tethering to ipad or small laptop

mrjames · 16 Apr 2013

Hi, I have 2 cameras (1dmk3 and 5d classic), a 15" macbook pro, and an ipad

so far I have seen no acceptable solution for tethering. I want to tether because the screen's aren't that good on my 2 cameras (especially the 5d) and client preview would be nice

basically I want 4 things:

1) simple solution that's wireless- either to my laptop or to the ipad, and without needing a wireless network (can create ad hoc network)

2) bi-directional settings adjustment and picture taking, sometimes I want to adjust the settings and take the photo using the ipad if i'm say shooting macro, other times when i'm shooting handheld I adjust and shoot with the camera, the ipad is just then for review.

3) As well as seeing the photos it should do live view, and in an ideal world it should do focus stacking, intervalometer, and bracketing

3) client mode- so I can give the ipad to a client and they can just see the pictures, but not adjust settings (maybe if it was possible to use 2 ipads, so I had the master ipad and the client had the client ipad)

The ipad/laptop will be used for image review, and possible social media upload- but I will do the main editing back on the laptop

I have seen so many bad solutions that my brain is now completely frazzled and I need someone elses opinion.

The camranger looks the best of the bunch, but until I know 1000% that it's the best solution i'm reluctant to spend the money

I don't mind an ios solution, I don't mind a laptop based solution, I also don't mind an android/windows tablet solution

I don't mind buying the wft, I don't mind buying a 6d. Just tell me what I should purchase for hassle free tethering

mrjames · 16 Apr 2013

one more thing
it would be great if it worked with my iphone too

thanks in advance for any suggestions

I have heard this might be possible with android tablets, and windows tablets

Tbant · 16 Apr 2013

Hi I can’t think of any solution that will meet all of your needs, but I use Capture pilot from Phase One and that should meet your needs for the client mode. It runs on IOS and I have used it with Iphones and Ipads, it can connect to an adhoc wireless network running from your laptop.
I can also suggest Capture One as this has live view and some camera controls, but I don’t know of a way to connect wirelessly to it as I tend to use firewire.
Hope that helps.

Major Eazy · 16 Apr 2013

mrjames said:
2) bi-directional settings adjustment and picture taking, sometimes I want to adjust the settings and take the photo using the ipad if i'm say shooting macro, other times when i'm shooting handheld I adjust and shoot with the camera, the ipad is just then for review.

I've seen something like that at a photographic show called Focus on Imaging at B'ham NEC last year, I noticed that the Nikon stand was doing an AV show where they showed that you could set the Nikon D4 on a remote controlled unit on a tripod, and used the iPad to turn it around, zoom in and out, take photos, and I'm not sure but I think as far as I can tell, you could set ISO, shutter speed, etc., via the iPad, I think that system may only applies to the D4 only but not sure about it.

So if Nikon have this kind of system, then maybe Canon do, so try and contact Canon and ask them if they got anything that fits your needs. If they don't, maybe they can point in the right direction for you.

Major Eazy · 16 Apr 2013

Looked around on Google to see if there's anything that may fit your needs, have found something you may like to check it out, try: CamRanger

Hope it's of some help?

PS: Update - I had a look at their video, looks like it's what you may need, not sure if it's missing something you want, but as far as I can see from video, it's seems to fit with your needs.

Lyonspride · 16 Apr 2013

mrjames said:
I have heard this might be possible with android tablets, and windows tablets

It is, there are several apps which allow full camera control in this fashion on Android, though i've never tried them. There may be some in the pipeline for iDevices, but you'll have to wait for Apple to approve them.

Apple could/might even be planning to make their own range of iCamera or iDSLR in future, in which case they'd never approve these apps for Canon/Nikon/etc.

troutfisher · 16 Apr 2013

This http://dslrcontroller.com/ works on an android phone ( Galaxy S2) and a Motorola Xoom

johnnypanic · 16 Apr 2013

Take a look at triggertrap mobile. Should be useful for at least some of your demands and it is very cheap. You can use one ios device to trigger another, e.g. use the ipad to trigger iphone connected to camera with triggertrap.

www.triggertrap.com

mrjames · 17 Apr 2013

From what I've read so far the best options for purely viewing the pictures are:
Eye Fi card and shuttersnitch
Connect ipad to camera with USB camera connection kit

Only thing that does live view is 'cam ranger' and a 6d with the canon app

Tethering to ipad with the computer connected to the computer is easy:
Capture pilot, or just use air display to 'stream' live view feed from eos utility

Major Eazy said:
Looked around on Google to see if there's anything that may fit your needs, have found something you may like to check it out, try: CamRanger

Hope it's of some help?

PS: Update - I had a look at their video, looks like it's what you may need, not sure if it's missing something you want, but as far as I can see from video, it's seems to fit with your needs.

Camranger does look sweet, but I'd rather not pay 300 for something if I could just ditch this ipad and go android instead. Heck for 170 I could get a nexus 7 which does tempt me

I think android might be the solution- or an 11" air instead of the ipad, or 11" air with the ipad as tethered display using 'air display app'

Tbant said:
Hi I cant think of any solution that will meet all of your needs, but I use Capture pilot from Phase One and that should meet your needs for the client mode. It runs on IOS and I have used it with Iphones and Ipads, it can connect to an adhoc wireless network running from your laptop.
I can also suggest Capture One as this has live view and some camera controls, but I dont know of a way to connect wirelessly to it as I tend to use firewire.
Hope that helps.

I just got the demo for capture one and I'm trying it out, never thought bout using it ad hoc- good point!

johnnypanic said:
Take a look at triggertrap mobile. Should be useful for at least some of your demands and it is very cheap. You can use one ios device to trigger another, e.g. use the ipad to trigger iphone connected to camera with triggertrap.

www.triggertrap.com

That's actually a fantastic idea- I have triggertrap and never thought of that! Can't see the pictures but can definitely control the camera remotely