Is this the best camera intervalometer under $20?

I looked for a wired intervalometer that could be used for any camera. And I wanted it to be durable. Could I find one for under $20? Here’s what I found.

But first, a brief discussion on what I was looking for.

Issues I have with existing wired intervalometers

I had been using wired intervalometers for quite some time (read about what intervalometers are and how to use them here). They work great and typically offer a more reliable signal than ones using Bluetooth, from my experience. I also prefer to keep my phone free and not use an app if at all possible.

However, most wired intervalometers have an issue: they’re wired. That’s their point of failure. Their permanently attached cables often fail at the connector. And because the connectors are very small and have molded plastic, they are difficult to repair.

There’s another issue as well. Wired intervalometers have gone up in price, and many of them are $35 – $50. Since they only have one connector, they are only good for specific models or brands of cameras. For someone like me who uses both Nikon and Pentax cameras, that means purchasing two wired intervalometers.

An elegant and simple solution

My first thought was to get a wireless intervalometer. However, these are considerably more expensive. They also involve having two sets of batteries, one for the remote device and the other for the unit that connects to the camera.

However, one of the things I liked about wireless intervalometers was that they frequently had a separate detachable cable! Some of these came with cables for Sony, Fuji, Canon, and Nikon. You could use the same unit with all these cameras!

Did wired intervalometer with separate detachable cables exist?

Aream Digital Timer Remote Shutter Release Trigger Intervalometer

After a bit of searching, I found a manufacturer that makes a wired intervalometer that was adaptable to many cameras, one that had detachable cables: Aream.

Note: I purchased the Aream intervalometer and associated cables. This is a completely independent review. All thoughts about this intervalometer are our own.

Pros

• Adaptable to many cameras
• Inexpensive
• Uses separate detachable cables so if cable one breaks, you can use another
• Can be used as a simple remote shutter release with lock even if there are no batteries

Cons

I can’t find anything!

Aream Digital Intervalometer – Technical specifications

• Product dimensions: 6.3 x 3.94 x 0.79 inches
• Weight: 3.88 ounces
• Power requirements: 2 AAA batteries (included)

Aream Digital Intervalometer – Ergonomics and build quality

The Aream intervalometer appears to be built in the same manner as the glut of wired intervalometers on the market. This includes the more expensive intervalometers such as Vello or Pixel. Of course, this assessment is with the exception of the permanently attached cable. The only intervalometer I have ever used which has better ergonomics and durability than this so far has been the Phottix Aion. And that’s been discontinued.

Aream Digital Intervalometer – In the field

The intervalometer works well as a simple remote shutter release without batteries. It also works well for time-lapse, star trails or exposures of specific duration. It also has a timer delay. It’s easy to program and use.

The Aream performed well under a variety of circumstances at night. I found it easy to program (and if you need a little help with programming intervalometers, check out this article!). The unit also turns on automatically when you connect the cable to the camera. This turned out to be useful in the field.

I Velcro all wired intervalometers to the tripod leg to prevent it from dangling and create a generally better night photography experience. This also does not stress the cable.

The connection to the intervalometer itself or the camera were not finicky on either the Pentax or the Nikon cameras.

Handy information about purchasing connector cables!

As I mentioned, the Aream intervalometer can connect to many cameras. The connection to the intervalometer itself is a simple 1/8″ (3.5mm) mono mini-phone connector. This is a common connector that can be found anywhere.

Nikon cables

For Nikon cameras, you would need one of the connectors that they would use. For example, my Nikon D750 requires a DC2, so if I needed a cable, I would look for a cable that is 1/8″ (2.5mm) to DC2 connector.

Canon and Pentax cables

For Pentax cameras, many of them use a Canon sub-mini, otherwise known, otherwise known as a Canon E3. That’s what my Pentax K-1 uses. You could look for some sort of replacement cable for a remote controller that connects to a Canon.

But here’s the beautiful part for you Canon or Pentax users. A Canon sub-mini (E3) connector is a simple 2.5mm audio connector. Yes, it’s the same kind that people use for headphone jacks!

This means you could save some money and simply look for a cable that has two (2.5mm) connectors. I mention this because audio cables are frequently as much as half the price as controller cables, but still pass the signal the same way. It’s all about marketing as well as supply and demand.

Advantages of separate detachable cables

• Isn’t purchasing a replacement cable better than throwing away an intervalometer?
• You can keep extra cables as back-ups in case you lose or break an existing cable! You can keep extra cables for multiple cameras.
• And it’s now much cheaper to have back-ups than having back-up intervalometers!!