Control camera from an Android Phone

Not seen this discussed before :

A project to allow Android phones to directly control DSLR's via USB cable. Can't see if this has been developed beyond an idea but sounds perfect. Cheaper than a Promote unit.

http://www.camera-control.com/p/feature-list.html

The android community amazes me (in a bad way). I've never before seen grass-roots developers come out and ask for money before even starting a project. Look at their donation page, they're already selling the application. Same thing with the ROM developers, asking people to buy them phones/devices so they can create ROMs..

Anyway.. rant off!

Seems like a cool utility if he ever gets his $16,000 to make it.

This project sounds neat. I'm sure people still find it useful, but with the Apple app, you still have to tether the camera to a laptop. Taking the laptop out of the equation makes this way better.

Cool project. If he can get it done it might turn into a Holy Grail type app.

BrandonSi wrote in post #11979473
The android community amazes me (in a bad way). I've never before seen grass-roots developers come out and ask for money before even starting a project. ..

I know.. AP development should be left to only those that can afford it. Down with the little guy..

gjl711 wrote in post #11981850
I know.. AP development should be left to only those that can afford it. Down with the little guy..

Heh. That sentiment did seem odd, but whatever. It takes all types.

Not to get off in a side-discussion, but we're talking code here. He obviously has a PC, I'm sure he has a phone, and I'm sure he has a camera. What does he need seed money for? Pizza? I've been around development since the early nineties and I've never, ever seen home-brew developers ask for money up-front until I started getting into the Android community.. You create a product, release it, sell it, or ask for donations/support to fund further development..

I don't know, maybe I'm just old school.

I can do everything he has listed on the "standard" app now (and more) with current free open-source software. I have plans on making a similar android project, but real-life dictates it will be a while (year at least) before I get to it.

I have seen people ask for "donations" in large amounts taken as "escrow" before. Meaning you commit that if the developers deliver feature list X, by date Y then they get to keep the money. Its a great way for 3 or 4 people to get together and keep their motivation level at a "second-job" level rather then "hobby level" and it works.

Same theory as not billing your CC until something ships from a major retailer.

That does not seem to be what he is doing.

I have yet to see an android phone that supports USB host mode. This is essential for creating an app the guy describes. And even then Canon's API needs to be reverse engineered (which is illegal) and ported to Java (feasibility: close to nil). So, it is pretty safe to say that it's simply technically not possible to control a camera with an android phone through a usb connection.

Nevertheless, good thinking! He still made close to 2000 dollar through donations. Can't get a refund on a donation can you ? Maybe I should do something similar.. after all 'you can fool 10 percent of the people 100 percent of the time etcetera..

realjax wrote in post #11986226
I have yet to see an android phone that supports USB host mode. ...

The Motorola Android phones now support USB host mode.

I stand corrected (assuming you are not referring to the hack & adapter that is needed for these phones). Question is,can an android app use/access it too? And then of course there is the Canon API thing..

BrandonSi wrote in post #11979473
Seems like a cool utility if he ever gets his $16,000 to make it.

So he can finally buy the car he wanted all along. And cross the border in no time.

I'm pretty amazed that the developer is asking for donation even before he start working on the product. At the very least, he should have some beta versions or prototypes that visitors can try out before asking for more money to fund his development. This looks like a good way to make some money in the meantime. If the donation figure doesn't reach $16000 by April, I'm not sure if he is even going to return the donations. Those who have donated may be in for a tough ride!

what a useless idea. Why would you want to control the camera from your phone thru a usb cable?
I don't see myself using an aplication like this..
I'm wondering way people donated , do they really need a application like this..they find the camera controls so useless that they need a phone to make it work?!

I don't know if this is the same thing, but I used this last year in a remote setup. The only down side was the camera had to be connected to a computer the whole time. But it worked great I could fire, change exposure, iso, ss, aperture from the iphone.
http://www.ononesoftwa​re.com/products/dslr-camera-remote/