PDA

View Full Version : Remote shooting for S2IS and others


sHanzek
08-16-2006, 09:51 PM
While I was home 'sick' today, I finally got around to experimenting with the CameraWindow program, the Remote Shooting function, Windows XP Remote Assistance feature, and two computers.

What I've figured out is that I can:
(1) Connect my S2IS (or A620, or just about any Canon that works with the Camera Window program) to my laptop with a USB cable. The laptop is a 1.6GHz Thinkpad T30 with a wireless card.

(2) Start up the Camera Window program.

(3) Go into the Remote Shooting tab.

(4) Set up Remote Assistance on the laptop, and e-mail myself a request for help.

(5) Go to one of my other computers in the basement, check my e-mail. Find the request for assistance. Open the request.

(6) On the laptop, I have to accept the help by clicking yes on a box.

(7) On the computer in the basement, click on 'take control' of the laptop.

(8) Run up the stairs and click on 'yes' on the laptop to allow the other computer to take control.

If everything works, and all the stars are aligned, I can now go to my computer in the basement and control my camera connected to a laptop.

This weekend, weather permitting, I will position the camera on a tripod by my bird feeder, probably within a few feet. Probably should cover the camera with something to keep the poop off. Then I'll put my laptop near it, also covered and plugged in to AC. Then off to my basement, or I may hook up another laptop with wireless and sit in the kitchen watching thru the window. Then when a pretty finch lands at the feeder, I should be able to trigger the camera from inside the house.

Like I said, I've established all these steps work, but it's now 11pm, and I don't get to actually try it on the birds yet. And tomorrow is a baseball game to photograph.

Sometime this weekend I will write up more detailed instructions, with images and such, and slam it into a pdf file for any other crazy individual that wants to try this. I've had it in mind for several months, but never fully understood the use of Microsofts Remote Assistance. Actually, for MS, not too bad.

Steve
S2IS and A620

londonandlawson
08-16-2006, 09:55 PM
Wow that's a lot of work to get a pic.

JTL
08-16-2006, 10:29 PM
Why don't you just use the Remote Desktop? About a thousand times easier than the process you described!

BowerR64
08-17-2006, 01:18 AM
What about a 300ft USB cable? :eek:

wutske
08-17-2006, 02:24 AM
Or what about RealVNC (http://www.realvnc.com/). Simply enter the IP and port, if set, enter the password and you've got your connection :D

truflip
08-17-2006, 06:19 AM
what if ur camera window does not detect ur camera? =(

sHanzek
08-17-2006, 07:20 AM
Well, I never said it was the best way.:(

Remote Assistance uses the same method as Remote Desktop. Now that I've established in my mind that I can do this, I can look for more efficient ways.

The 300ft USB cable is sort of out of the running. However, I did see an ad for a kit that uses CAT5 cable of 100+ft between two usb adapters. But it was $100. My goal is to do this 'for free'...

Went to RealVNC website. Looks like 30 day trial, then $30 for personal version. Sorry, not free...

Several of my computers (1 at work, 2 at home) fail to recognize my cameras when attached. One of these days I'll uninstall and re-install the canon software and see if that helps. My perception is that this is a common problem with CameraWindow. My work computer may have issues because I didn't use the Canon cd. I fiddled with the registry to allow me to directly install the upgrade from Canon's website, even though there was no software installed to upgrade from. So I may be missing some older driver or something.

Yeah, it's a lot of work for a photo, but if it really works, I should be able to get some really close shots of some birds.

Steve
S2IS and A620

truflip
08-17-2006, 07:37 AM
ur idea is ok.. just that i cant get past step 1 :(

sHanzek
08-17-2006, 11:47 AM
If I get a chance tonite I'll try a few things. My pc at work will only recognize my S2IS, not the A620. One of my pc's in the basement has the same problem. I'll see if there is anything I can do with the control panel, with the USB devices...

Have you tried uninstalling the canon software and re-installing it? If you have the cd?

Steve
S2IS and A620

BowerR64
08-17-2006, 02:12 PM
Here is the solution!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/Canonwifi.jpg

wutske
08-18-2006, 02:30 AM
Went to RealVNC website. Looks like 30 day trial, then $30 for personal version. Sorry, not free...


There is a free version of it, it's on the download page (http://www.realvnc.com/download.html). :)

BowerR64
08-18-2006, 12:27 PM
It would be cool to link computers together and share pictures. Like if i had it and i had my S2 linked to my computer and then if some one wanted a picture from my machine they could control my machine and take their own shots changing the camera settings the way they wanted zooming in composing the shot and then it would be their picture but from my location.

I could put the camera in the woods by the local squirrel nest.

sHanzek
08-18-2006, 01:05 PM
I had a similar thought; put a pc with a camera outside in some sort of enclosure, pointed at a bird feeder or such. I have plenty of computers and parts, but I'm not really ready to devote one of my two functioning cameras to the concept...
Maybe someday...
Steve

garblin
08-18-2006, 10:08 PM
I've thought of doing something similar this summer but with using cables. Decided it was to expensive to buy that much cable. So i do it the old fashion way and stand around and wait for the little birdies to show.
:)

garblin
08-18-2006, 10:24 PM
I managed to get these two little ones today

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/garblin/GoldfinchM.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h233/garblin/GoldfinchF.jpg