The history and functions of self-timers on analog still cameras are diverse and have evolved over time. Early mechanical cameras often did not have built-in self-timers, but it was possible to connect external self-timers. These were often powered by clockwork mechanisms that created a delay between the shutter release and the shot being taken. Often this accessory was attached to the cable release connector. This gave the photographer enough time to position himself in the picture or to avoid camera shake with longer exposure times.
Later, cameras with built-in self-timers came onto the market. In most cases, the self-timer had to be cocked. By pressing the shutter button, the mechanics ran and the recording was captured on the film material.
In analogue cameras with integrated electronics, which came onto the market later, the triggering was then triggered by an electronic signal. In the 1990s, most 35mm cameras had a built-in self-timer. The lead time, i.e. the time between the start of the self-timer and the recording, was usually ten seconds. Some models also offer the option of taking several pictures in a row.
Areas of application for a self-timer
There are many different uses for the self-timer on analogue cameras. Here are some of the most important:
Group photos
When trying to take a group photo, it is often difficult to get everyone in position before the photo is taken. With the self-timer you can put yourself in the picture after placing the camera on a tripod or a stable surface.
Self-portraits
When trying to take a self-portrait, it’s often difficult to release the camera’s shutter button in time while staying in position. With the self-timer you can place the camera on a tripod or a stable surface and then go into the picture in peace.
Long exposures
When you want to take a long exposure, you often have to hold down the camera’s shutter button for several seconds or even minutes. With the self-timer you can place the camera on a tripod or a stable surface and then activate the self-timer. This allows you to let go of the camera while the photo is being taken.
Avoiding camera shake
Holding the camera by hand can easily result in camera shake, which blurs the image. With the self-timer you can place the camera on a tripod or a stable surface and then activate the self-timer. This way you can avoid camera shake and take sharp pictures.
Experimental Photography
The self-timer can also be used for experimental photography. For example, you can place the camera on a tripod and activate the self-timer before dropping the camera or exposing it to some other unforeseen event. In this way, interesting and unusual images can be created.
Model overview
- Viewfinder camera
- 35mm
Agfa Karat 4.5
The Agfa Karat 4.5 is a viewfinder camera with folding mechanism from the 1930s by the Agfa company.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Amica Eyelux
The Amica Eyelux is a rangefinder camera and was sold under the Amica brand.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Ansco Anscoset
The Ansco Anscoset is a rangefinder camera from Japanese production for the 35mm format.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Ansco Anscoset II
The Ansco Anscoset II is a rangefinder camera from the 1960s made in Japan.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Ansco Anscoset III
The Ansco Anscoset III is a rangefinder camera for 35mm film and the last model of the Anscoset series.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Argus CR-2
The Argus CR-2 is an SLR camera of an American brand from Japanese production.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Argus/Cosina EC 2000
The Argus/Cosina EC 2000 is a 35mm SLR camera with TTL exposure metering, automatic aperture control and M42 thread.
- Twin-lens reflex camera
- 120
B.I.G. Twin 4
A Chinese two-eye SLR camera from a German photo mail order company.
- Viewfinder camera
- 35mm
Bauer 35 AF Motor
The Bauer 35 AF Motor is a 35mm camera with a German brand name from Japanese production.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Bell & Howell Auto 35 Reflex
The Bell & Howell Auto 35 Reflex is a Canon built camera and identical to an other model by the Japanese company.
- Viewfinder camera
- 35mm
Belomo Elikon 535
The Belomo Elikon 535 is a 35mm camera. It is part of the group of viewfinder cameras.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Boots Amica
The Boots Amica is a rangefinder camera sold under the house brand of Boots in the UK.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cambron EM
The Cambron EM is a 35mm camera with an M42 connection from Cambridge Camera.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon A-1
The Canon A-1 is the top model of the Canon A series for the FD bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon AE-1
The Canon AE-1 is an SLR camera for 35mm film with automatic and manual modes.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon AE-1 Program
The Canon AE-1 Program is an SLR camera with program automatic for the 35mm format.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Canon AF35M II
The Canon AF35M II is a compact camera from the 1980s for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon AL-1
The Canon AL-1 is a 35mm A-series camera from the early 1980s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon AT-1
The Canon AT-1 is an SLR camera. The Canon company has built the camera from 1977.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Canon Autoboy 2
The Canon Autoboy 2 is a point-and-shoot camera from the 1980s for the Japanese market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon AV-1
The Canon AV-1 is an aperture-priority SLR camera from the late 1970s by the Japanese company.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EF
The Canon EF is an SLR camera from Canon with a special type of shutter.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1
The Canon EOS 1 is the first professional model in the Japanese company's EOS series.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 100
The Canon EOS 100 is a single lens reflex camera from 1991 for the EOS bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1000
The Canon EOS 1000 is a single lens reflex camera from the 90s
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1000 N
The Canon EOS 1000 N is the successor of the EOS 1000 from 1992.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1000 S QD
The Canon EOS 1000 S QD is a 35mm camera with many functions from the 1990s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1000F
The Canon EOS 1000F is a 35mm camera for the EF bayonet with integrated flash.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1000F N
The Canon EOS 1000F N is a single lens reflex camera built in 1992.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1000F QD
The Canon EOS 1000F QD is a single lens reflex camera with flash for the Japanese market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1000F QD-P
The Canon EOS 1000F QD-P is a 35mm camera from the 90s with panorama and date function.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1N
The Canon EOS 1N a revised version of the first professional camera for the EOS series.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1N RS
The Canon EOS 1N RS is the fastest camera in the EOS series.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 1V
The Canon EOS 1V is the last professional camera from Canon for the analogue film market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 3
The Canon EOS 3 is a single lens reflex camera for the professional and advanced amateur segment.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 30
The Canon EOS 30 is an SLR camera with eye-controlled autofocus.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 3000
The Canon EOS 3000 is a single lens reflex camera for the EF bayonet from 1999.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 3000V
The Canon EOS 3000V is a single lens reflex camera from 2003 for EF lenses.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 300V
The Canon EOS 300V is an SLR from 2002 for the international market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 300X
The Canon EOS 300X is a modern SLR for 35mm film from 2004.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 33
The Canon EOS 33 is a modern SLR camera for the EF bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 33V
The Canon EOS 33V is a basic model of the EOS series from 2004.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 5
The Canon EOS 5 was the first SLR in the EOS series with eye-controlled focus.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 5000
The Canon EOS 5000 is a modern entry-level SLR from 1995.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 500N
The Canon EOS 500N is a 35mm camera and the successor of the Canon EOS 500.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 50E
The Canon EOS 50E is a 35mm camera from the 1995 EOS series.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 55
The Canon EOS 55 is an SLR with eye-controlled autofocus and data backplane.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 600
The Canon EOS 600 is a leading camera of the EOS series from 1989.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 620
The Canon EOS 620 is a single lens reflex camera from 1987.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 630
The Canon EOS 630 is an SLR from the late 80s for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 650
The Canon EOS 650 is the first SLR in the Canon EOS series.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 66
The Canon EOS 66 is an SLR from the EOS series for the Asian market from 2002.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 7
The Canon EOS 7 is a 35mm camera for Japanese customers with eye-controlled autofocus.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 850
The Canon EOS 850 is a SLR with Hot Shoe for the EF bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 88
The Canon EOS 88 is a single lens reflex camera for the Asian market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS 888
The Canon EOS 888 is an entry-level SLR for the Asian market from 1995.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS A2E
The Canon EOS A2E is a 35mm camera that can be controlled by the eye.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Elan
The Canon EOS Elan is a single lens reflex camera with quiet autofocus.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Elan 7
The Canon EOS Elan 7 is a 35mm camera for the EF bayonet from Canon.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Elan 7 N
The Canon EOS Elan 7 N is an SLR for the North American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Elan 7 NE
The Canon EOS Elan 7 NE is a single lens reflex camera of the EOS series for EF lenses with eye autofocus.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Elan 7E
The Canon EOS Elan 7E is an SLR camera with eye-controlled autofocus for America.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Elan II
The Canon EOS Elan II is a modern SLR camera for EF lenses.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Elan IIE
The Canon EOS Elan IIE is an American SLR from the Canon company from 1995.
- Single lens reflex camera
- APS
Canon EOS IX 7
The Canon EOS IX 7 is an SLR of the EOS series for the APS format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- APS
Canon EOS IX Lite
The Canon EOS IX Lite is a single lens reflex camera of the EOS series for the APS format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Kiss
The Canon EOS Kiss was one of the most popular SLRs in the EOS series in Japan.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Kiss 5
The Canon EOS Kiss 5 is a 35mm camera for the EOS bayonet from 2002.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Kiss 7
The Canon EOS Kiss 7 is a Japanese SLR for the EF bayonet from 2004.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Kiss III
The Canon EOS Kiss III is a SLR from Canon for the Japanese market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Kiss III L
The Canon EOS Kiss III L is a revised version of the EOS Kiss III for the Japanese market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Kiss Lite
The Canon EOS Kiss Lite is a 2003 SLR for the Japanese market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS New Kiss
The Canon EOS New Kiss is an SLR and the successor of the popular Japanese EOS Kiss.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel
The Canon EOS Rebel is a 1990s SLR camera for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel 2000
The Canon EOS Rebel 2000 is an SLR from the late 90s and the successor of the EOS Rebel G.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel G
The Canon EOS Rebel G was sold on the American market in the mid 90s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel G II
The Canon EOS Rebel G II is a 35mm camera for EF lenses from Canon from 2003.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel II
The Canon EOS Rebel II is a single lens reflex camera from Canon and the successor of the EOS Rebel.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel K2
The Canon EOS Rebel K2 is a SLR from the year 2003 of the company Canon.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel S
The Canon EOS Rebel S is a single lens reflex camera with built-in flash.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel S II
The Canon EOS Rebel S II is a revised version of the EOS Rebel S.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS REBEL SII QD
The Canon EOS REBEL SII QD is a 35mm camera for the North American market from the 1990s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel T2
The Canon EOS Rebel T2 is a modern EF-SLR of the EOS series from 2004.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel Ti
The Canon EOS Rebel Ti is a single lens reflex camera of the EOS series for the US market from 2002.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel XS
The Canon EOS Rebel XS is an entry-level SLR from 1993.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS Rebel XS N
The Canon EOS Rebel XS N is an SLR with built-in flash from the EOS series.