Best Intervalometers for Automated Astro Shots (2026)
Updated How we research
Neewer LCD Timer Shutter Release Intervalometer Remote Control for Canon 700D 650D 550D 60D Pentax
Neewer LCD timer shutter release intervalometer remote for Canon 700D, 650D, 550D, 60D and Pentax cameras.
Neewer Digital Timer Remote Shutter Release Intervalometer for Nikon D90 D600 D3200 D5300 D7000 DSLR
Neewer digital timer remote shutter release intervalometer for Nikon D90, D600, D3200, D5300 and D7000 DSLRs.
An intervalometer triggers your camera's shutter on a set schedule, which is essential for astrophotography where exposures run far longer than the camera's built-in timer allows. Look for adjustable exposure length in bulb mode, a settable interval between frames, and a frame count so you can shoot an unattended sequence for stacking or star trails. Confirm the connector matches your camera's remote port, or choose a model that talks to your camera over an app if it lacks a physical jack. Intervalometers suit imagers stacking many light frames, star-trail shooters, and anyone doing time-lapse of the night sky. A practical tip: set a short gap of a second or two between frames so the sensor can write and cool slightly, which reduces noise buildup over a long run. For deep-sky stacking, program a large frame count and let it run, then review a few test exposures early to confirm focus and framing before committing the whole session. Before choosing, check whether your camera already has a built-in interval timer. Many do, but they often stop at 30 second exposures, which is fine for short time-lapses and limiting for star trails or long stacked frames. An external intervalometer adds true bulb control for longer exposures and keeps working when an in-camera menu does not. Wired models are the simple, reliable choice for most setups, as long as the cable matches your camera's remote port.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.6 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:Neewer LCD Timer Shutter Release Intervalometer Remote Control for Canon 700D 650D 550D 60D Pentax. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:Neewer Digital Timer Remote Shutter Release Intervalometer for Nikon D90 D600 D3200 D5300 D7000 DSLR. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:Wireless Remote Shutter Release Cable Wired Timer Remote Control TW-283DC0 Compatible for Nikon D850 D810 D800 D700 D500 D300 D300s D200 D40s D800E D810A D1X D2H D3X D1 D2 D3 D3s D4 D5 D4s F5 F6 F100. Build and materials score of 7/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Feature-rich:Pixel TW283-DC2 Wireless Remote Shutter Release Intervalometer for Nikon. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.2/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Neewer LCD Timer Shutter Release Intervalometer Remote Control for Canon 700D 650D 550D 60D Pentax8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Neewer Digital Timer Remote Shutter Release Intervalometer for Nikon D90 D600 D3200 D5300 D7000 DSLR8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Wireless Remote Shutter Release Cable Wired Timer Remote Control TW-283DC0 Compatible for Nikon D850 D810 D800 D700 D500 D300 D300s D200 D40s D800E D810A D1X D2H D3X D1 D2 D3 D3s D4 D5 D4s F5 F6 F1008.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Pixel TW283-DC2 Wireless Remote Shutter Release Intervalometer for Nikon8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.JJC Intervalometer Timer Remote for Canon EOS R1 R5 Mark II R5 R3 6D II 7D8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.JJC Intervalometer Timer Remote for Canon EOS Rebel T6 T7 T8i T7i 90D 80D8.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.FocusFoto All-in-1 LCD Timer Remote Shutter Release Cord for Canon Nikon Sony Olympus + 8pcs Removable Cable Set (C1, C3, N1, N3, S1, S2, UC1, CB1)7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Neewer LCD timer shutter release intervalometer remote for Canon 700D, 650D, 550D, 60D and Pentax cameras.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + LCD timer lets you program long exposure sequences for astrophotography
- + Compatible with popular Canon 700D, 650D, 550D and 60D bodies
- + Budget-friendly alternative to branded remotes
- - Cable compatibility must be checked for your exact camera model
- - Batteries can drain quickly in cold weather
#2Neewer Digital Timer Remote Shutter Release Intervalometer for Nikon D90 D600 D3200 D5300 D7000 DSLR
Neewer digital timer remote shutter release intervalometer for Nikon D90, D600, D3200, D5300 and D7000 DSLRs.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Compatible with many popular Nikon DSLRs
- + Digital timer enables long exposures and timelapse sequences
- + Affordable remote for night sky photography
- - Nikon only, so other brands need a different model
- - Cable connection can be fragile if bent frequently
#3A Pixel TW-283 remote with the DC0 cable for Nikon 10-pin bodies such as the D850, D810, D800, D700, D500 and D300. It works wired or over 2.4GHz wireless and costs more than a basic wired timer.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Timer schedule sets delay, exposure time, interval, number of shots and repeats for unattended sequences
- + 2.4GHz wireless with 30 channels and a stated remote distance of over 80m, or use it wired through the cable
- + Connecting cable is interchangeable, so the same remote can serve another camera with a different cable
- - Costs roughly twice as much as the basic wired intervalometers in this guide
- - Transmitter and receiver are two units to carry, and the listing highlights do not give the battery type
#4A Pixel TW-283 wireless and wired intervalometer with the DC2 cable for Nikon bodies such as the Z6, Z7, D750, D780, D7500 and D5600. A step up in price from a plain wired timer.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Interval and long-exposure timers can run together, each settable up to 99 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds in 1 second steps
- + Supports autofocus, single, continuous, bulb, delay and timer schedule shooting from the remote
- + LCD screens on both transmitter and receiver, and the cable can be swapped to suit another camera
- - Delay shooting is limited to 1 to 59 seconds in the listing, shorter than the main timer ranges
- - More to carry and set up than a simple wired remote, with separate transmitter and receiver units
#5A wired JJC intervalometer for the Canon bodies named in its title, including the EOS R5, R3, 6D Mark II and 7D. Self-timer, interval, long-exposure and shot-count settings on a backlit LCD.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Timer can be set from 1 second to 99 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds, which covers long star trail sessions
- + Backlit LCD screen can be read in the dark, which suits night sky work at the tripod
- + Compact wired remote with a 90cm (2.95ft) cable, powered by 2 AAA alkaline batteries
- - Wired only, so you stay within the 90cm cable of the camera when starting a sequence
- - The listing highlights do not give a full camera list, so match your model against the title and photos
#6A wired JJC intervalometer for the Canon bodies named in its title, including the Rebel T6, T7, T8i, T7i and the EOS 90D and 80D. Interval, long-exposure and shot-count timers on a backlit LCD.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Self-timer, interval timer, long-exposure timer and exposure-count settings in one compact remote
- + Timer range runs from 1 second to 99 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds for time-lapse and star trail work
- + Backlight lets you read the LCD in the dark, and the 90cm cable keeps your hands off the camera
- - Runs on 2 AAA alkaline batteries, and the listing highlights do not say they are included
- - Fits only cameras with the matching remote socket, so check the model list in the title before ordering
#7A wired LCD timer remote with 8 removable camera cables (C1, C3, N1, N3, S1, S2, UC1, CB1) for Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus bodies. One intervalometer can follow you across camera systems.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Eight interchangeable cables in the box, so a change of camera does not mean buying another remote
- + Delay, interval and long-exposure timers each cover very long ranges, up to about 100 hours in the listing
- + Long exposure (bulb) mode plus an exposure count of up to 399 frames cover star trail and time-lapse sequences
- - FocusFoto is a lesser-known brand, and the listing highlights do not give battery type or cable length
- - You must pick the right cable code for your camera from the 8 supplied, so check compatibility first
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Cable compatibility must be checked for your exact camera model (Neewer LCD Timer Shutter Release...)
- Nikon only, so other brands need a different model (Neewer Digital Timer Remote Shutter Release...)
- Costs roughly twice as much as the basic wired intervalometers in this guide (Wireless Remote Shutter Release Cable Wired...)
- Delay shooting is limited to 1 to 59 seconds in the listing, shorter than the main timer ranges (Pixel TW283-DC2 Wireless Remote Shutter...)
- Wired only, so you stay within the 90cm cable of the camera when starting a sequence (JJC Intervalometer Timer Remote for Canon EOS...)
- Runs on 2 AAA alkaline batteries, and the listing highlights do not say they are included (JJC Intervalometer Timer Remote for Canon EOS...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among intervalometers for automated astro shots (2026)?
Neewer LCD Timer Shutter Release Intervalometer Remote Control for Canon 700D 650D 550D 60D Pentax is our top overall pick. Neewer LCD timer shutter release intervalometer remote for Canon 700D, 650D, 550D, 60D and Pentax cameras. It earns our score of 8.4/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Neewer Digital Timer Remote Shutter Release Intervalometer for Nikon D90 D600 D3200 D5300 D7000 DSLR is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Neewer digital timer remote shutter release intervalometer for Nikon D90, D600, D3200, D5300 and D7000 DSLRs.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Stargazer Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
More questions readers ask
Do I need an intervalometer for astrophotography?
For exposures longer than 30 seconds, star trails and time-lapses, yes. Many cameras cap timed exposures at 30 seconds, and an intervalometer lets you shoot long bulb exposures and hundreds of frames without touching the camera.
What interval should I use for a star time-lapse?
Set the gap between frames to one or two seconds after the exposure ends, so the camera can write the file. For example, 20 second exposures with a 2 second gap give smooth motion at 24 or 30 frames per second of video.
What is the best intervalometer for star trails and time-lapse of the stars?
Look for one that combines bulb exposure length, interval, and frame count in a single program, so you can set something like hundreds of 30 second or longer frames and walk away. A backlit screen helps in the dark, and a model that runs on common batteries is easier to keep alive on cold nights. Above all, it must match your camera's remote port.
Do I need an external intervalometer if my camera has a built-in interval timer?
Not always. A built-in interval timer is enough for many time-lapses. An external intervalometer becomes worth it when you need exposures longer than the camera's timed limit, often 30 seconds, when your camera's built-in mode caps the number of frames, or when you want to program sequences without navigating menus in the dark.
Wired or wireless intervalometer for astrophotography?
Wired intervalometers are the usual pick for astrophotography because they do not depend on a radio link or phone connection staying stable for hours. Wireless models let you trigger from a distance and avoid a cable swinging in the wind, but they add a second battery to manage. For long unattended sessions, simple and wired tends to fail less.
How do I know which intervalometer cable fits my camera?
Check the remote port on your camera body and match it to the connector listed for the intervalometer, rather than going by brand alone. Canon and Nikon each use more than one remote connector across their lineups, so two cameras from the same brand may need different cables. Some kits ship with several swappable cables to cover multiple bodies.
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