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
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EOS RT
The Canon EOS RT is a single lens reflex camera with pellicle mirror from the EOS series.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EX AUTO
The Canon EX AUTO is an SLR camera from 1972 for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon EXEE
The Canon EXEE is an SLR camera with lens attachments from the late 1960s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon F-1
The Canon F-1 is an SLR and was a gamechanger for the Japanese company.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon F-1N
The Canon F-1N is a professional SLR camera from 1976 for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon FP
The Canon FP is a scaled-down version of the Canon FX.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon FT QL
The Canon FT QL is a 1960s SLR camera for the 35mm format from Japan.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon FTb
The Canon FTb was an SLR camera for the Canon FD bayonet for the mass market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon FTb-N
The Canon FTb-N is an 35mm SLR camera and the successor of the Canon FTb.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon FX
The Canon FX was Canon's first SLR camera with the FL bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon New F-1
The Canon New F-1 is the successor to Canon's legendary professional camera, the F1.
Canon New Sure Shot
The Canon New Sure Shot is a compact 35mm camera from the 1980s for American photographers.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon Pellix
The Canon Pellix was Canon's first 35mm SLR camera with a TTL exposure meter.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon Pellix QL
The Canon Pellix QL is a revised version of the Japanese manufacturer's Pellix SLR camera.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canon TX
The Canon TX is an SLR camera from the 70s for the Canon FD bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canonflex
The Canonflex is Canon's first SLR camera by the Japanese camera company.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canonflex R2000
The Canonflex R2000 is an SLR camera and the successor of the Canonflex.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canonflex RM
The Canonflex RM is an SLR camera from the 60s for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Canonflex RP
The Canonflex RP is a scaled-down version of the Canonflex.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Carena 1000
The Carena 1000 is a single lens reflex camera for 35 mm film and M42 lenses.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Carena 1000 SX
The Carena 1000 SX is a Cosina built 35mm camera sold by Photo Porst in Germany.
Carena BF-35
The Carena BF-35 is a 35mm camera with a big viewfinder.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Carena DF-300
The Carena DF-300 is an SLR camera by the German photo dealer Photo Porst made in China.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Carena KS
The Carena KS is a 35mm camera built for Photo Porst with Pentax K mount.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Carena micro RSD
The Carena micro RSD is a 35mm SLR for M42 lenses with a self-timer.
Carena Power Zoom
The Carena Power Zoom is a point and shoot camera with a 28-52 mm zoom lens.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Carena SRH 1001
The Carena SRH 1001 is a 35mm camera made in Japan with M42 lens thread.
Carena Super mini AF
The Carena Super mini AF is a compact camera from Photo Porst for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Carena SX-300
The Carena SX-300 is a 35mm SLR, was developed by Minolta, built in China and sold by the German photo dealer Photo Porst.
Cavalier EE Auto 35
The Cavalier EE Auto 35 is a 35mm camera sold under the branding of Cavalier.
Chinon 35FA II
The Chinon 35FA II is a compact snapshot camera for 35mm format with built-in flash.
Chinon 35FA Super
The Chinon 35FA Super is an automatic photo camera for the 35mm format.
Chinon Auto 3001
The Chinon Auto 3001 is a 35mm camera. It is part of the group of snapshot cameras.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Chinon CX
A 35mm camera by Chinon from the 1970's.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Contarex Professional
The Contarex Professional is a SLR camera from Zeiss Ikon.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Contarex Super
The Contarex Super is a German 35mm camera from the 1960s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Contax FBM
The Contax FBM is an M42 SLR camera from the late 1950s for the 35mm format.
Cosina 35 FR
The Cosina 35 FR is a rangefinder camera with built-in flash.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina 4000S
The Cosina 4000S is a robust, fully mechanical 35mm SLR camera with an M42 lens mount.
Cosina AF-35
The Cosina AF-35 is a 35mm autofocus compact camera from the late 1970s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina C1s
The Cosina C1s is a single lens reflex camera for the Pentax K mount with a self timer.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina C2
The Cosina C2 is a reflex camera for the Pentax K mount.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina C3
The Cosina C3 is a 35mm camera from Cosina with Pentax K mount.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CS-1
The Cosina CS-1 is a single lens reflex camera for the Pentax K mount.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CS-2
The Cosina CS-2 is a single lens reflex camera for the Pentax K mount with a built in light meter.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CS-3
The Cosina CS-3 is a single lens reflex camera with the Pentax K bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CSM
The Cosina CSM is a SLR camera for M42 lenses with built-in exposure meter.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CSR
A Cosina SLR with light meter and M42 lens thread.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-1
The Cosina CT-1 is a single lens reflex camera. The 35mm camera is a product from Cosina.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-1 Super
The Cosina CT-1 Super is a 35mm camera. It was a popular camera and sold under different names.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-1A
The Cosina CT-1A is a single lens reflex camera. The 35mm camera is a product from Cosina.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-2
The Cosina CT-2 is a compact and lightweight 35mm SLR camera with K-mount from the 1980s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-20
The Cosina CT-20 is an entry-level SLR camera from the 1980s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-3
The Cosina CT-3 is a SLR camera with automatic exposure for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-4
The Cosina CT-4 is a camera from Cosina for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-7
The Cosina CT-7 is a single lens reflex camera. The 35mm camera is a product from Cosina.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina CT-9
The Cosina CT-9 is a single lens reflex camera. It was introduced by Cosina in the 80s.
Cosina CX-2
The successor to the Cosina CX-1 35mm camera.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina E1 Solar
The Cosina E1 Solar is a 35mm SLR camera that draws its energy exclusively from a built-in solar cell.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite
The Cosina Hi-Lite is a single lens reflex camera for the M42 lens mount by the company from Nagano, Japan.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite 202
The Cosina Hi-Lite 202 is a classic, manually operated 35mm SLR camera from the 1970s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite 402
The Cosina Hi-Lite 402 is a SLR built by the company from Nagano, Japan.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite 405
The Cosina Hi-Lite 405 is a camera from Cosina from the 1970s and uses 35mm film.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite DL
The Cosina Hi-Lite DL is a 35mm camera with a built in light meter for M42 lenses.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite DLR
The Cosina Hi-Lite DLR is a 35mm SLR with integrated TTL exposure metering and interchangeable lens mount (M42) from the 1970s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite EC
The Cosina Hi-Lite EC is a 35mm camera built by the company from Nagano.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina Hi-Lite HDL
The Cosina Hi-Lite HDL is a single lens reflex camera for 35mm film built by Cosina in the 70s. It was also sold by the German company Porst as Porst Reflex C-TL.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosina PM-1
The Cosina PM-1 is a 35mm SLR camera with manual focus, TTL exposure metering, and a Pentax K bayonet mount.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Cosmorex SE
The Cosmorex SE is an SLR camera built by KMZ in the Soviet Union.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Diramic R-1
The Diramic R-1 is a 35mm camera from the Diramic brand produced by KMZ.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Diramic R-2
The Diramic R-2 is a Soviet-made SLR camera for M42 lenses.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Diramic RF100
The Diramic RF100 is a camera from Diramic, produced by KMZ in the 1980s.
Edixa Zoom
A 35mm camera with zoom lens from Edixa.
Fed 5B
A 35 mm camera with rangefinder from the company FED.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fotoicon MTL 3
The Fotoicon MTL 3 is an old film camera from East Germany.
Fuji DL-200
The Fuji DL-200 was the first autofocus camera from Fuji with drop-in loading. In Japan the model from the 80s was known as Fuji Cardia.
Fuji DL-95 Super
The Fuji DL-95 Super is a snapshot camera with flash and self-timer from the 90s. It was also sold as Fuji Discovery 90.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fuji STX-2
A 35mm SLR with TTL exposure meter from Fuji.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fujica AX-1
The Fujica AX-1 is a single lens reflex camera mit Fujinon X mount.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fujica AX-3
The Fujica AX-3 is a Fuji camera with X bayonet and manual exposure modes.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fujica AX-5
The Fujica AX-5 is a SLR camera with four exposure modes and Fuji X bayonet.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fujica ST605 II
The last 35mm camera with M42 thread from Fuji.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fujica ST605N
An SLR camera from Fuji with M42 thread.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Fujica STX-1
The Fujica STX-1 is a 35mm SLR from Fuji. It was presented in the late 70s and introduced the Fujinon X mount.
