[2017.08.02] DSLR Controller v1.05

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pspilot

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2008
224
47
Bavaria
Maybe you need external power via Y cable?
Well, for the stick it would make sense, but not for the camera. The camera needs the V+ only for the pull-ups on the data lines to start communication. It actually doesn't need 'power' in terms of 'energy'. And if there wasn't be good V+ at all, the short cable would neither work. Actually I assume only crappy cables so far, seriously, Chainfire might be right. The cables are all dirt cheap but crap. Let me do some research on that, I'll come back :).
 
The USB spec. does allow for USB cables up to 1.5m/10ft. The only issue is if you have a poorly shielded cable, and it can help to have a noise choke (one of the ferrite ring things) on the cable. But unless your transfering image files down the cable, the communication in remote control mode isn't very demanding.

The slow USB 1.1 specification defines a maximum cable length of 3 meter, and the faster USB 2.0 specification allows 5 meter cable length.
Reference

I personally use a 16' passive repeater cable then a 3' cable with a clip on my belt connected to the camera. If I pull to hard, the repeater cable unplugs from the OTG adapter or the belt clip cable without putting stress on camera or Tablet. I have successfully used 2 16' passive repeater cables without issue.

Generally, because I usually shoot handheld with a Art Director holding the Tablet, I position the middle of the cable behind us and place a weight bag on for added strain relief and to prevent it from getting in the shot.
 

MrKwatz

Member
Dec 18, 2011
22
0
Noticing some issues with shooting.

When switching AF/MF with the hardware switch on the lens every option in DSLR controller will become greyed out. When I switch back to the mode that the camera was plugged in with initially the options come back, but when I actually attempt to change them nothing happens. It doesn't let me select anything (as in it doesn't even highlight any of the choices I touch in the exposure menu, it just sits at the current one and doesn't go away).

500D, Lenovo Thinkpad
 

softimage69

Member
Jan 7, 2012
9
0
Hi,

Actually when I open DSLR controller successfully and try to return with the home button to settings, DSLR controller is shut down, so I can't verify what the activity is at that stage...

But try this. When I open the app and simultaneously press the shutter button on the camera I can access everytime.

Otherwise, If this does not work, I'd suggest you to test with several USB-to -microUSB cables.

The Usb-host cable presumably must work for you, if you get the usb stick to work with it.

I have tried 4 different usb cables attached to the otg cable for the tablet. Thumb drive works with all cables on the tablet, and all cables allow communication with the canon eos utility app in windows. I also tried the shutter hold-launch app test but no go... i am not sure where to go from here...
 

Engelhuber

Senior Member
Mar 16, 2011
81
10
NRW
Hi there. First of all i have to say thank you for this great app!
I'm trying to use it with my SGS and a 500D.
I'm on Onecomics RC3.1 with a modded kernel which enables OTG-Host mode.
There is an app called "USB Host Controller" where you can configure the settings and see which USB devices are connected.
The app tells me that there is a Canon Cam connected, but when i try to open the DSLR Controller it tells me that it couldn't find any compatible camera :(

Does anyone have experience with the SGS, DSLR Controller and the 500D?
The 500D is listed in the compatible devices, so i think is has to be something else...

no one with a modded SGS kernel and a working DSLR Controller ?! :(
 

pspilot

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2008
224
47
Bavaria
I personally use a 16' passive repeater cable then a 3' cable with a clip on my belt connected to the camera. If I pull to hard, the repeater cable unplugs from the OTG adapter or the belt clip cable without putting stress on camera or Tablet. I have successfully used 2 16' passive repeater cables without issue.
Sounds clever :). Do you have a brand of these repeaters or even a link? Though, I think the entire subject changes from device to device (Android device that is).

Thumb drive works with all cables on the tablet, and all cables allow communication with the canon eos utility app in windows.
That's what I mean. The (hardware) drivers of a PC might be totally different than the ones in a mobile Android device. Especially the need to preserve power in the handhelds interferes pricipally with the quality of line driving. The cables I have trouble with on my Note are all working perfectly with the PC (Notebook).
 

kindsma1

Member
Dec 13, 2010
7
1
I have tried 4 different usb cables attached to the otg cable for the tablet. Thumb drive works with all cables on the tablet, and all cables allow communication with the canon eos utility app in windows. I also tried the shutter hold-launch app test but no go... i am not sure where to go from here...
Hi,

Try this then, I searched aerlier posts as I remembered that somebody earlier posted something that he got it to working like this (other tablet same kind of specs). This what What I found:

"Connecting Camera, starting camera , starting DSLR Controller - not working
Connecting Camera, starting camera and DSLR Controller at the same time - works perfect

I must start the app in the timeframe, when "BUSY" is shown on the Canon LCD" ...

This is true for me as well, I get the "BUSY" on my camera screen as well when I start it up.

Unfortunately, I have no more ideas than this. I can of course take some pics of my setup and working DSLR controller, but that's about it.

for the reocord:
Haven't altered anything really except the Lord BSM's market script and still on stock firmware (not rooted) . Haven't set the vm heap size-limit to anything else either, it's stock, and when starting app gives me message "medium memory value- 128mb" (or something similar).

Does Chainfire have any more ideas?
 

I use the same one


One thing I should note on the repeater is that it HAS to be a powered port to work.

That is very true. I have a Xoom, not sure if it has a powered USB or not but it certainly has a strong signal.

I have successfully used 2 16' passive repeater cables without issue.

Generally, because I usually shoot handheld with a Art Director holding the Tablet, I position the middle of the cable behind us and place a weight bag on for added strain relief and to prevent it from getting in the shot.

At one time I considered putting a powered hub between the 2 passive repeater cables for signal boost but I found I did not need to.

Your mileage may vary

I am considering trying one of these:
33 ft / 10 meter Premium Active USB 2.0 Extender

For $16 if may be worth a shot.
 
Last edited:

k-m-c

Member
Jul 15, 2011
11
0
Zurich
Feature request: remote control for DSLR Controller

Chainfire,
I read through most of this thread, however I'm not sure if this feature has been requested before explicitely:
Can you add options to remotely control the DSLR Controller App and thus the camera? For instance, using wifi/modem and/or SMS/email to launch and set-up DSLR Controller and start shooting... typing SMS keywords to set up the camera (e.g., "Av 5.6; Tv 1/30; start; 10 [picturesTaken]; 5 [seconds interval]; stop; closeApp"). Or transfering the live view image via wifi to another device...

I reckon this is not on top of your to-do list and maybe beyond v1.0, but I assume it would yield lots of new possibilities to use this fantastic app.
 

Chainfire

Moderator Emeritus / Senior Recognized Developer
Oct 2, 2007
11,452
87,862
www.chainfire.eu
Sorry for the long response time.

is it possible for Glacier / Mytouch 4g with CyanogenMod 7.1 (2.3.7)+ to be supported?

I thought I saw in change log of 7.1 saying it supports usb host???

I bought the usb host cable, wonder if thats all ill need if I need to make another cable I can solder and test it, in fact I bought the app and have proper Canon DSLR to test :)

Please check if your specific kernel supports USB host, if a separate powered USB HUB is needed, and make sure it works with a USB stick.

Chainfire,

Feature Requests (2):

#1 Please change or add option to use the “Live View” (The one with the photo details) Image review screen as the default after shot review when using Image review (+ follow shot).

...

#2 Add 1-3 custom menu item buttons or give the option to customize what 1,2,3 or all buttons on the main Live View screen.

...

Both of these are under consideration, though it's likely that if implemented, we'll see #1 well before we'll ever see #2. #2 was actually on the to-do list already, but low priority.

3 questions (sorry if they've been answered, hard to go through 127 pages);

1. Works with Nexus S?
2. Maybe link instructions on first page of how to make USB cable? Just a mini usb B to B?
3. I have a 550D that gives persistent error 70 on startup, I suspect if I could reset the settings to factory it would help, but it's impossible to do it before err 70 appears. (tried removing both batteries and dismantling the camera, still retains settings [I know because it has green colour scheme]) - Bit off topic but you think this software may be able to help some way?

1) Maybe with Sztupy's modified kernel and a powered USB hub. Will certainly not work connected directly to the phone.
2) No, you need a "USB host" cable.
3) No.

Hi there. First of all i have to say thank you for this great app!
I'm trying to use it with my SGS and a 500D.
I'm on Onecomics RC3.1 with a modded kernel which enables OTG-Host mode.
There is an app called "USB Host Controller" where you can configure the settings and see which USB devices are connected.
The app tells me that there is a Canon Cam connected, but when i try to open the DSLR Controller it tells me that it couldn't find any compatible camera :(

Does anyone have experience with the SGS, DSLR Controller and the 500D?
The 500D is listed in the compatible devices, so i think is has to be something else...

I'm using DSLR Controller with a 550D on an I9000 with Sztupy's kernel and it's working fine. Try Sztupy's kernel, just to be sure.

Chainfire, I mentioned a couple of ideas I had that would be interesting features for me at least. Maybe it's a little too early to think about incorporating them but I'll ask anyway.

... light and sound triggers, get histograms only in liveview ...

These are certainly interesting ideas, and rest assured, I have not forgotten about them since you mentioned them earlier. I have actually played with light detection for the timelapse feature, but in the end I stopped playing and just released the timelapse function as it is now.

Anyways, I still want to see if these ideas can be implemented (they're on my todo list), but even when basing on histogram data I think we should expect +- 100ms latencies. Using the histogram will be much much faster than processing the entire liveview image, however, the histogram data you see on screen piggybacks on the liveview packets. In other words, I can't download just the histogram data per liveview frame, I have to download the frame itself as well (but not necessarily process it).

Ok, I see. The whole row below an image in info mode is not visible at all with DSRL Controller 0.86, SGS2 (2.3.5 stock rom) and 5D mkII!

Can you screenshot this or take a picture of how it looks on screen? You do see the histograms? Also, which image quality mode are you shooting exactly? raw+l, mraw2 + s, etc. Kindly take a picture the exif info does not show up for, and upload the result file (or files if you are saving in two formats) somewhere, and link them here, so I can download and analyse that file.

Noticing some issues with shooting.

When switching AF/MF with the hardware switch on the lens every option in DSLR controller will become greyed out. When I switch back to the mode that the camera was plugged in with initially the options come back, but when I actually attempt to change them nothing happens. It doesn't let me select anything (as in it doesn't even highlight any of the choices I touch in the exposure menu, it just sits at the current one and doesn't go away).

Does this always happen or did it just happen once? This behavior is consistent with entering focus mode (focus rectangle will be green on screen), then setting the lens to MF ... Other than that I'm not sure what might be going on here.

sites seem to be down

Should be back up!
 

Chainfire

Moderator Emeritus / Senior Recognized Developer
Oct 2, 2007
11,452
87,862
www.chainfire.eu
Chainfire,
I read through most of this thread, however I'm not sure if this feature has been requested before explicitely:
Can you add options to remotely control the DSLR Controller App and thus the camera? For instance, using wifi/modem and/or SMS/email to launch and set-up DSLR Controller and start shooting... typing SMS keywords to set up the camera (e.g., "Av 5.6; Tv 1/30; start; 10 [picturesTaken]; 5 [seconds interval]; stop; closeApp"). Or transfering the live view image via wifi to another device...

I reckon this is not on top of your to-do list and maybe beyond v1.0, but I assume it would yield lots of new possibilities to use this fantastic app.

This is actually on the todo list, not sure when we'll see it. Probably after Nikon support (which I had actually planned on starting this week, but unfortunately can't).
 

Chainfire

Moderator Emeritus / Senior Recognized Developer
Oct 2, 2007
11,452
87,862
www.chainfire.eu
c'mon, wait with the Nikon support and make these Nikon folks buy some Canon DSLR ;)

Haha. I would if I thought Canon was still top dog, but it looks like they've been dropping the ball lately. It seems Canon has lost the entry level market, so it makes little sense for me to be a Canon-only enterprise... It's just that I already have some Canons lying around to play with ;)
 

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  • 91
    In an effort to de-duplicate a lot of information, I have moved the bulk of it to the DSLR Controller website. This thread still remains the place to get support, discuss, and ask questions, though!

    DSLR Controller was the first and remains the best app to fully control your Canon EOS DSLR from your Android device, through USB cable or Wi-Fi connection. No computer or laptop required, no root required, only a compatible mobile device, a compatible camera, and if connecting through USB, the right cable.

    We strongly suggest you read up on the website ( http://dslrcontroller.com/ ) about what DSLR Controller can do, how it works, and how to use it, before purchasing. The website contains a wealth of information you should know before using.

    Not all devices are compatible, especially if you want to use a USB connection. For a free app you can use to test compatibility, see the "Remote Release" app ( http://market.android.com/details?id=eu.chainfire.remoterelease ). If you need a refund, go to our website ( http://dslrcontroller.com/ ) and follow the instructions in the FAQ entry. We cannot process refunds through email.

    Usage notes, feature lists, device compatibility lists, changelogs, FAQs, can all be found on our website: http://dslrcontroller.com/

    Most questions should go to the support and discussion thread at XDA-Developers.com:
    http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1202082


    Features

    Features include but are not limited to:

    - Live View
    - Auto Focus (tap Live View)
    - Manual focus adjustments (in AF mode)
    - Histogram
    - Zoom control
    - Grid and aspect ratio overlay
    - Bulb capture
    - Continuous capture
    - Image review (+ follow shot, gallery)
    - Image filters (peaking, contrast, channel mask, grayscale, 4 modes/filter)
    - Video recording
    - HDR/Auto Exposure Bracketing
    - Focus Bracketing (incl. HDR)
    - Focus A-B
    - Mirror Lockup support
    - Timelapse (incl. HDR)
    - Wi-Fi Passthrough
    - Extensive modification of settings
    -- Shutter speed
    -- Aperture
    -- ExpComp and Bracket
    -- 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
    -- Image and video quality and format

    Available options depend on the mode you have your camera set to (M, Av, Tv, etc) and camera model. Refer to the website ( http://dslrcontroller.com/ ) for further details.


    Supported Android devices:

    If you are connecting using Wi-Fi, virtually all modern Android devices are supported (your camera needs Wi-Fi support, though). If you are connecting over USB, your device needs USB host support - most recent devices do. Please see the 'Devices' section on our website ( https://dslrcontroller.com/devices.php ) for further information.

    If your camera only supports USB, you can modify a TL-MR3040 to provide a Wi-Fi connection ( http://dslrcontroller.com/guide-wifi_mr3040.php )


    Supported Canon EOS models:

    Newer cameras than listed below are usually supported.

    Full support:
    - 1D Mark IV
    - 1D X
    - 1D X Mark II
    - 5D Mark II
    - 5D Mark III
    - 5D Mark IV
    - 5Ds(r)
    - 50D
    - 500D
    - 550D
    - 6D
    - 60D
    - 600D
    - 650D
    - 7D
    - 7D Mark II
    - 70D
    - 700D
    - 750D
    - 760D
    - 80D
    - 1100D
    - 1200D
    - 1300D
    - 100D

    Limited support:
    - 1D mk III
    - 1Ds mk III
    - 30D
    - 40D
    - 400D
    - 450D
    - 1000D

    No support:
    - pre-2006 models
    - EOS M mirrorless devices (work in progress)


    Let us know which hardware you are using with DSLR Controller!
    10
    Must-read information

    Screenshots and video:
    http://dslrcontroller.com/about.php

    Download, BETA usage notes, and changelogs:
    http://dslrcontroller.com/download.php

    Table of supported Android devices and Canon EOS DSLRs:
    http://dslrcontroller.com/devices.php

    FAQ:
    http://dslrcontroller.com/faq.php
    8
    I am a professional architectural photographer and have adopted your DSLR app into my workflow. Thank you for the great design and amazing functionality. It is a pleasure to work with*.

    I would like to know what the future holds for DSLR Contorller. I noticed you are not very active on this forum (last post on 2/26/2015), but wanted to encourage you to keep on developing because I, We need it!!!

    ...
    .

    DSLR Controller was originally built for Android 2.x years ago, and a lot of things have changed both in the camera world as well as the mobile world. Despite bolting on many improvements, the code shows its age. To take it to the next level and get everything I want into it (customizability, compatibility, portability, speed, etc), a lot of the core needs to be changed, the UI needs to be changed (if not in appearance or functionality then certainly how it's been coded), etc. It pretty much comes down to not just overhauling major parts, but completely redoing it from scratch, and rebuilding it as envisioned from the ground up.

    This brings with it a number of issues. It is a lot of development time (and thus money) investment up front, of which you will see no results, until it is almost done. In the mean time, you can't really release anything that isn't up to par with the current version of DSLR Controller, and you can't just replace the current version as old users/devices may no longer be compatible, stranding paying customers. A lot of additional equipment needs to be gotten and tested with to ensure compatibility and portability (remote and end-user testing isn't really workable with apps like these). Not to mention that DSLRs are pretty much doomed, and this is definitely being reflected in daily sales.

    The past year hasn't been very good on a personal level, which isn't your problem of course, but it is one reason for the lapse in development of certain apps. This one adds to the fact that in light of the above, it feels like a waste of resources to spend a lot of time on improvements in the current app. There have been talks with a team (from a big brand in the camera world) to take over the IP, pretty much solving the resource problem, but ultimately that fell through, after the talks taking up a large part of my time for months.

    Also, I know it seems like DSLR Controller has generated a lot of funds, but spread out over the years its been available, subtracting equipment costs, corporate taxes, wage taxes, etc, you wouldn't be able to hire one(!) half-competent coder for the money left at today's going rates, not to mention the risks involved with hiring people. Even though I do get paid and get all these toys to play with, wanting to build it has always been a large part of this, as there are definitely more profitable ways to spend the time. At the same time having to compete with $300 equipment, and people still complaining about the $8 price.

    This app is also a complete nightmare to support, as by far the bulk of the connection issues are not due to the app itself, but due to camera configuration, phone configuration, hardware incompatibilities, firmware incompatibilities, etc. That is, excepting the case where DSLR Controller just hangs, which sometimes (but definitely not always) is an issue with the app. Not to mention the droves of questions and reported issues by people who simply don't understand how their cameras work.

    All of that being said, I do believe there may be a business case where a rebuild with additional features and support for Nikon and/or Sony and/or (insert other brands here) and other OSs like Linux, iOS, OS X, Windows, etc using a shared core may at least break even. That is, providing I can find competent developers to do it (as there is no way I can pull this off by myself), and finding said competent developers with at least somewhat relevant skills might in fact be the biggest problem to solve. Still, even in the best case scenario, I don't believe any work will get started before end-of-summer.

    Don't mistake the lack of visible activity for lack of interest. What to do with DSLR Controller and how to get there is something I consider every day, as in the end, it's still the app I've enjoyed most developing over the years. But if the solution means spending more resources updating the current app, developing a new one, or investing funds to get a whole new company off the ground with a handful of people to cover both major brands and major OSs - that I don't know yet. But I do hope to have an answer to that sooner rather than later.

    (this post was written in a rush as I need to run for another appointment but I didn't want to leave this unsaid, so if it's jumping here and there and not fully coherent, that's why)
    6
    Hey Chainfire, I was wondering if there was an ETA for the next update? I know asking such things is never liked, Im not looking for a hard date just a rough idea and if there is anything else we can do to help?

    After next week I have three weeks reserved for exclusive DSLR Controller work, if that doesn't finished the upcoming update, I'd be surprised :)
    5
    The price will go up once v1.0 is reached, but the upgrade is free for those who have this BETA???

    Why can't I see free version?

    Because it's good software and the developer deserves to get paid. Beta doesn't mean it's not valuable, it means that the software isn't very mature or well tested. if you want it now, you pay. If you want to pay once it's well tested and proven then wait.

    Either way, quit your sniveling people. This is an AMAZING deal at that price. If you can afford a DSLR and know how to use it, you can afford 10 times this and would gladly pay it. If you think otherwise, you likely don't need this software to begin with and have nothing to complain about.