DSLR control impossible with iPad?

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Level 1

115 points

DSLR control impossible with iPad?

Why can we not simply connect a Canon or Nikon DSLR to an iPad and control it with an app? There is now an Android app available that allows people to use a simple USB cable connected to their Android device to control their Canon camera, including viewing Live View on the Android screen! As far as I can tell the only possible way to do this with an iPad is to purchase a $600+ wi-fi accessory for my Canon camera and develop an app for it. So with the iPad route you have to purchase the iPad ($500) + the Canon wi-fi accessory ($600) for $1100 instead of $500 for android tablet and $10 USB cable for $510. Why can't we get better USB support on the iPad??? This has really gotten me to consider purchasing an Android device instead because of this ability (view LiveView, proper focus, etc. on large screen).

Posted on Aug 7, 2011 7:03 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 7, 2011 7:05 AM in response to dbainbridge

If an Android device suits your specific needs better than an iOS device, buy one. Who said you have to have an iPad?

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Answer 2

dbainbridge Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 7, 2011 7:08 AM in response to Julian Wright

Because I am an Apple developer and have a house full of Apple devices but have another hobby that requires this functionality. It seems silly for me to have to purchase an Android device when I already have multiple iPads that SHOULD be capable of doing this.

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Answer 3

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 7, 2011 7:10 AM in response to dbainbridge

dbainbridge wrote:

Because I am an Apple developer and have a house full of Apple devices but have another hobby that requires this functionality. It seems silly for me to have to purchase an Android device when I already have multiple iPads that SHOULD be capable of doing this.

But they are not so your choices are limited, unless you develop the app yourself.

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Answer 4

Aug 7, 2011 7:17 AM in response to dbainbridge

If your hobby "requires this functionality" how have you been controlling your DSLR up until now?

I don't know whether this Android app you mention is an official Canon or Nikon solution, if it is, why not ask them why they haven't released a similar solution for iOS devices?

If it is a third-party solution, and as you are a developer yourself, maybe there's an opportunity for you?

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Answer 5

dbainbridge Author

Level 1

115 points

Aug 7, 2011 9:17 AM in response to Julian Wright

As I tried to explain in my original post it is a limitation of iOS itself that prevents anyone from being able to develop such an app for the iPad. Interfacing an iOS device to the physical world is very restricted unless whatever you are connecting to uses Wi-Fi or you are a larger company able to hire subcontractors/engineers to come up with a physical accessory device to interface with the device you are interested in. There are in fact RS-232 cables available for iOS devices but you can't submit any apps to the App Store that use that serial cable because in order to use it it requires a static library in your app that I assume is using private APIs to get it to work. If iOS had better USB support I would have simply required a USB cable and been able to write the app.

The only possible simplistic solution I see is if someone knows of a simple/cheap USB to Wi-Fi converter (dongles don't work because they require a driver to be installed).

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Answer 6

Aug 7, 2011 9:21 AM in response to dbainbridge

Ok, well, going back to your original question:

Why can't we get better USB support on the iPad???

Nobody here can answer that. Apple have never said why. However, you can send them feedback at the following link: http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

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Answer 7

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,583 points

Aug 7, 2011 9:37 AM in response to dbainbridge

Why can't we get better USB support on the iPad???

That seems to be a question that you should be asking of Apple directly in an iOS apps developer forum, not in the Apple Support Communities where users come to get other user's assistance with technical problems they have when using Apple products

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