topic Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8 in Gear Guide

Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:46:36 GMT

I own a Canon R8 mirrorless camera. I also have the BR-51 Canon remote shutter trigger. I am trying to find a motion-activated trigger that I can use to photograph wildlife that is compatible with this camera, either branded by Canon or another company. It looks like Vivitar made one, but it doesn't seem to be available anymore. Has anyone found a solution to this? Thanks, Jeff

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

jrhoffman75 — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 23:47:52 GMT

https://www.camtraptions.com/camera-traps-old/pir-motion-sensor-v4-vs-v3-vs-v2/

No experience with it.

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:26:11 GMT

Hello, Jeff!

I bought a trigger made by MIOPS (Smart+) to shoot lightning, but it does a lot more. It will act as a motion trigger, but it uses the camera in your phone. You mount the unit in the hot shoe and connect to the cameras trigger port via cable. I mount my phone using an "L" bracket. and connect the phone via Bluetooth and the MIOPS app. You can control it with your phone or on the unit itself.

I used it to get this shot by setting a shutter delay so the bird would be in frame. I guess I could have messed with the sensitivity, but the delay worked. I used an R5 and RF100mm macro.

Since I use it on several cameras (DSLR and MILC) that have different types of connectors, I had to buy a couple of different cables, but they weren't expensive. The unit itself is a bit pricey, but IMO, worth it for the features.

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:30:18 GMT

Thanks. Will take a look.

Jeff

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:37:03 GMT

Thank you very much. I just took a quick look and looks like a great solution! I'm hoping I can put my camera in burst mode so I won't have to worry about delaying the trigger or changing the sensitivity. Will likely give it a try. I am also doing bird photography. Jeff.

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:30:21 GMT

I can't get it to shoot bursts, at least I don't see that option in the MIOPS app.

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 03:37:21 GMT

Do you set the shutter delay in the app or on your camera? I don't see that option on my R8.

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:18:15 GMT

@JeffreyEttinge wrote:

Do you set the shutter delay in the app or on your camera? I don't see that option on my R8.

In the app. I overlooked the "Frame" setting in my app, so yes, you are able to take multiple frames. Frankly, I don't know what I thought "Frame" meant, but it makes since now... Go figure ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, sorry.

I haven't used this feature (haven't had too) so I can't attest to it's effectiveness.

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:17:33 GMT

Also, what kind of laser trigger do you have and how do you set that up? I assumed that it came with a built-in laser, but I guess not. Does the laser deter birds from entering the field of view? Jeff

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:34:57 GMT

I don't use a laser. But the MIOPS unit only acts as a receiver so you would need a laser pointer to make a trigger line.

I wouldn't use a laser because of the possibility that it might blind or temporarily blind the bird when it breaks the beam to trigger the camera.

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 04:57:29 GMT

What do you use then to trigger it? And the only connecting cable I see is the Nero for sub mini Canon cameras? What kind of cable do you use to connect the MIOPS unit to the camera shutter trigger port?

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 07:56:43 GMT

@JeffreyEttinge wrote:

What do you use then to trigger it? And the only connecting cable I see is the Nero for sub mini Canon cameras? What kind of cable do you use to connect the MIOPS unit to the camera shutter trigger port?

As mentioned, my primary use of the MIOPS trigger is for photographing lightning. For the birds at my feeders I use the motion feature through my phones camera. Since most of my cameras are upper end, I use the 3 pin port on the front of my cameras to connect the MIOPS trigger. The R8 uses a 2.5mm sub-mini connector, but I'm not sure what the MIOPS end uses, although it looks like the 2.5mm.

B&H has a MIOPS trigger that comes with a Vello brand 2,5mm sub-mini connector, so that may be the cable you need, or some other brand. At the time I bought mine, MIOPS offered different cables in the package, but it seems like they have discontinued offering that. You may want to contact B&H to confirm which cable you need.

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 04:15:22 GMT

OK. Thanks for the explanation. It doesn't explain any of this on the camera specs on website (I guess I'd have to download the manual). And I assume the original MIOPS Smart+ camera along with phone app will do this (it's not an updated version). Have you tried it from a distance? I have a zoom and may want to be 30-50 feet away from my subject. Can you zoom in with your camera to get a smaller area that's farther away?

I appreciate your being patient and responding to all of my questions!

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 04:17:11 GMT

Also, how do you connect your phone camera to the MIOPS device? Will it work with an iphone?

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 04:43:01 GMT

@JeffreyEttinge wrote:

Also, how do you connect your phone camera to the MIOPS device? Will it work with an iphone?

Bluetooth. So if your phone supports it [Bluetooth] you can "pair" it with the MIOPS trigger. Once paired, you can use the MIOPS app to control the trigger and access all the functions and settings. You can even do AEB to capture HDR shots, and also time-lapse.

I don't use it a lot, but it's there when I need it 🙂

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 06:06:12 GMT

I promise this will be my last question! Have you tried it from a distance if you're using a zoom lens? Can you zoom in your phone camera on the subject? (see my previous note). Jeff.

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:46:33 GMT

And which cable do you use to connect the MIOPS to your R5?

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 21:02:00 GMT

@JeffreyEttinge wrote:

And which cable do you use to connect the MIOPS to your R5?

If you order from MIOPS, you select the cable that matches your camera. The cable that I use on my R5 (I & II), R6 (I & II), and my 5D mark IV have a C3 (3-pin) female connector, so the cable provided by MIOPS has their 2.5mm (TRS/TRRS) connector that plugs into the trigger and a C3 connector for my camera.

This cable will not work on the R8 as it takes a 2.5mm connector.

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

FloridaDrafter — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 21:24:56 GMT

@JeffreyEttinge wrote:

I promise this will be my last question! Have you tried it from a distance if you're using a zoom lens? Can you zoom in your phone camera on the subject? (see my previous note). Jeff.

I've never tried letting my phone trigger the MIOPS/camera while using a long lens. I typically use EOSU 3 to monitor my feeders via live view. I also have a 30' USB cable for my 5D IV. It doesn't work on my R cameras so I use WiFi for them unless I'm within 10'.

I'm able to set in my house and remotely take shots of the birds at my feeder... Yes, I get lazy sometimes 🙂

Newton

Re: Motion-activated shutter trigger for EOS R8

JeffreyEttinge — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 23:18:04 GMT

One last thing. Is the phone camera trigger mode reliable with your short lens? Are there a lot of false triggers or a lot of misses? I realize that you don't use it with a long lens. Does your phone camera shut down if not used for a while?