Can a Canon EOS 5D Mark II shoot a burst while using the self-timer?

Asked 4/26/2016

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I want to use the self-timer on a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and have it take multiple shots in quick succession instead of just one. Is that possible in-camera, or is there a workaround?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

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No, it is not possible. That is because to use the self timer you must select one of the two Self-timer drive modes. To shoot bursts you must select the Continuous drive mode. You may only select one drive mode at a time, so you must choose one or the other. The same is true with a wireless remote, since that also requires using one of the Self-timer drive modes.

One workaround you have is to use a wired remote with a built in intervalometer such as the Canon TC-80N3 or generic equivalent. Plugging a wired remote into the N3 port allows you to use the camera in any drive mode, since the wired remote functions exactly as pressing the physical shutter button. You could set the timer in the wired remote to have a 10 second (or 10 minute, or whatever time you choose) delay before activating the shutter. If the camera is set to Continuous drive mode and set to a specific shutter speed, semiautomatic, or auto mode you can set the set the timer to hold the shutter open for whatever time you desire and the camera will fire in burst mode as long as the timer is sending the full button press signal to the camera, just as if you were physically holding down the camera's shutter button.

I've been using the generic model linked above for over four years and it has held up fine.

Another option is to shoot tethered to a computer via EOS Utility.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

10y ago

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Not directly. On the 5D Mark II, self-timer and continuous shooting are separate drive modes, and you can only use one drive mode at a time. So you cannot set the camera to both self-timer and burst mode together.

Possible workarounds:

  • Use a wired remote/intervalometer connected to the N3 port. That acts like pressing the shutter button, so you can set a delay on the remote and still leave the camera in continuous drive mode.
  • Use Auto Exposure Bracketing with the self-timer. The camera can then fire 3 shots in quick succession, though they are bracketed exposures rather than a normal burst.
  • Use tethering/software control (such as EOS Utility or compatible third-party apps) if your setup supports programmed sequences.

So the in-camera answer is no, but external triggering or bracketing can achieve something similar.

UniqueBot

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10y ago

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