Attach camera to computer via SD card slot (wired Eye-fi ?)

Hi,

I've been searching extensively on the internet about an electronic device that would allow to interconnect a camera and a computer via a SD card slot. The idea would be to get the "system" mounted on both camera and computer simultaneously.

I found some people asking such questions but no answers at all.

The idea would be that when a picture is shot (i.e. via an intervalometer) it goes automatically to a (embedded) computer:
- The camera believes it has a large Sd card installed
- The computer believes a USB stick/hard drive is connected

I looked a bit on Eye-fi product but :
- Wi-Fi is necessary.
- It requires a software to be installed on the remote computer (cannot easily upload to remote FTP server).
- Wi-Fi is slower than USB2

I know this can be done with Canon SDK and camera connected via USB but such a device would allow get shots from cameras whith no SDK available (or no PTP remote control) such a recent Canon (or others) point and shoot cameras.

Idea behind it is long-lasting timelapse, where in-camera storage is not sufficient and /or shots need to be transfered over Internet.

Have you already seen such a solution somewhere ?

Ooops, I just noticed I posted in the wrong forum by mistake ... Accessories & Storage was more appropriate How can I delete or move the post ?

Thanks,
F.

why would you do it this way rather than tether it via USB? You can tell the EOS software to save to the computer and/or the memory card....Unless I'm missing something, this is exactly what you're talking about minus the need for special cable/equipment

TheBigDog wrote in post #13314279
why would you do it this way rather than tether it via USB? You can tell the EOS software to save to the computer and/or the memory card....Unless I'm missing something, this is exactly what you're talking about minus the need for special cable/equipment

+1
You can also use the computer to control the camera. You can change any camera settings via the computer, you can focus and you can shoot and have an instant preview appear on the computer screen and it will automatically save to DPP on the computer. I usually do this when I'm shooting macro.

If you do want to move this thread, click the "Report" icon, the little red triangle below your User ID, and ask for the post to be moved.

From what I understand, Eye-Fi has a direct mode which allows you to transfer files from your camera to a device (pc, iphone, ipad, android) without an external wi-fi network. The card itself broadcasts a signal that your device connects to. You still need to use their supplied software, and the transfer speed is not blazing fast, but from videos on youtube it appears to be acceptable.

SnapFire wrote in post #13314289
+1
You can also use the computer to control the camera. You can change any camera settings via the computer, you can focus and you can shoot and have an instant preview appear on the computer screen and it will automatically save to DPP on the computer. I usually do this when I'm shooting macro.

Hi SnapFire, TheBigDog,
yes SDK/PTP via usb is great for Canon DSLR cameras.
My idea was to have a solution also working with newer Point-and-shoot and eventually other brands where no SDK are available. Changing settings and livre view are not a requirement for me.

But I did not created the thread in the correct section (Canon EOS Digital Cameras) so you answser is the best for this section. I requested it to be moved to "Accessories & Storage"

djchrono wrote in post #13315289
From what I understand, Eye-Fi has a direct mode which allows you to transfer files from your camera to a device (pc, iphone, ipad, android) without an external wi-fi network. The card itself broadcasts a signal that your device connects to. You still need to use their supplied software, and the transfer speed is not blazing fast, but from videos on youtube it appears to be acceptable.

The thing with Eye-Fi is that a dedicated proprietary piece of software is necessary on a remote computer. And content seems to be transferred by Wi-Fi only, if not I assume a receiver is necessary on the computer, and probably require drivers.

I'm really looking for a basic electronic device with no configuration necessary, just something seen as storage space from both ends.

Another usage might be Digital PhotoFrame, You shoot with your camera, and pictures get automatically available on the storage space of a Digital Photo Frame.

It would be kind of like two electronic devices sharing the same storage space via Sd-card port.

Thanks,
F.

Wifi is now commonplace on computers
Digital Frames will be replaced with tablets, also common with wi-fi
Wired devices, for the most part, are on their way out

As I understand what you would like, you would want a CF card at each end, or sd card, and a cable that attaches between them, with both devices seeing just an SD card storage content.

I would think that the proper avenue for this new development would have to be wireless, bluetooth or wifi, and not wires. There will be software needed at some point or another, whether opensource or a vendor's proprietary software.

You understood well what I was looking for.

You are right about software but if everything deals at the end with SD storage, software is already available on a large number of devices (computer, electronic device, gaming consoles, cameras, ...), there is no need to install any additional software.

Regarding wireless, I think the only option would be 802.11n Wi-Fi to be able to attend read/write speed similar to high performance SD cards. But if you go the Wi-Fi way (like Eye-Fi) it remains necessary to install something on the computer to "receive" pictures.

But it seems that I'm looking for something that does not and will not exist