I’m pretty good at not losing things. What I mean is that if I lose something, I find it again. Sometimes quickly, sometimes after a long while, but those lost things have a habit of coming back to me. Most of the time, anyway.
A couple of weeks ago I lost the remote for my camera. Not a major loss, as it was a cheap knock-off, but the timing was bad. I’m leaving for Iceland on Saturday and I must have a remote! So I couldn’t wait for it to re-surface (because I’m convinced I’ve just misplaced it, instead of genuinely lost it – I remember where I used it the last time and I’m sure I put it in the bag). So I browsed the cheap knock-offs on Amazon again, and instead of getting the same remote that now is missing (because what’s the point of having two exactly the same?), I splashed out on the big intervalometer instead. It still being cheaper than any kind of Sony original remote. I also considered a wireless remote but I didn’t want to risk triggering somebody else’s Sony in Iceland… the remote is not paired with the camera as such so I assume it will trip the shutter on any Sony with the wireless remote function enabled. And also, I had a wireless remote for my Canon at one point. It worked when I tested it, and never again. So I don’t have a lot of faith in those things.
I actually had a similar intervalometer for my Canon as well, but only ever used it as a normal remote. I forgot how to use the timer options because I never used them. So I learned it, didn’t use it, and forgot. Checked the manual again, didn’t use it, and had forgotten it when in the field. Etc. Anyway, so now I have this fancy new Shoot remote (”Shoot” is not a typo, it’s the brand name. A name that inspires confidence, for sure!), and wanted to try it out before Iceland, maybe I’ll remember the functions if I actually use them.
Then at one point I tested the remote by letting it hang in the water. It was not entirely on purpose, granted, so I fished it up quickly, took out the batteries and dried everything carefully with a small pack towel I always have in the pack (except on my first trip to Iceland where I lost a small pack towel and never got it back again). Put everything back together, and lo and behold – the remote was still firing!
The old remote then. I found it. Right where I left it. It’s just that I left it in place where I normally never keep any photography equipment, and it was inside a pouch where I normally never put it, so it was just simply out of sight. Just as well that I have two remotes now. Both are coming with me to Iceland, in case one of them goes for a swim and I don’t rescue it soon enough!
