Remote photography

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view.

Thanks

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Tell me which field and I promise not to steal it, ok?

But seriously I don't think it's possible or at least not easy. Something like the Samsung galaxy NX may have been able to achieve this as it had 4g capability and the android operating system so an app may have been available. But it's old now, hard to come across and there's no guarantee what you're asking for would work.

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Yes. Many cameras work with wifi. You can download the images (slowly, usually) and control the camera itself. Some have more controls than others. So it would be a matter of security, weatherproofing, and setting up some kind of mesh wifi or something so you could control it. Most work with direct connections, though, so trying to connect via LAN can be frustrating.

Perhaps easier is CamRanger or similar products. It has a range of 400' supposedly. https://camranger.com/wildlife/. There's Cam-Fi as well, and maybe others.

Not sure if a cam ranger would work, because the field is like a kilometer away, and there is a forest between the house and the field.

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Via 4G ? I don't know of any.

robgendreau said:

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view ... the field is like a kilometer away,

Click to expand...

Yes. Many cameras work with wifi.

Click to expand...

WiFi is not the 4G net.

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view.

Click to expand...

How much are you willing to spend?

This can be done with several thousand US dollars for the hardware and maybe the same for the technical expertise to set it all up. Also, I would recommend a weatherproof enclosure for the camera as well as rather large power supply to power everything, which will require an electricity hookup at the site or a solar panel array, which would be an additional cost.

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view.

Thanks

Click to expand...

It is technically possible, provided your camera has WiFi connectivity and an application (software) capable of controlling it remotely.

Then it isn't a walk in the park for you'll have to ensure a proper connectivity in the bush/field and provide long lasting power source to your camera....

But definitely doable.

Or you can get a cellular game camera (also known as a cellular trail camera) for less than US$200. Just use Google to find lots of models.

The pros of this approach are low cost, built-in weather sealing, night vision, battery power, and no expensive custom installation needed. Cons include poor image quality, a wide angle view, and inability to significantly adjust the camera operation remotely.

Felice62 said:

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view ... the field is like a kilometer away,

Click to expand...

It is technically possible, provided your camera has WiFi connectivity and an application (software) capable of controlling it remotely.

Click to expand...

WiFi is not the 4G net.

Ok, that was a bit more complicated and expensier than expected

Yes, but was was more thinking of a camera that had more professional settings, and also a longer focal length, but thanks for the advice

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Yes, but was was more thinking of a camera that had more professional settings, and also a longer focal length, but thanks for the advice

Click to expand...

Galaxy NX is the only one that offers this (that I can think of).

Could it work to connect the camera to a raspberry pi, and run a compatible program? And then attach a 4g USB modem to it as well?

sybersitizen said:

Felice62 said:

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view ... the field is like a kilometer away,

Click to expand...

It is technically possible, provided your camera has WiFi connectivity and an application (software) capable of controlling it remotely.

Click to expand...

WiFi is not the 4G net.

Click to expand...

Yes but is possible to use a 4G terminal with the WIfI connectivity.. (mobile phone via hotspot).

Not big deal

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Could it work to connect the camera to a raspberry pi, and run a compatible program? And then attach a 4g USB modem to it as well?

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You'll have a camera located a kilometer away, controlled by a computer a kilometer away. What is the modem going to do?

Felice62 said:

sybersitizen said:

Felice62 said:

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view ... the field is like a kilometer away,

Click to expand...

It is technically possible, provided your camera has WiFi connectivity and an application (software) capable of controlling it remotely.

Click to expand...

WiFi is not the 4G net.

Click to expand...

Yes but is possible to use a 4G terminal with the WIfI connectivity.. (mobile phone via hotspot).

Not big deal

Click to expand...

The camera and the phone app are designed to connect and communicate over a short range WiFi network. Are you saying that the camera will think the phone is connected by WiFi, and the phone running the control app will think the camera is connected by WiFi, although they're separated by a kilometer?

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Could it work to connect the camera to a raspberry pi, and run a compatible program? And then attach a 4g USB modem to it as well?

Click to expand...

You’ll likely need a camera that supports Infrastructure Wi-Fi, or has an Ethernet port built into it, and that typically means a very expensive camera or a pricy camera with an expensive adapter, although many moderately-priced cameras can accept the Camranger devices.

That is just the first step. This networked camera then needs to connect to a router to which you’ll connect to a cellular modem. In order to operate the camera over this, the router will need some special programming if you are concerned with security or are planning to operate this device over long periods of time. Certainly a Raspberry Pi can be programmed to operate as a router, and I’ve done that myself, but they aren’t too rugged: for example, suddenly powering off a Pi without shutting down the operating system first can damage the files stored on its memory card, requiring the card to be reflashed, which has happened to me occasionally.

You may have to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) server on your router in order to connect to the camera, and possibly even use a Dynamic Domain Name Service (DDNS) account to keep track of the Internet address of your device if the cellular provider likes to change the address periodically; an alternate is leasing a static Internet address. This depends on how your software works.

If you are going to keep this running for a long time, then enclosures for the camera and the electronics will be needed, as well as a source of power.

1km? A DJI inspire 1 or 2 could do this. Legality depends on airspace and where you live.

sybersitizen said:

Felice62 said:

sybersitizen said:

Felice62 said:

Automaticbirdphotography said:

Hi, is it possible to connect a dslr/compact/bridge camera to the 4g net out in a field where it is a lot of wildlife, and then acces the camera from the computer home, and controll camera settings, trigger it, and watch live view ... the field is like a kilometer away,

Click to expand...

It is technically possible, provided your camera has WiFi connectivity and an application (software) capable of controlling it remotely.

Click to expand...

WiFi is not the 4G net.

Click to expand...

Yes but is possible to use a 4G terminal with the WIfI connectivity.. (mobile phone via hotspot).

Not big deal

Click to expand...

The camera and the phone app are designed to connect and communicate over a short range WiFi network. Are you saying that the camera will think the phone is connected by WiFi, and the phone running the control app will think the camera is connected by WiFi, although they're separated by a kilometer?

Click to expand...

if you use a VPN you can make them part of the same local area network, of course.

AS I said it's not a walk in the park but the setup can be designed.