Canon or Nikon DSLR wireless control directly from iPad, iPhone, iPad Touch

[Dennis]

Hi,

Just found this US $299 device called CamRanger which according to the website…

“….is the only product that allows near complete wireless control of your Canon or Nikon DSLR directly from your iPad, iPhone, iPad Touch”

Looks interesting as it doesn’t require a PC, as the CamRanger device creates the WiFi network. On one of the promotional videos, one of the engineers says that it will work very well up to 150 feet and the (conservative) battery life is some 3 or 4 hours although at close distance it seems to be able to run all day.

Cheers

Dennis

[pluto (Hugh)]

That does look really cool. I wish it had come out a few years ago, I would have LOVED that when I first got my iPad!
There's an Android version coming soon too, although you can already do full Canon camera control on Android but it's not wireless.

[skysurfer]

300 bucks ???

Way too expensive as it requires special hardware! Just because Apple does not allow direct USB connection from an iDevice.

The DSLR controller for Android is way cheaper and needs only $7 for a license and a USB host cable for a few $$$.

[Dennis]

It looks like DSLR Controller is a wired device with tethering restricted to the physical length of the USB cable, whereas the CamRanger is wireless and can operate at distances of up to 150 feet.

Cheers

Dennis

[pluto (Hugh)]

DSLR Controller is an app and yes it is limited by the length of your cable. I think the point was that you don't need an extra $300 device to use it.
Don't get me wrong, I think Camranger is an awesome device and an innovative way around a silly restriction.
I definitely would have bought one if I didn't have android devices now days.

[Dennis]

I guess it comes down to how any prospective user would want to use their DSLR; tethered via USB or at longer distances via the Wi-Fi capability of the CamRanger.

Whilst both are based on their respective Mobile Application, they are quite different beasts.

Currently, CamRanger can connect to a list of Canon & Nikon DSLRs, is Wi-Fi capable and can thus be operated over longer distances where that is a requirement.

From what I read, DSLR Controller appears to be for Canon DSLRs only via a USB cable. However, one plus is that it doesn’t require another ‘phone sized unit with its additional battery and the “complications” of a Wi-Fi connection.

It also appears that the folks at CamRanger intend to extend the CamRanger capability to include Win7/Win8, Mac and Android platforms further down the line. No doubt other variants will start popping up soon!

Cheers

Dennis

[pluto (Hugh)]

I agree, different beasts.
I remember when I originally looked for something like this on my iPhone many years ago there was a solution kind of similar to this. The idea was you would hook your camera up to your laptop and run a little server thing that the iPhone app would connect to over wifi and allow you to remotely control everything. At the time that didn't really appeal to me as I thought the whole point was to not have to cart the lappy around! The CamRanger is obviously a better solution

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

I connect my Laptop to the DSLR on the scope using Backyard EOS, then run Team Viewer (free) and control/view the laptop screen from inside using the iphone (or iPad, Android Tab etc).

As the laptop and the iphone are on wireless, its a great remote control way of checking the subs and / or setting a new target from inside the nice, warm house while watching foxtel.

Quite cheap too (apps wise).

Cheers

Chris

[Dennis]

That sounds like a great set up Chris; it seems that there are many roads to Rome.
The additional functionality provided by these add-on devices can be quite useful for certain shooting situations and projects, whether wired or Wi-Fi, although the “burden” of an extra app and HW can be a bit tedious.

I understand that more recent models such as the Canon 6D have built-in Wi-Fi and GPS as do some of the Nikon DSLRs, whose range I am not familiar with. I would also expect that Android and iPad apps to have a nicer user interface than the OEM interface on the DSLR itself?

I do remember playing with onOne’s DSLR Camera Remote some while ago which required a Windows PC to act as a server for the Wi-Fi capability. It took me a little while to figure out the difference between my Router’s Wi-Fi function and that of creating a (remote) ad-hoc Wi-Fi Network on the Laptop when I was not connected to the Router. A wired connection would have been nice then!

Cheers

Dennis

[skysurfer]

The problem I have with Camranger is its price.

For less one can buy an extra Android device (which acts as a Camranger alternative) connected via a cable to the camera which can tether to another Android device over Wifi.

The good thing is that Camranger supports Nikon.

[Dennis]

Fair enough. A highly functional and customisable Android Device with a nice Display vs. a relatively dumb Wi-Fi box of electronics might be a bitter pill to swallow for some.

Cheers

Dennis