iPhone app to remotely control your Canon dSLR

DSLR Camera Remote software lets your iPhone or iPod Touch remotely trigger Canon dSLRs.

(Credit: OnOne Software)

Still longing for a decent camera on your iPhone? All you need's an app and a Canon dSLR and the dream is yours. Well, not exactly, but OnOne Software's DSLR Camera Remote application lets your iPhone or iPod Touch control most Canon dSLRs going back circa the 20D.

Announced in mid-May but available now, the system is a combination of two pieces of software: the free DSLR Camera Remote Server application, which runs on a Wi-Fi-enabled host computer, and either DSLR Camera Remote Professional ($19.99 with an introductory price of $9.99) or DSLR Camera Remote Lite ($1.99), both of which are available via iTunes or the iPhone App Store. Basically, you tether the camera to the host system and use the iPhone/iPod to communicate with the camera via the computer over Wi-Fi.

The Lite version looks pretty bare bones: it can fire the shutter, show the image, and tell you battery status and number of photos remaining. The pro version supports Live View (assuming the camera does); lets you adjust shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, ISO, and white balance; choose quality; and zoom during review. It also adds intervalometer capability.

According to the company's blog, "For those of you who are Nikon shooters and are wondering 'Hey, why is this Canon only?' the answer is: 1. Because most of us here have Canon cameras; and 2. This is our first iPhone app and we're not sure how well it will be received." So if you want a version for your Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Pentax, or other model, head over there to request it.

[leonardjenkis]

Replacing 1 cable with another. This app is completely useless unless you have someplace to put your laptop while you've got your camera mounted on the backboard. This requires you to keep your camera plugged into your laptop which basically just replaces one cable with another, fancier cable. Buyer beware, they gloss over the fact you need to have this tethered to a computer the whole time, by pointing out how cheap netbooks are in the demo. Don't buy this.

[LelandHendrix]

Lori, I caught this when it first was announced, as well.

I was already leaning to the Canon EOS Rebel XSi (with 18-55mm lens) for $569 in your current front-page feature, and being reminded of this iphone app seals it.

[DocG411]

This would be so cool without the need for tethering it to a laptop.

[make_or_break]

Meh...I wouldn't want a bunch of CANON guys writing a Nikon app anyways :P

Someone the thought of using my Touch to control the camera seems unnecessary (after all, if the camera's tethered, why not just use the computer?). There MIGHT be situations where wireless could be useful--like when the photographer/picture taker needs to be part of the photo or near the subject for setup--but these are set environments...a cable long enough to move the laptop around can do the same thing, plus provide a much better (i.e., larger) LCD screen for previewing. Me thinks that the usefulness of this app goes down in location shooting, but then again you can't ever discount some people's fanatic love of their iPhone's (or Touch's) app capacity.

[emarido]

I think you're missing the point of this, you could walk anywhere in the studio to look at your subject from different angles, or adjsut things without being tethered by wire to your computer / camera. This is a wireless remote that shows you the image just taken on a large screen from anywhere that the wifi can connect.

[Splinter4]

Good point. However, I think the fact that the camera has to remain tethered to a laptop reduces this seemingly incredible and useful App down to a simple luxury item that would just be sort of nice to have.

If this iPhone App gave me the ability to tap into the wifi capabilities of a 5D Mark II without the need for a laptop, then they could probably charge close to $100 for it. I could simply attach the camera to our 12-foot crane, pair it with the iPhone App, and be ready to shoot our establishing shot as the sun was setting. What a dream come true that would be.

[lawgone]

I think you're missing the point that the practicality/usefulness of this product is very low. Let's say you're a commercial photographer and you're photographing a car. You want to know how everything will look in the photo. There is no need to go to the side of the car that won't even be in the picture and remotely trigger the shutter from there. You need to be behind the camera. The only time a remote shutter trigger is needed is if you are taking a portrait and want to be in it yourself or if you are going to have a very long exposure of something. Either way, you wouldn't want your laptop tethered to the camera the whole time. I can't believe the one guy posting on here is letting this influence his decision over what brand of camera to get...not based on lenses and ergonomics but useless software and gadgets.

[molotov]

So the day has come where the Touch is replacing the photographer. I think the next big thing; "Perform brain surgery through your Touch! [if qualified]" The multi-tough technology that ONLY Apple has out on mainstream will be perfect for that. Try this on a Pre... or wait - there is no such thing!

[bobkrause]

This sounds pretty cool, but my Sony a700 came with a wireless remote that fires the camera from a distance without my having to touch it or have it connected to a laptop. And, if you do have your camera hooked up to a TV or laptop the remote lets you run a slideshow without any physical contact (if you find something like that useful...I don't really see it myself). Even if they came out with a version for Sony Alpha dSLRs, I doubt if I'd buy it.

Bob