preferences. Moreover, the Promote Control's firmware is upgradeable, so the device will stay up-to-date with the latest functionality and enhanced capabilities of future camera models.

Key Features

  • Replaces and extends manufacturer-specific remote controls
  • Advanced easy-to-configure "Time-Lapse Mode"
  • Optional user-defined Mirror-Up timeout available in all modes *
  • Improved user interface featuring flexible user-definable settings
  • Optional multi-tone audible feedback
  • Weather-resistant design for water and dust resiliency

What's in the box:

  • Promote Control Unit
  • Carrying Case
  • Users Manual
  • Neck Strap
  • Black USB Cable (to connect promote control to your camera)
  • White USB Cable (for updating Promote Control firmware from a personal computer)
  • Two AA Batteries
  • Promote Systems Warranty: Guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year)