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E-M1, 12-40 robin feeding video via wifi,

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Barry Stewart

Barry Stewart

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Last year, I used wifi and my iPad to photograph robins (Turdus migratorius) and their babies between the joists of our deck. It was a TIGHT situation, with my camera about a foot away from the nest — but wifi shooting made it SO easy.

With the addition of short-clip video shooting, I decided to try it out yesterday. I'm very pleased with the results, though there were some issues.

• First issue is that once you hit "record" the iPad screen goes black. You have to trust that the camera is doing what you're hoping for.

• C-AF motor noise (I think) is present in the audio. An off-camera mic would help... or don't use C-AF. Not IS motor, as that was turned off.

• I had my camera set for C-AF during video shooting. This was a problem in wifi, as I couldn't manually set the focus point. It was on-centre and my target was slightly to the right. When the parent bird landed with the food, it was fine, as this filled the centre spot. When the parent was gone, or sitting in the nest, the focus wandered off to the distant background.

• I couldn't find a way to change the C-AF to S-AF via wifi, once in video mode. User-error (sort of) on my part. Next time, I'll preset the camera to be S-AF for video and see how that goes. I could also use MF and set it up while the parent is away... but I prefer the fine-tuning of focus via wifi option.

I can't embed the video here, but I have it set to "public" on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=751202784995810

Here's a pic of Mom:

2c667ce837fc404aa3e3663882a7d595.jpg


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Barry
 
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Cool use of wifi, thanks for sharing!
 
Barry Stewart said:
Last year, I used wifi and my iPad to photograph robins (Turdus migratorius) and their babies between the joists of our deck. It was a TIGHT situation, with my camera about a foot away from the nest — but wifi shooting made it SO easy.

With the addition of short-clip video shooting, I decided to try it out yesterday. I'm very pleased with the results, though there were some issues.

• First issue is that once you hit "record" the iPad screen goes black. You have to trust that the camera is doing what you're hoping for.

• C-AF motor noise (I think) is present in the audio. An off-camera mic would help... or don't use C-AF. Not IS motor, as that was turned off.

• I had my camera set for C-AF during video shooting. This was a problem in wifi, as I couldn't manually set the focus point. It was on-centre and my target was slightly to the right. When the parent bird landed with the food, it was fine, as this filled the centre spot. When the parent was gone, or sitting in the nest, the focus wandered off to the distant background.

• I couldn't find a way to change the C-AF to S-AF via wifi, once in video mode. User-error (sort of) on my part. Next time, I'll preset the camera to be S-AF for video and see how that goes. I could also use MF and set it up while the parent is away... but I prefer the fine-tuning of focus via wifi option.

I can't embed the video here, but I have it set to "public" on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=751202784995810

Here's a pic of Mom:

2c667ce837fc404aa3e3663882a7d595.jpg


--
Barry
Click to expand...
Great subject for video Barry,

Definitely avoid C-AF with your next effort.

Only my preference, but I find the framing a bit too tight on the video {although possibly you were limited for shooting distance and fl choice, in a cramped scenario}.

I understand the temptation to fill the frame, although sometimes a slightly wider view will allow more post production options {slow zoom/pan etc}.

Looks good,

nicely done.

edit: just noticed you mentioned that you WERE limited for camera positioning....therefore fine job under those restrictions!
 
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Hi Alan. Thanks for the ideas. Next time, I will go a bit wider and tip the camera up a bit. There certainly isn't much room, though — and I have to be aware of the parents getting anxious, while I'm making adjustments. (Thankfully, they're not eagles, owls or even crows!)

The camera is SO close that when I (remotely) hammered the shutter for 10 fps stills, the mother dropped the food and took off. Silent mode would be nice.

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Barry
 
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It's odd isn't it. When the new version of the App was released supporting video, I was sure that the release notes said you could have Live View with video. I was very disappointed to find that my screen goes black too. Until you posted, I thought that there must be a way around it.
 
Tony Rogers said:
It's odd isn't it. When the new version of the App was released supporting video, I was sure that the release notes said you could have Live View with video. I was very disappointed to find that my screen goes black too. Until you posted, I thought that there must be a way around it.
Click to expand...
I was thinking that it may have something to do with limitations of sending video via wifi… but then I thought: "What am I seeing — if not video feed — when I shoot in stills mode?"

I must be missing something. Maybe the sensor can't record video while sending a video signal to the wifi? Cue the E-330 that had dual sensors!

Panasonic users: can YOU see what is being recorded in wifi video?

In any case, I'll take this improvement over what was available last year. Just want more...

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Barry
 
Yes, with the GX-7 and the GM-1, the image is fully retained on the iPad screen when commanding remotely the camera in video. I did it recently (2 or 3 weeks ago). I am going to try with the EM-1 to see how it works.

Cheers
 
Pedagydusz said:
Yes, with the GX-7 and the GM-1, the image is fully retained on the iPad screen when commanding remotely the camera in video. I did it recently (2 or 3 weeks ago). I am going to try with the EM-1 to see how it works.

Cheers
Click to expand...
Thanks for that news, Antonio. So… Oly needs to get to work on the next improvement.

Surely it wasn't JUST my request last year that got them this far. I asked for — at minimum — the ability to remotely start and stop a video recording on the E-M1. I got that, LOL!

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Barry
 
Just trying the combo iPad/EM-1.

I don't know how you did it, but I am controlling the camera with the iPad, fully, image showing in the iPad screen.

In Remote-control screen (iPad), on the upper right, if you started by having the camera in the movie mode, there will be a video icom (a little square). Touching this, brings all PASM photo modes + video, you can choose any mode including video. If you do, you are in Video mode, and touching the Start button (on screen) will start recording, with the image showing.
 
I'm going to try again, in my office now. Update: nope… black screen when I hit the video record button.

I see in my OI Share settings that I have version 2.5. You? No newer version is offered to me.

E-M1 firmware is 3.0

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Barry
 
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Yes, same firmware versions!
 
Anyway, tap to focus does not work. I have to set whatever photo mode, tap to focus then switch back to movie mode.
 
I believe it's a 3rd generation. Bought in December of 2012.
 
iPad (3?) is now on OS 8.3. Camera is 3.0. Olympus iShare is 2.5.

Still can't see the video on my iPad, while taping.

On the camera, I adjusted movie AF to be S-AF. Now, on the iPad — in stills mode — I use S-AF to touch focus on where I'm going to shoot.

I switch to movie mode — where touch focus is disabled — and when I record the movie, the focus stays locked on where I wanted it. This is better than relying on the camera's C-AF.

A side note: my Oly TG-3, which has wifi, has no video option via wifi. (Perhaps the new TG-4 does?)

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Barry
 
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I hope we get to the bottom of this because I'm going on holiday in two weeks and would like to shoot some remote video. It obviously works for some.

Come on chaps (and chappesses), sort it out!
 
I am sorry, but I have no idea of what is there to sort out. I have the camera in any PASM mode. Switch on WiFi. In the iPad, Settings, select the EM-1 network. Then launch OI Share in the iPad.

A full screen Menu appears, with the following options::

Remote Control (Live View)

Import Photos

Edit Photo

Add Geotag

and a switch on/off commmand in the bottom. There is also a cogwheel at the right-superior corner.

Tapping this Cogwheel, we get a settings Menu, where one option (first) is again "Remote Control"

Selecting this, you get another screen with:

Mode

Rec View

Live View Quality.

The options for "Mode" are "Live View" and "Remote Shutter". I have "Live View" selected.

The options for "Rec View" are"Continue to Display", "Never", and various time intervals. I have "Continue to Display" selected.

I Won't go into other options (to keep this short) at the "Settings" level (they are obvious).

If I go back to the first screen and choose "Remote Control (Live View)", iAuto is selected on the Right-superior corner. Tapping that, shows the PASM modes plus Art and Video. Tapping video, the camera enters Video mode. Tapping the Start button (an icon button) it starts recording, image always showing.

However (and this is a big "However"!) focusing by tapping on screen is disabled (focusing beforehand is necessary, I think) :-(

I am still trying to find out if there is (in the Camera Menu) a way of going around this.

Hope this helps!

--
Antonio
http://ferrer.smugmug.com/
 
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I knew there HAD to be something wrong with my approach, if others were able to SEE live view during taping.

So I was poking around some more this morning and discovered that there are TWO different kinds of video. One has a boxy-looking 1980s-style vid cam. That's the one I was using, only able to get short 15-second (or less) clips… with a black screen while shooting.

But… tap around a bit and you get a symbol of a reel-to-reel movie camera. THIS one allowed me to see the live view. It also surprised me by taping a 5-minute clip. I didn't think this was possible. (Socks knocked off!)

Maybe Olympus has some notation on this?

I had the camera pre-set for focus (and no C-AF) and waited for a parent to arrive at the nest. No action, so I went in to shave, with the iPad showing me a live view of the nest. Mother arrived, so I started recording. Live view kept showing.

Then the father arrived and the kids went wild with all the food they were getting. I stopped taping after 5 minutes.

Very happy! Next up, Olympus: tapping S-AF while in video mode.

On the audio side, I attached my Sony mic but still had a nasty hiss through the whole video. I suspect it IS the I.S. motor, which I had turned off for stills… but likely had set to be on for video. Will check it out more tomorrow. These birds are good for 3-4 crops of kids per summer, so I may be pretty good at this by August.

Thanks, Antonio, for your leadership on this!
 
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