TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

I am beginning to explore wireless tethering to a laptop and wondering if there are any Hogs with relevant experience that they will be wiling to share. My reason for exploring the field is because of the deterioration of my hands. In 1991, I started losing coordination in my hands. In 1999, the pathology was finally diagnosed and it was not pretty. I had a tumor (small) with an encapsulating cyst (large and fast-growing) on my spinal cord just below the base of my skull. A lengthy surgery by two spinal neurosurgeons removed the interlopers, but there was major compression damage. I have been dealing with a slow deterioration of my hands since. It has gotten to the point that I can no longer hand-hold a camera. I also require line of sight for making adjustments. It is because of this latter that I want to tether the camera to the laptop – so I can see the controls displayed on the screen rather than searching for them one by one and then trying to make adjustments while looking at the Live View or the EVF instead of at the control knob or wheel. Why wireless? To keep from having to frequently deal with the small connectors for a typical mini-USB.

I see that there are cameras that can act as a wifi hotspot. There are a couple of questions that come to mind about that. Does it significantly shorten the battery life? What happens when it becomes necessary to change the battery? Is it necessary to re-pair the camera and the laptop? What about when the camera goes into battery-saving mode?

At this point, I am brand-agnostic with regards to camera. My laptop, a Dell XPS 13 running Windows 10, is fairly recent and I would like to keep it for a few more years.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

The wireless solution is dependant upon which brand of camera you are using since they each have their own solutions. There is also wired tethering which is very robust and works very well. I am able to used wired tethering on my Sony and Olympus camera. Also have an app for my cell phone that uses wireless for my Sony camera. And just received the Arsenal Imaging Assistant which uses my cell phone with my Sony camera and tested it for the first time yesterday and it worked perfectly.

Let us know what camera you intend to use and users of that particular camera can comment.

Pegasus Loc: Texas Gulf Coast

I have had good success with my Nikon D7500 connected to my Samsun smartphone or to my Samsung tablet using the Nikon Snapbridge app. It uses peer-to-peer wifi to communicate between the devices. Since it places the D7500 essentially in Live Mode, the battery life is reduced. WiFi does reduce it also, but nowhere as much as Live View. I do not believe that Snapbridge is available for Windows (laptop.) I can set up my table to look like a laptop, with a keyboard and mouse.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

As I said, I am just starting to explore and am brand-agnostic. A cell phone is out as I have a tendency to lose my grip on them because of their size. There is an open source program from MIT that supports several models from Canon, Nikon, and Sony. My current camera is a Panasonic FZ1000 that apparently (according to a reply from Panasonic) has no provision for external control beyond shutter release, so it will need to be replaced for this venture. I would like to avoid wired tethering because of the need to frequently manipulate the micro USB connections. My often spastic hands would be a clear and present danger to the pins.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Take a look at CamRanger. Fast, camera control and image transfer with excellent range. A seamless solution.

Haydon

Trix, how is that for RAW transfer speed? I've found very fast transfers even with USB 2.0 and CaptureOne. Its been also very reliable. Although even with a JerkStopper, at times the cable can be treacherous.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Hayden, I haven’t timed it, but I will. If I were to guess, I’d say that a 20MB raw file takes maybe 5 seconds or less. Let me check it and get back to you. My overall impression is that I don’t wait a significant time for the transfer. I can also see the live view in real time.

Haydon

Thanks for your attention in this matter Trix. Much appreciated. I doubt I'll ever switch from a USB cable and CaptureOne for home studio use but the CameRanger offers increased flexibility in outdoor use when distance comes to play.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I typically run tethered inside as well (although tripping over the tether can be an issue), but I love the Camranger for remote shooting outdoors while I sit inside (comfortably). I’ll benchmark a raw transfer tomorrow and post results.

Cheers,
Chris

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Thanks TriX and Haydon. I am not so concerned about file transfer as I am about camera control. I can let the camera store the images on its SDXC or other card until I get back to base and can transfer the images to a couple of other drives. I will take a look at CamRanger.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

A quick look at CamRanger raises another question. It is unclear from the website whether CamRanger 2 has an updated application for Windows 10. Windows support was included in the original CamRanger but dropped by CR Mini. Does anyone know about the support? I sent a question to CamRanger but have no idea how quickly they will respond.

Haydon

You might want to consider holding off (if you can) until 2019. Looks like they will be implementing extra cameras into their system and with a new improved extended range.

This was posted on DPReview September 10th, 2018.

https://www.dpreview.com/news/2454340269/camranger-2-set-for-2019-launch-with-faster-speeds-better-range-and-sony-fujifilm-support

I'm sure this will be more money than the present one.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

That was never in doubt

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

CamRanger is very powerful and excellent condition ones can be purchased on eBay for about $200.

Haydon

Periodically I've seen that advertised for $200.00 brand new on B&H from CanonPriceWatch. As we approach Black Friday/Thanksgiving, I wouldn't be surprised if that deal reappears.