Olympus RM-1 Remote Control for Olympus Stylus Cameras

On the Olympus E-500 and maybe others, there is not an option for any kind of contact closure cable release. This was a big disappointment. For an automation project I am doing now, I need this.With the RM-1 remote (and probably many others) this can be overcome. Make a small battery interrupter as follows. Glue a small piece of copper foil or brass foil on each side of a slightly larger piece of paper. Solder a small wire to each piece of foil.Carefully remove and replace the battery so that this interrupter is between the top (-) side of the battery and the contact from the remote PC board that presses there. I made 2 small notches in the battery holder to enable the wires to run through and allow the battery compartment to close. At the other end of the two wires, you can install a switch or drive the contact closure from a relay (in my case computer driven).Finally, just use a spring clip, office type, to hold down the capture button.Now, when the contacts are closed, the remote is powered up (the button is already pushed) and a picture is taken.Good solution and no hacking of the camera. Remote works well in all other ways. No problems taking out and replacing battery as someone else said.

I bought the RM-1 remote because I was tired of running back and forth to the camera when I used the self timer. The RM-1 works exactly as described. What it will do depends on the type of Olympus camera you have. If your camera supports this device and has an electronic zoom, you can also do it with the RM-1. However, for Olympus DSLRs with a manual zoom, the RM-1 is essentially just a remote shutter release (including bulb). I bought it to use with an E-510 so I can only comment on the use of the RM-1 as a shutter release. The manual is very specific about how to use this. It is important to remember that the receiver is on the front of the camera (the small red window). The manual claims a maximum distance of 9.8' outdoors and 16.4' indoors and not more than 15 degrees to either side of the receiver on the front of the camera. From my experience these distances are an underestimate. Twenty feet outside or inside does not seem to be a problem. I have not had a chance to test different angles, but suspect 15 degrees is a bit of an underestimate. One thing that impressed me about the RM-1 was its small size - about 2" x 1.25" x 0.25" - making it very easy to carry. Although a little expensive, it works as described with minimal hassle and seems to be well made. Battery life is supposed to be about 10,000 shots so I really couldn't test this.

This is the second RM-1 remote control that I have. The first one came with my C-2020Z camera and served me well. I used it to take some 2000 pics. In the interim, I also threw in lots of abuse for good measure |-) : I dropped it numerous times, stepped on it, etc. When it finally conked out, the original battery was still going strong. Battery power consumption had not been an issue. The remote control is great for taking self-portrait, or for group shots. It's *much* better than using the self-timer: no need to run & get into position after tripping the timer! The only problem that I experienced was when using it outdoors, its range is somewhat limited. Once when I needed to take a pic of a group of people posing next to their cars (i.e. a pic where the camera needs to be a bit of a way away), I needed to walk up closer to the camera (on a tripod) before the remote control would work.-- Andy Nguyen \ aqn at panix dot com

My wife has an E-5XX series Olympus DSLR and has wanted a remote so she could take photos while the camera was mounted on a tripod without the camera shake of pushing the shutter button manually. This remote allows you do to that, but not in the way you'd expect to be able to. Unfortunately, the E-5XX camera body only has an IR sensor on the front of the camera, not on the top or back. This would allow you to set the camera up and take a picture of yourself, such as in group photos. So, when she wants to set up the camera aimed at a bird feeder or other situations, she can't sit behind the camera and hit the remote to snap the picture. Instead she needs to hold her hand out in front of the camera body, trying not to block the shot.Ultimately, this isn't necessarily a fault of the remote. It does what it is designed to do. The direct problem is the camera body not having IR sensors in better locations. But because both the camera and the remote are Olympus designs, the functionality suffers due to lack of forethought.

The remote works pretty well. I only have two problems with it but both I knew before I bought. The first is the limited distance, which is not a real problem for anyone who is doing self-portrait photography. The second is that you have to aim the remote directly into the lens because that is where the infrared sensor is located. Again this is not a big problem because for me and for most newer Olympus models because you have the option of delaying the shutter so you can get out of the picture. I own an Olympus E-510 and as I expected only the shutter button on the remote works, none of the other functions (as far as i know) do, for my camera. It is pretty sturdy as well considering I've dropped it and stepped on it more then once.

This is a nice gadget to have with your camera.It's not that you will use it... everyday, but the moment you need it, you will appreciate the money you have spend on it...My only complain (that's why the 4 stars)... With my E-500 the zoom buttons doesn't work... although someone might as well say... why do you need the zoom???... you set the camera before you walk into the picture... you press the button... you smile and you are set... if you begin zooming... then you might as well lose the the picture you wanted to frame at the beginning :DBeyond this small complain... I will easily recommend it as an addition to all Olympus cameras...

Purchased this for use with my Olympus e500. Advanced user manual is not very clear about setting the camera up to use the remote. Does NOT currently function - probably due to my own limitation - I'll try to give update later if I succeed in getting it to work.

This is great for tripod night work - saving vibration.It's very small so could be lost in the dark - so I araldited a metal loop on the back and it hangs on a strap round my neck.Sometimes it has a bad day and will not fire my E510 - so 4* not 5.(It might be the camera that's having a bad day not the control!)

I've had this remote for about three years - I use it very regularly and I've never had to change the battery. It just works. I use it mostly for night shots and macro work or other things where I don't want to knock the camera - I don't see why anyone would choose a cable release over this method. It works well for self portraits too, at a distance of up to perhaps 20ft.

Works really well with my e500, both from in front and behind the camera. Really pleased with product and all arrived well within time and all at a great price.

Been looking for ages, this one works great

Zu meiner Olympus E-520 brauchte ich einen wackelfreien Fernauslöser, da ich die Kamera auch für mein Hobby, die Astronomie, einsetze. Kabelgebunden wollte ich nicht, da dies in der Dunkelheit nur eine zusätzliche Stolperfalle darstellt.Der Auslöser funktioniert auch bei leichtem Sonnenlicht gut und hat eine ausreichende Sendeleistung.Zu dem Fernauslöser würde eine etwas umfangreichere Anleitung nicht schaden, auch wenn in der Kameraanleitung ausreichend dazu steht. Daher und wegen der Knopfzelle in dem Auslöser (mag ich nicht) vergebe ich 4 von 5 Sternen und empfehle ihn weiter.