Nikon ML-L3 £17, $20
This remote is as basic as they come, but it is delightfully small, slim and lightweight, at 60x28x7mm and 10g. It’s an infrared device, which means there’s no need to attach a receiver to the camera, although that does also mean that it’s incompatible with high-end SLRs like the D800, and pro bodies that lack a built-in infrared module.
The ML-L3 works well up to a range of five metres, but lacks a two-stage operating button, so you can’t apply a light press for autofocus and metering before pressing the button fully to shoot.
The ML-L3 is a good (and very affordable) option for early Nikon digital SLRs like the D40, D50, D60 and D70, which all lacked an accessory terminal and therefore can’t be used with any of the other remotes in this test.