If you’re a photogs and happen to own any Android device running 3.1 or 2.3.4 versions of the operating system, then you’re good to go for a very interesting integration of controlling your DSLR with your mobile Android devices. Thanks for adding the support for USB accessories on this latest Android version, so basically there now exist a beta version of an app to do almost everything you do on your Canon EOS DSLR remotely on your Android device just by snapping through a USB connection.
Chainfire’s DSLR Controller app’s description on the Android Market, using DSLR Controller allows you access to the following features:
- Live View
- Auto Focus (tap Live View)
- Manual focus adjustments in Auto Focus mode
- Histogram
- Zoom control
- Grid display
- Bulb capture
- Continuous capture
You also have control over various settings:
- Shutter speed
- Aperture
- Exposure Compensation and Bracket
- Flash Compensation
- ISO speed
- Auto-Focus Mode
- Focus and Zoom area (tap-and-hold Live View)
- Picture Style
- Drive Mode
- White Balance
- Color Temperature
- Auto-Lighting Optimizer
- Metering Mode
These controls are dependent on what your DSLR’s settings, like full manual, aperture priority, shutter priority and other modes. Ultimately, yes, you can trigger or capture images on your Android device. So far here are the devices tested to support the app, then for the USB compatibility of other device you might the manufacturer specifications:
- Samsung Galaxy S II (must have KG 2.3.4 or newer firmware and must have the USB host cable. Search eBay for “i9100 USB host”)
- Motorola Xoom (needs the USB Host cable. Search eBay for “Xoom USB host”)
- Acer Iconia A500
- Asus Transformer (connect to dock)
- Toshiba Thrive
Accordingly, here are the Canon DSLR models that has been tested to run the app: 600D, 550D, 60D, 50D, 7D, 5D Mark II and the 1D Mark IV.
Unfortunately, since this app is currently in beta, you might run into some glitches that normally in forms of communication errors and freezes, the developer of this app just suggest that you might try: “disconnecting your camera, turning it off and on, rebooting your Android device, and only then trying again”.
Via TechNoodling and Image Credit Romain Guy.
Crazy!