Designed for serious amateurs and pros, Promote® Control is an advanced remote control for digital SLR cameras from various manufacturers. It opens new doors for your creativity with its superior automation and intuitive ease of use.  It will have you taking High Dynamic Range (HDR) photographs, time-lapse sequences and much more in a flash. With the Promote Control, you can gain unprecedented, advanced control over your SLR camera in ways that will save you time, especially when taking either traditional or HDR photos.

Capture the World in a New Light

Among a multitude of easy-to-use features, Promote Control offers unique flexibility for exposure bracketing, which is commonly used to create High Dynamic Range images. High Dynamic Range, or HDR imaging quickly gains popularity these days, thanks to stunning detail and tone range rendition. Promote Control propels HDR imaging forward by offering unparalleled flexibility, allowing for bracketing step variability previously not possible with in-camera bracketing modes. Promote Control can also automatically put the camera into Bulb mode as appropriate when performing bracketed exposures longer than 30 seconds, requiring no further user intervention. * The resulting images can be processed in a software application of choice to create a highly realistic image with a wide tonal range.

One of the most useful features of the Promote Control is an advanced Time-Lapse mode normally found only in middle to high end professional SLR cameras. Users can now perform Time-Lapse photography with any camera supported by Promote Control, including affordable entry level digital SLR cameras. An optional start delay can be specified to start a Time-Lapse sequence after a certain time period has elapsed.

Get Sharper Photographs

In order to boost the quality of their photographs, users can easily setup their Promote Control unit to perform a fully automatic, user-defined delay for Mirror Lock-Up before every picture is taken. Locking the mirror before taking a picture gives a tripod-based camera the ultimate stability required to take a perfectly sharp photograph. The Promote Control brings this important feature to every photographer’s workflow in a seamless, sensible way. **

Because it’s highly customizable, the Promote Control can be calibrated to match your personal preferences.  Moreover, the Promote Control’s firmware is upgradeable, so the device will stay up-to-date with the latest functionality and enhanced capabilities of future camera models.

Feature List

The Promote Control offers the following features:

• Replaces and extends manufacturer-specific remote controls
• Allows for unparalleled flexibility with automatic >30 second exposures in “bulb mode” - even in HDR sequences *
• Advanced easy-to-configure “Time-Lapse Mode” with optional sequence start delay
• Optional user-defined Mirror-Up timeout available in all modes *
• Improved user interface featuring flexible user-definable settings
• Optional multi-tone audible feedback
• Large, easy to read liquid crystal display featuring RGB backlight of variable intensity
• Weather-resistant design for water and dust resiliency
• Powered by 2 AA batteries, the most easily obtainable power source
• A passive camera pre-focus and release functionality remains functional as a backup even when the remote control is out of power *
• External DC power jack for timing especially long exposures for astrophotography and other similar applications
• Device firmware updates can be applied from a personal computer via USB interface.

NOTE: the product image above is a simulated image. The actual product appearance and color may vary slightly.

Specifications

* Some features are subject to be supported by the camera, and may require an optional shutter cable available separately. Shutter cable availability may vary by the camera brand and model. See below for shutter cable links.

** Mirror Lock-Up feature is subject to be supported by the camera, and requires using an optional shutter cable. See below for shutter cable links.

Supplied Accessories:

• Camera connection USB cable
• Firmware update USB cable
• User manual
• Carrying case
• Neckstrap
• 2xAA alkaline batteries

Compatibility

The Promote Control is compatible with digital cameras supporting an industry standard PTP/MTP protocol for controlling camera functions over USB interface. A non-exhaustive list of supported cameras includes the following brands and models:

Nikon: D3, D3X, D2X, D2Xs, D2H, D2Hs, D200, D300, D700, D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90

Canon Type 1: 1D Mark III, 1Ds Mark III, 5D Mark II, 7D, 30D, 40D, 50D

Canon Type 2: 400D, 450D, 500D, 1000D

NOTE 1: Canon 300D, 350D, 10D, 20D, 5D Mk I, 1D/1Ds Mk I and 1D/1Ds Mk II cameras are not supported in HDR mode. Only basic operations such as One-Shot, Time-Lapse and Manual Hold are available on these cameras, and would require a CN3 cable to be connected. Other Canon cameras listed above are fully supported, including HDR mode.

NOTE 2: On Canon 5D Mark II and 7D the longest automatic HDR exposure is limited to 30 seconds due to mechanical Bulb mode activation. A future Promote Control firmware update will prompt to activate Bulb mode manually as required. At this time using a higher ISO setting is recommended with Canon 5D Mark II and 7D if an exposure longer than 30 seconds is required in HDR mode.

Shutter Cables

Click a compatible camera model above to see compatible shutter cable. The shutter cable is not required for general operation and is optional.

Resources

Download Promote Control User Manual in PDF format.

Reviews

"The Promote Control is an essential tool for better HDR captures.  I've only had mine for a week and I can't imagine capturing brackets without it ever again. It allows the most affordable Nikon and Canon DSLRs to outperform the AEB capabilities of even the highest end pro DSLRs. I've tonemapped over 10,000 commerical images derived from HDR files, so you'll have to take my word for it when I say the Promote Control ... is a real game changer."
Michael James - hdriblog.com

NEW! Watch Michael's Video Review Part 1 and Part 2.