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Remote Software for Sony Cams

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avanbeek

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I was looking at the remote control software for the Canon G1 and Pro90. It allows you to control every aspect of the camera from your computer and gives you:
  • a 640x480 preview
  • a histogram
  • all EXIF data
  • the ability to take pictures remotely
  • a timer for time-lapse shots
  • it's only $25!
Now I have to wonder, is it even possible to make something like this for Sony cameras? I also wonder how long it will take for this kind of functionality to be standard for digital cameras.

AVB
 
i was wondering about the same thing a couple of threads ago. it would be great to actually see the picture at my laptop (i'm using a sony vaio) screen before i take the shot.
A Van Beek said:
I was looking at the remote control software for the Canon G1 and
Pro90. It allows you to control every aspect of the camera from
your computer and gives you:
  • a 640x480 preview
  • a histogram
  • all EXIF data
  • the ability to take pictures remotely
  • a timer for time-lapse shots
  • it's only $25!
Now I have to wonder, is it even possible to make something like
this for Sony cameras? I also wonder how long it will take for this
kind of functionality to be standard for digital cameras.

AVB
Click to expand...
 
Back in the days of the 2MP class cameras, many of them used a common operating system and there were some user-written programs out there for doing many of the functions you've described.

I was able to do this with my old CoolPix 950 over a serial connection. It supposedly worked with Olympus and Epson cameras too, if memory serves me correctly.

When things changed to USB, they got more proprietary and I don't know of any USB utilities for this. It's too bad b/c this whole scheme wasn't practical for serial connections, but makes a lot of sense for USB.

--Ron ParrFAQ: http://www.cs.duke.edu/~parr/photography/faq.htmlGallery: http://www.pbase.com/parr/
 
Would be a great bonus if we could do this. I would like to program the code but would need details of the communications protocol and the command set or else it's a bit like a team of monkeys writing Hamlet (English joke). Presumably Sony are concerned about users breaking their cameras with buggy software and so do not want to release details. Perhaps they would consider developing their own control software if we make enough noise.

I would like to experiment with time-lapse photography - any ideas?

Andy T.
A Van Beek said:
I was looking at the remote control software for the Canon G1 and
Pro90. It allows you to control every aspect of the camera from
your computer and gives you:
  • a 640x480 preview
  • a histogram
  • all EXIF data
  • the ability to take pictures remotely
  • a timer for time-lapse shots
  • it's only $25!
Now I have to wonder, is it even possible to make something like
this for Sony cameras? I also wonder how long it will take for this
kind of functionality to be standard for digital cameras.

AVB
Click to expand...
 
I would pay $50 for such a program. Would make doing studio type work much easier.

I do make use of the video out for a higher resolution preview. I have it connected to my capture board which allows me to focus better than the LCD.

Remote time-lapse would be great. Especially for star trails ;)

I wonder if someone could reverse engineer the remote? I doubt you could get the preview/histogram/EXIF but time-lapse should be possible.
A Van Beek said:
I was looking at the remote control software for the Canon G1 and
Pro90. It allows you to control every aspect of the camera from
your computer and gives you:
  • a 640x480 preview
  • a histogram
  • all EXIF data
  • the ability to take pictures remotely
  • a timer for time-lapse shots
  • it's only $25!
Now I have to wonder, is it even possible to make something like
this for Sony cameras? I also wonder how long it will take for this
kind of functionality to be standard for digital cameras.

AVB
Click to expand...
-----------------Asmordean
 
Andy, this is such a vast can of worms that I think most people can't be bothered digging into it very far. There seem to be some variations within Sony's own thinking as there are apparently some some compatibility issues with different remote control units, for example. Your best starting point is to do a Web search for Sony LANC. There's a huge amount of info out there. Distilling it could be the problem. You might also try corresponding this guy who's gone into it far enough to get a third-party flash to work:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&page=1&message=1727564
wombat37 said:
Would be a great bonus if we could do this. I would like to
program the code but would need details of the communications
protocol and the command set or else it's a bit like a team of
monkeys writing Hamlet (English joke).
Click to expand...
I've heard of that "project";-) A variation that's always tickled my imagination is the notion that "If an infinite number of rednecks, riding in an infinite number of pickup trucks fire an infinite number of shotgun rounds at an infinite number of road signs, they will eventually write the entire works of Shakespeare in braille."

Good luck,
Mike
 
For just time lapse you wouldn't have to reverse engineer the remote. You should only need to provide a simple contact closure from an external timing module to mimic the shutter button, and let the remote unit encode it normally. (That's if the F707 doesn't shut itself down on a timeout.)

Mike
Asmordean said:
I would pay $50 for such a program. Would make doing studio type
work much easier.

I do make use of the video out for a higher resolution preview. I
have it connected to my capture board which allows me to focus
better than the LCD.

Remote time-lapse would be great. Especially for star trails ;)

I wonder if someone could reverse engineer the remote? I doubt you
could get the preview/histogram/EXIF but time-lapse should be
possible.
Click to expand...
 
Good idea!

Even better, we could design a robot to press the button for us! This robot (we can call him Boris) could respond to voice commands so that we could adopt a "Shout and Shoot" approach to these advanced photographic techniques.

The manual says the camera will not time out with the AC adapter connected. So you just need big batteries for the robot or one that will run on propane tanks.

Just a thought - let us know if you try it out. It would make a good photograph :)

Andy T.
Mike Fitzgerald said:
Mike
Asmordean said:
I would pay $50 for such a program. Would make doing studio type
work much easier.

I do make use of the video out for a higher resolution preview. I
have it connected to my capture board which allows me to focus
better than the LCD.

Remote time-lapse would be great. Especially for star trails ;)

I wonder if someone could reverse engineer the remote? I doubt you
could get the preview/histogram/EXIF but time-lapse should be
possible.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
How's this for lazy :

One Remote, plus extension cable. Camera on tripod by the bird feeder just out front. Video out and extension to the TV. I'll just sit and watch the birds on the tv, and snap a picture when I like what I see... Probably only need a 20' extension for both the remote and video... Maybe 80' if I want to go next door to dad's big screen high def. Sony tv...

My pet project for February... : )
--Mike.
 
Mike Fitzgerald said:
For just time lapse you wouldn't have to reverse engineer the
remote. You should only need to provide a simple contact closure
from an external timing module to mimic the shutter button, and let
the remote unit encode it normally. (That's if the F707 doesn't
shut itself down on a timeout.)
Click to expand...
Mike,

if you provide TWO contacts, then the on/off function can be used as well.

Sequence:
  • Switch on
  • Wait 10 seconds
  • Press Shutter
  • Wait 10 seconds
  • Shut off
  • Wait minutes
Ivo
Mike Fitzgerald said:
Mike
Asmordean said:
I would pay $50 for such a program. Would make doing studio type
work much easier.

I do make use of the video out for a higher resolution preview. I
have it connected to my capture board which allows me to focus
better than the LCD.

Remote time-lapse would be great. Especially for star trails ;)

I wonder if someone could reverse engineer the remote? I doubt you
could get the preview/histogram/EXIF but time-lapse should be
possible.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--Eyeglasses: Carl Zeiss
 
Do a net search for LANC and Sony. This is a language that Sony uses to control cameras and related equipment. Some people have experimented with camcorders with great sucess. ALL functions of the camcorder could be accessed and modified via LANC.There is no reason to beleave that the digital still cameras are different. The wired remote is nothing more than a dedicated processor that generatews LANC signals to the camera.

Sony has never released this language to the public and shows no signs of doing so now. I can be reversed engineered and some of that work has been done. However the processor module based on the reverse engineering is nearly the price of a camera.

Sony at one time made the RM95 diagnostic remote. This unit could read and send specific LANC commands. However it has beem out of production for a long time.

Do the LANC search and read. You'll find a lot of information out on the net. Maybe somebody will do the reverse engineering and come up with additional functions.

DW
A Van Beek said:
I was looking at the remote control software for the Canon G1 and
Pro90. It allows you to control every aspect of the camera from
your computer and gives you:
  • a 640x480 preview
  • a histogram
  • all EXIF data
  • the ability to take pictures remotely
  • a timer for time-lapse shots
  • it's only $25!
Now I have to wonder, is it even possible to make something like
this for Sony cameras? I also wonder how long it will take for this
kind of functionality to be standard for digital cameras.

AVB
Click to expand...
 
Well I'm not a developer but as a product manager, I'd be happy to design the UI and provide the requirements for some software like this. Talk about a fun project! Now if we could just convince some technical people to take this on....

Regards,
AVB
Don Wetzel said:
Sony has never released this language to the public and shows no
signs of doing so now. I can be reversed engineered and some of
that work has been done. However the processor module based on the
reverse engineering is nearly the price of a camera.

Sony at one time made the RM95 diagnostic remote. This unit could
read and send specific LANC commands. However it has beem out of
production for a long time.

Do the LANC search and read. You'll find a lot of information out
on the net. Maybe somebody will do the reverse engineering and come
up with additional functions.

DW
A Van Beek said:
I was looking at the remote control software for the Canon G1 and
Pro90. It allows you to control every aspect of the camera from
your computer and gives you:
  • a 640x480 preview
  • a histogram
  • all EXIF data
  • the ability to take pictures remotely
  • a timer for time-lapse shots
  • it's only $25!
Now I have to wonder, is it even possible to make something like
this for Sony cameras? I also wonder how long it will take for this
kind of functionality to be standard for digital cameras.

AVB
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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