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What's the difference between the IR and radio remotes for camera's apart from the range advantage?

Can you use the bulb mode on these simple remotes? What if the battery of the remote runs out during the exposure? Do you need to trigger camera from front?

I wanted a small remote for my 350D and wasn't sure which one to get?

Does anyone have any experience in this?

Thanks for your help.

The two biggest differences are:
-IR is line of sight - ie you have to be able to see the IR sensor to trigger it (you have to trigger it from the front of the camera)
-RF requires two bits, transmitter (the remote) and reciever (the bit that plugs into your camera)

I am not sure if you can use bulb with the Canon RC5, if it cant then there are no problems with your battery running out during an exposure, if it does then I would imagine that the camera will either stop the exposure, or you can turn off the camera to stop the exposure, you will have to trigger the camera from the front of the camera.

I would consider a Phottix Cleon or Plato (probably the Plato) as they definitely do bulb, and you can trigger the camera from a good distance away. If bulb is important for you, then maybe have a look at the wired Phottix TR-80, I have one for my D300 and it allows you to exactly time your exposures.

hope this helps mate

Cameron thanks for the info! I will investigate. [I totally forgot about the CANON branded remotes!!] I suppose we live in a world with shades of gray Not so much black or white.

I have the Canon RC-1 which I use with my 5DmkII (it lives clipped to the neck strap so I've always got it with me) and you can use it in Bulb mode.

Press the button once and the exposure starts. The LCD's "frames left" counter is replaced with a second counter, so if you can see the display you'll know how many seconds you've shot.
Press the button again and the exposure finishes. It's quite neat.

Presumably the RC-5 would work the same with this body. I can't say for sure if the 350D's implementation is the same though: I never used an IR remote back when I was using a 350D.

DaveB wrote:I have the Canon RC-1 which I use with my 5DmkII (it lives clipped to the neck strap so I've always got it with me) and you can use it in Bulb mode.

Press the button once and the exposure starts. The LCD's "frames left" counter is replaced with a second counter, so if you can see the display you'll know how many seconds you've shot.
Press the button again and the exposure finishes. It's quite neat.

Presumably the RC-5 would work the same with this body. I can't say for sure if the 350D's implementation is the same though: I never used an IR remote back when I was using a 350D.

That is great info Dave!!!

I use Phottix TR-80 and the Phottix Cleon II wireless, the TR-80 i cannot source at the moment, a friend of mine killed his somehow and we cant get another one, even on ebay, they seem to have been replaced with a newer, more expensive model, but if someone can find me one we'll probably buy it!

I havnt had a problem with the Phottix stuff, i couldnt afford the genuine canon gear so went third party...

Thanks for the info Dave and Doctor. I ordered the RC1 knock off from Phottix. It seems like it's a simple unit which is what I wanted. Couldn't be bothered with more sets of batteries for something i will use quite infrequently.