Is this $10 app for the Apple iPhone a wireless remote shutter release killer? Let’s touch the screen and find out!
onOne Software’s DSLR Camera Remote for iPhone is an “app” for Apple’s iPhone or iPod Touch that lets you remotely control certain Canon EOS SLRs (see list, below) that are connected to a WiFi enabled computer. You can remotely control many of the camera’s settings, fire its shutter, review images after capture, and even see a live preview with cameras that have a Live View function. This little bit of software takes the whole concept of using remote cameras to a new level, giving you the ability to place a camera where it’s difficult or maybe impossible to see through the viewfinder. The software has a built-in Intervalometer for timed shooting.
The Professional Edition costs $19.99 but is being offered as I write this for $9.99. There’s also a Lite edition that costs $1.99 but only supports remote camera firing and the ability to review captured images. While only EOS digital SLRs are currently supported, Nikon users should know that a planned update includes support for their favorite brand.
I don’t have an iPhone but used my iPod Touch to download the Professional Edition directly from Apple’s App store by clicking the icon on the start-up page; it takes just a few seconds. You’ll also need to download and install free server software from OnOne onto your Mac OS or Windows computer to make it work.
After connecting my Canon EOS 50D to my laptop with the cable Canon provides and pressing the DSLR Camera Remote icon on my iPod Touch, the application uses Apple’s Bonjour networking to automatically find and displays the WiFi enabled computer. After selecting it I had full control over the camera using my mobile device.
And I mean full control: DSLR Camera Remote for iPhone not only lets you fire the camera but also allows you to adjust shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, image quality, and shooting intervals using its virtual intervalometer. Holding down the FIRE button gives you a pop-up menu that puts the camera into Live View mode (if it has one) and you can see the viewfinder image in real time on your iPhone or iPod Touch. It’s so freaky the first time you see it that you can’t help but smile.
Pressing any of the controls produces a pop-up menu that lets you change any of the settings as if the camera was in your hands, instead of the phone. All of this works so simply and seamlessly together that you owe it to yourself to at lest spend two bucks and try the Lite version. onOne Software’s DSLR Camera Remote for iPhone extends the meaning of camera remote control in so many new directions that I’m afraid a mere cable will not just be enough to trip cameras in this new millennium.
Cameras supported by onOne DSLR Remote (As of mid-June, 2009):
Firewire Connection:
- 1D Mark II
- 1Ds Mark II
- 1D Mark II N
USB Connection - Camera Must Be Set to PC Connection, Firmware must be up-to-date:
- Rebel XT/350D/Kiss Digital N
- 20D
- 5D
USB Connection - Camera Must Be Set to Print/PC (PTP):
- Rebel XTi/400D/Kiss Digital X
- Rebel Xsi*/450D*/Kiss X2*
- Rebel XS*/1000D*/Kiss F*
- 30D
- 40D*
- 50D*
- 5D Mark II*
- 1D Mark III*
- 1Ds Mark III*
(Visit onOne's web site for current updated listing of compatible cameras)
Joe Farace is the co-author, along with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Barry Staver, of a new book called “Better Available Light Digital Photography” published by Focal Press is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.
