Pulse Remote: Focusing Camera With Precision

The Pulse Camera Remote by Alpine Labs is a lightweight, Bluetooth-enabled device that allows users to control their camera wirelessly from their smartphones. It plugs into the camera's USB port and is compatible with select Canon and Nikon DSLRs, giving users the ability to adjust settings such as shutter speed, aperture and ISO from up to 100 feet away. While it offers a range of features such as time-lapse, video recording and exposure ramping, the Pulse does not support live view or focusing capabilities. With a price point of $99, the Pulse is a convenient and affordable option for photographers seeking wireless control over their camera.

Wireless control of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO

The Pulse camera remote is a wireless camera shutter control device that allows you to adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO from a distance. It connects to your camera via Bluetooth and offers a range of up to 100 feet, giving you flexibility in your photography.

With Pulse, you can take advantage of wireless control over these three key camera settings:

Aperture

Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens through which light enters the camera. It is measured in f-stops, and a lower f-number indicates a wider aperture. Controlling aperture remotely allows you to adjust the depth of field and the amount of light reaching the camera sensor without physically touching the camera. This is especially useful in situations where you need to maintain a stable camera position, such as in long-exposure photography or when capturing photos of shy animals in the wild.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed refers to the length of time a camera's shutter remains open, exposing the camera sensor to light and capturing the image. Slower shutter speeds allow more light to enter, but anything slower than 1/60th of a second will usually require a tripod to avoid camera shake. With Pulse, you can set any shutter speed or use the manual option to adapt to your subject and lighting conditions. This is particularly useful in situations like astrophotography, where you might need very long exposures ranging from 30 minutes to a few hours.

ISO

ISO measures the camera sensor's sensitivity to light. A higher ISO setting means the sensor is more sensitive to light, allowing you to take photos in low-light conditions without a flash. However, higher ISO values can also introduce noise or grain to your images. With Pulse, you can remotely adjust the ISO setting, which is extremely useful in situations with changing light conditions, such as when photographing sunsets or sunrises, ensuring you capture the perfect shot without having to be behind the camera.

By combining the control of these three settings, Pulse gives you powerful wireless control over your camera, unlocking new creative possibilities and helping you capture the perfect shot, whether it's a landscape, portrait, or astrophotography.

Time-lapse photography

The Pulse camera remote by Alpine Labs is a great tool for time-lapse photography. It is lightweight, easy to set up, and has a long-lasting battery. The Pulse app is intuitive and simple to use, allowing you to control the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. You can also set the interval between photos and the duration of your time-lapse.

The Pulse remote is a versatile tool, allowing you to capture stunning time-lapse images of landscapes, celestial motion, plant growth, construction projects, crowds, and city traffic. With its advanced features and ease of use, the Pulse remote is an excellent choice for both beginners and professionals looking to create captivating time-lapse visuals.

Long-exposure photography

The Pulse Camera Remote by Alpine Labs is an incredibly lightweight and small Bluetooth remote that can be controlled from your phone. It plugs into your camera's USB port and gives you access to shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. It is compatible with most Canon and Nikon camera models, as well as newer Apple and Android smartphones and tablets.

Now, let's dive into long-exposure photography and how the Pulse remote can be used to achieve stunning results.

To achieve successful long-exposure shots, it's important to choose a scene that combines elements in motion with stationary subjects. Landscape photography is particularly well-suited for this technique, as it allows you to capture the graceful flow of waves, the movement of clouds, or the swaying of trees in a whole new light. However, don't be afraid to experiment with other subjects such as cityscapes, street scenes, or even wildlife.

When setting up for long-exposure photography, there are a few essential pieces of gear you'll need:

• An interchangeable-lens camera, such as a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, will give you the flexibility to manually adjust your settings and choose from a variety of lenses.
• A tripod is crucial to keeping your camera steady during those extended exposures, ensuring sharp and clear images.
• A neutral density filter helps control the amount of light reaching the sensor, allowing you to lengthen your shutter speed without overexposing the image.
• A remote release is optional but highly recommended. The Pulse remote is ideal for this, as it allows you to trigger the shutter from a distance without touching the camera, eliminating any unwanted camera shake.
• Study the weather and partly cloudy skies are often ideal, as they provide interesting textures and drama to your shots.
• Scout the location in advance to understand the movement of any objects, such as clouds, water, or birds, and plan your composition accordingly.
• Set up your gear, including your camera on a tripod, and attach any relevant accessories like a filter holder and the Pulse remote.
• Compose your image and lock your focus. Focus about a third of the way into the scene to keep the entire shot sharp.
• Set your camera to Manual (M) or Aperture Priority (A/Av) mode, and choose an appropriate aperture value (e.g., f/8 to f/11 for landscapes).
• Use a neutral density filter to lengthen your shutter speed, especially during the day or in bright conditions, without overexposing the image.
• Calculate the right shutter speed by considering the number of stops introduced by the filter. For example, if your test shot was 1/15s and you're using a 10-stop filter, decrease the shutter speed to 60 seconds.
• Check the histogram after taking the shot to ensure correct exposure. Adjust the shutter speed if needed.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with ultra-long shutter speeds, capture light trails from moving vehicles, try black-and-white conversions, or include architectural elements in your compositions.

With the Pulse remote, you can easily control your camera's settings, trigger the shutter, and capture stunning long-exposure images from a distance. So, get out there, find the perfect location, and start creating your own magical long-exposure photographs!

Remote triggering

The Pulse camera remote by Alpine Labs is a lightweight, Bluetooth-enabled device that allows you to wirelessly control your camera from your smartphone. It is compatible with select Canon and Nikon DSLRs, connecting to your camera's USB port and hot shoe.

The Pulse remote offers a range of features that can be controlled remotely, including remote triggering, shutter speed control, time-lapse, video recording, and exposure ramping. It also allows you to adjust aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings from up to 100 feet away.

One of the key advantages of the Pulse remote is its ability to wirelessly set time-lapse photography. You can start a time-lapse sequence and then disconnect your phone without interrupting the shooting. This is especially useful for long-time-lapse sessions or when you want to conserve your phone's battery.

The Pulse app provides a user-friendly interface for controlling the various features of the remote. You can easily adjust camera settings, navigate between different modes, and review low-resolution thumbnails of your captured images along with their histogram data.

The Pulse camera remote is an excellent tool for photographers who want to wirelessly control their camera and gain access to advanced features like time-lapse photography and exposure ramping. Its small size and lightweight design make it convenient to carry and use during outdoor shoots or while travelling.

Video recording

The Pulse camera remote is a lightweight, Bluetooth-enabled device that allows you to control your camera wirelessly from your smartphone. It is compatible with select Canon and Nikon DSLRs, and gives you access to various features such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO control.

In terms of video recording, the Pulse remote offers basic start/stop functionality. You can navigate to the Video mode in the Pulse app and use the start/stop button to record videos. However, there are no additional video-specific features such as live view or video playback. The remote simply triggers the video recording function on your camera.

It is important to note that the Pulse remote has some limitations when it comes to video. The Video mode in the app seems to be the least feature-rich part of the package. Aside from starting and stopping recording, you cannot adjust any other settings specific to video. The remote does not offer live view or the ability to preview or playback videos. These limitations might be a drawback if you are looking for more advanced video control.

To use the Pulse remote for video recording, make sure your camera is set to Video Mode. You can then connect the remote to your camera's USB port and use the Pulse app to start and stop video recording. The remote will trigger the video function on your camera, but any additional settings or adjustments will need to be made directly on the camera.

Overall, while the Pulse camera remote offers wireless control for video recording, its functionality in this area is basic. It provides a simple way to start and stop recording but lacks more advanced features specific to video. If you are primarily interested in video recording, you may need to explore other remote options or camera accessories that offer a wider range of video-specific controls.

Frequently asked questions