Category: Photo Techniques

Friday (22-August-2013) — New Jersey

Technology Update: Remote Camera Control.

OK, I said I would try to get back to a daily update to the Blog. I like the idea of being able to control my camera remotely. Over the years I invested in the Nikon WT-3 (for the Nikon D200 camera), the WT-4 (for the Nikon D3, D3s, D3x, D700, D800, and D4 cameras), and the WT-5 (for the Nikon D4 camera). With the early models, Wi-Fi configuration was difficult at best. The current version of the Nikon Wireless Configuration Utility has really improved — setting up a WT-4 or WT-5 to communicate via Wi-Fi to a Windows 7 or Windows 8 computer is now very simple (and works!!!). You need the Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 software (extra cost) to then remotely control the camera.

I’ve read several favorable comments recently about the CamRanger, and its ability to remotely control several Nikon (and Cannon) DSLR cameras. CamRanger is a modified TP-Link USB Wi-Fi transmitter. It connects to the USB 2 (or 3) port on the camera and communicates to an i-Phone, i-Pad, or Android device via Wi-Fi. CamRanger provides software to control the camera. In addition to normal control (settings, focus, etc.) the software would do HDR, time-lapsed, and focus stacking. Well, I don’t own an i-Phone, i-Pad, or Android device – but did get interested when CamRanger released a beta version of software to control the camera from a Windows 7 or 8 computer. I ordered one and it arrived 2 days later. Downloaded the beta software, and just started playing with it. The software is beta. I was able connect to a D3s and D800 camera, set various settings, use real-time live view, select the focus point, focus, and take images which were then sent to my Windows 8 Surface computer (images also still stored in the cameras CF or SD memory card). The HDR, time-lapsed, and focus stacking modes don’t work yet. I’m eager to see the full (release) version of the software with all of the capabilities enabled.

For a lark, I connected the CamRanger to my Nikon 1 V2 camera (which is not listed as being supported by CamRanger). The camera was recognized (but I got a warning message the camera was not supported, and CamRanger would not be liable for damage). The beta software on my computer was able to read the camera settings, make some setting changes, but live view didn’t work. When I tried to take a picture, I heard the shutter – but the program (and camera froze) when sending the image from the camera to the computer. I needed to remove the battery from the camera to get it to work again. I really do hope that CamRanger adds this camera in the future – especially for the HDR and time-lapsed capabilities (missing from the Nikon 1 V2 camera).

Two-Years Ago (21-August-2011) — New Jersey

Summer Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

American Goldfinch on a Thistle.  Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec).

American Goldfinch on a Thistle. Sourland Mountain Preserve, Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
American Goldfinch on a Thistle. Image taken with a Nikon D3s and 300 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E III 20 teleconverter (ISO 250, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)

Monday (19-August-2013) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Bumblebee with Orange Pollen saddlebags on yellow  ragweed flowers. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera + FT1 + 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 500, 300 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec). [FOV Equivalent to ~ 810 mm on a 35 mm image sensor].

Bumble Bee with Orange Pollen Saddlebags on Blooming Ragweed. Summer Nature in New Jersey at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 + FT1 + 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 500, 300 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec). [FOV Equivalent to ~ 810 mm on a 35 mm image sensor]. (David J Mathre)
Bumble Bee with Orange Pollen Saddlebags on Blooming Ragweed. Summer Nature in New Jersey at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 + FT1 + 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 500, 300 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec). [FOV Equivalent to ~ 810 mm on a 35 mm image sensor]. (David J Mathre)

Monday (19-August-2013) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly with Tattered Wings on a Joe-Pye Weed in the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 Camera FT1 Adapter, and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 195 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec).

Most of the butterflies yesterday had tattered and damaged wings. I haven’t seen praying mantis yet, so birds?

Black Swallowtail Butterfly with Tattered Wings on a Joe-Pye Weed in the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 Camera FT1 Adapter, and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 195 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)
Black Swallowtail Butterfly with Tattered Wings on a Joe-Pye Weed in the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 Camera FT1 Adapter, and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 160, 195 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec). (David J Mathre)

Two-Years Ago (19-August-2011) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth on Thistle Bloom. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D700 camera and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec).

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth on Thistle Bloom. Sourland Mountain Preserve, Summer Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth on Thistle Bloom. Sourland Mountain PreserveImage taken with a Nikon D700 and 28-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 6, Nik Define, and Photoshop CS5. (David J Mathre)