Canon camera + Android phone/tablet = remote capture and field monitor

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simantics

30 posts

Geek

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#106960 3-Aug-2012 15:05

The Canon remote software for PC is great when you're indoors, but what about when you need to go out and about and don't want to lug around a laptop?

The handy CD that comes with your Canon DSLR isn’t just great for Ultimate Frisbee, it has some great tools onboard.Chief among them is the Remote Controller utility which lets you take photos from your laptop while your DSLR is connected via USB. This gives you the advantage of a much larger screen to view your pictures on (3 inches vs ~11-17 inches), and makes getting accurate focus during video much easier.

I have an expensive MacBook Pro which I’m uncomfortable taking out on field shoots. Knowing my luck some dog would pick it up and jump into the Auckland harbour with it (happened before with a smartphone and beagle).

I’ve looked online for dedicated field monitors. These have great screen quality and let you mirror your camera’s display (useful if you have Magic Lantern installed), but are very expensive (US$400 and above) and generally limited to its single purpose.

As with all problems life has to throw at you, this one is easily solved with an app: DSLR Controller for Android.

DSLR Controller lets you use your Android phone or tablet as an external electronic view finder. More than that it lets you take photos and video directly from the device, adjust aperture and ISO settings, and then downloads the images for you to review in the Android Gallery.

There’s a similar app for iPad, but it requires you to plug your DSLR into a computer which it then connects to over wifi. With DSLR Controller all you need is an Android device with USB host hardware (most non-HTC Honeycomb and above devices should work).

A full list of compatible Android devices and Canon cameras can be found here.

I’ve been using DSLR Controller for about a month, and think it’s an invaluable option. I don’t use it every time I go out and shoot, but for nighttime photography being able to view the image on a large bright screen is immensely empowering.

(USB Host cable to connect DSLR to tablet)
Right now you can buy DSLR Controller for US$7.99 (NZ$9.99) from the Android Play Store. The developers have said they will raise the price once a full version is released, but those who buy it before then will be able to upgrade for free.

Twitter: @simantics

Blog: simantics.co.nz

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Oblivian

7296 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#667049 3-Aug-2012 15:58

Damn you, now I have even more reason to look at a tablet lol

I use the laptop tethering to show people the off camera shots, but of course being a crap screen the color/contrast is often way off and silly me used it as a histogram recently and fubar'd an entire sport team shoot. Whoops!

peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#676670 25-Aug-2012 06:53

Just got it, very impressed so far.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

BadBadBadMonkey

87 posts

Master Geek

#682626 7-Sep-2012 01:47

It's a nice idea but for the purists it's to be pointed out that you're not using your camera as an SLR in this manner. What is the point of an SLR with that delicate and expensive mirror if you're not going to use it to look through?

For night viewing, when you are going to be taking a long exposure, it's best to have maximized night vision and look directly through the lens - not ruining your vision looking at a big LCD which displays a rubbish preview picture anyway because the preview exposure is necessarily fast.

The other issue is that which plagues video mode on SLRs, at least still does on the lower or mid level budgets, and that is sensor over-heating and hot pixels from running the cameras in "live" mode (mirror flipped up and the sensor powered on) for too long, which of course a mode like this requires.

My point is, generally, that a mirrorless camera would be more appropriate. But for sure a nice toy for those DSLR videographers who can put up with, or somehow mitigate, the godawful aliasing and other typical problems associated with camera sensors designed first and foremost for stills.