The self-timer is a built-in mechanism that trips the shutter after a variable amount of time from the moment you activate it by pressing the shutter release or the dedicated release button. The delay is commonly of intervals of up to ten seconds.
The most common use of the self-timer is for the photographer to be included in a group photo or a self-portrait. The self-timer can also be used in place of a cable release for long exposures (with the camera resting on a steady surface or on a tripod) in order to avoid moving the camera by manually pressing the shutter release.
If your camera has an MX flash setting lever, it has to be set to X for the self-timer lever to wind. M type bulbs cannot be used with the self-timer, so the self-timer cannot be used when the selector is at M. Some leaf shutter cameras label the self-timer lever with a V for Vorlaufwerk (German for “self-timer”). The shutter must be cocked to be able to set a self-timer labelled with a V.
On older cameras, especially those which have not been used for a long time, it is very common for the tiny springs and gears of a self-timer to be clogged with grime or dust, causing them to get stuck when operated. If the self-timer sticks before the shutter has fired, there is no way to trigger the shutter, rendering the camera useless until repaired. This is often the cause of a jammed shutter. It is therefore advisable to avoid using the self-timer on vintage cameras unless they have been serviced.
Magnified view of the self-timer mechanism from a Copal SV shutter
