While Sony teases new camera models to customers (UMC-R10C, UMC-S3C) and mentions both API access and USB connectivity (rather than wifi) - the Sony Camera Remote API currently only mentions wifi. Is there any information on how to use those upcoming cameras? Some 'selected' developers are integrating them already (see: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/sony-3dr-announce-new-enterprise-camera-for-solo) but independent developers are left in the dark.
Will the API be the same as the current Camera Remote API?
What kind of USB connection will it have. Just a USB network interface?
+1 on question/request. A lot of DIY'ers are interested in (buying and) controlling Sony cameras via USB. WiFi in 'noisy' environments is problematic.
Related
I am wondering if it's possible to use the Sony Sony Camera Remote API beta SDK / AddOn SDK / Smart Extension API to control action cameras functionality by my application side via BlueTooth (no Wi-Fi).
My goal is to write an extension which will mainly:
Mandatory: start and stop video saving on camera internal memory
Optional: , insert allarms, set video acquisition parameters, ecc.
Does anyone have:
the information if this SDK is the right choice to control this type of Sony device
if it's possible to reach my described goal with it or if there are any impossibilities
other related information or special requirements for controlling Sony cameras via bluetooth.
Thanks
Unfortunately you will only be able to use Wifi to control cameras with the camera remote API.
Using Sony Remote Camera SDK 2.1.2
I am not using any mobile devices to talk to my Sony cameras
I am using a Ubuntu, C++ and a router to access my Sony cameras
My Sony cameras WORK for one API call, they provide a response to the Sony Camera Remote API call "startLiveview" but that is the only Sony Camera Remote API call that the Sony cameras will respond to, I have tried "startLivewviewWithSize", "getSupportedLiveviewSize", "getLivewviewSize", and "getAvailableAppList", "getApplicationInfo", none of these API calls get a response from either of my Sony Cameras, in general, there is one exception see below
I have tried all these calls with only one Sony Camera on.
The exception: when I will actually get responses from the Sony Cameras. If I call "getAvailableAppList", this will cause something to happen to the Sony Camera, and I will start to get responses from it but only when the camera is in Wifi Live Preview mode
Now the Scenario:
I have two Sony HDR-AZ1 cameras, I have them both set to "Perform Live Streaming":
Currently, I am able to capture the Livepreview stream, recording it, using VLC PLayer and a Netgear Router where I assign static IP addresses to the cameras:
I have assigned the Sony Cameras in my LAN settings in my Netgear Router:
#define SONY_CAMERA_1 #"http://192.168.178.13:8080/sony/camera"
#define SONY_CAMERA_2 #"http://192.168.178.14:8080/sony/camera"
So I can capture the Liveview stream from two cameras because of the static IP addresses I have assigned with my router.
The Livepreview stream is always streaming, no API calls are sent to the camera, the static assigned IP addresses allow me to capture the stream using VLC Player to record the stream:
Now I am trying to figure out if I can use the Sony Remote Camera API with my static IP addresses to talk to multiple cameras. I have read online that it is possible and that it is not possible, yet I haven't found a clear statement on the fact one way or the other.
This Stackoverflow article would imply, via the last sentence of Sony's #Marlin-SONY's answer that it is possible, using the Sony Remote Camera API: Is there a way to send multiple wifi camera a signal to take a picture at the same time?
But Simon Wood's answer and code, along with other articles convey that multiple connection via Sony Remote Camera API is still a bit of an elusive unsolved issue.
With my static IP addresses, assigned at the router, I expect that I can do the following call:
http://192.168.178.13:8080/sony/camera
strCmd = "{"
"\"method\" : \"getApplicationInfo\","
"\"params\" : [],"
"\"id\" : 1,"
"\"version\" : \"1.0\""
"}".toJSON;
and get a response, but I never get a response, not matter what Wifi mode the camera is set to.
I assume I will need to switch the WiFi mode on the Sony HDR-AZ1 cameras to either just "WiFi" or "Wifi Multi Connection" instead of the "WiFi Perform Live Streaming" I currently have them set to be but even that is not clearly documented anywhere that I can find.
Can I connect to multiple cameras via the Sony Remote Camera API, I assume the answer is yes but my cameras are not acting as Wireless Access Points, do they still receive all documented Sony Camera Remote API calls when the the cameras are in some flavor of Wifi with static IP addresses assigned to them via my router?
What WiFi mode do my cameras need to be in to work with the Sony Remote Camera API? 1)Wifi, 2 Wifi Multi Connection (This seems to be only for the Sony Remote Control product) or 3) Wifi Livepreview?
Do I need to use my router to assign static IP addresses or can I use SSDP to find the cameras?
Have you tried looking at the CameraRemoteSampleApp sample code inside the Camera Remote SDK?
https://developer.sony.com/downloads/all/sony-camera-remote-api-beta-sdk/
There are examples of how to get the IP address for the cameras for both Android and iOS.
Edit: To answer your questions above the Sony Camera Remote API does not support connecting to multiple cameras from a single phone or via a router. It only supports the API over a direct WiFi connection 1:1 between a phone and a camera.
Not a direct answer for you, but if you'd like to play I had attempted detecting multiple cameras (but don't have appropriate hardware to test) in this project:
https://github.com/Bloodevil/sony_camera_api
The script 'src/examples/scan_for_cameras.py' will attempt to find all cameras bonded to local network/machine.
I'd be real interested in finding out whether it actually works ;-)
Cheers,
Simon.
I'm currently studying the Development Guide given with the Sony Camera Remote API beta SDK, and what I've understood so far, is that in order to send and receive messages between a camera and a mobile device, the smartphone or tablet should be connected through Wifi to the camera, which acts as an access point.
Actually, what I'd like to do after downloading a picture on the mobile device from the camera, is to pass it to a PC so that I will be able to print it and use it for other purposes. This process should be completely transparent and automatic for the final user.
Thus, my problem is that I need the mobile device to be connected, through Wifi, to both camera and PC.
The solutions I have in mind are :
Make the mobile device, and the PC, connect to the camera access point, so that they can be located on the same network.
Is this possible? I mean, can the Sony camera handle more than one client when acting as an access point? If yes, can I have a fixed IP for mobile device and PC so that I can easily make them exchange data?
Use a simple wifi router and make the camera, mobile device, and PC connect to this router.
Without acting as an access point (i.e. simple network client), can the camera be used with the remote control function?
If you guys see any other options, I'd be glad to read them !
Thanks,
Bertrand
Unfortunately, neither of your solutions would be supported. Only one device can be connected to the camera AP at a time, and the camera itself has to act as the access point (certain models support connecting to an access point from the camera but the Camera Remote API is not supported in this case).
If you don't need the mobile device to have access to the pictures, your best bet may be to directly connect the PC to the Camera and transfer the images using the API. The API is REST based so can be used on any platform.
I've been looking through the API docs and support forum. Based on what I've been reading, there are two big holes in the Sony camera stack:
1) Cameras ONLY support master mode (peer-to-peer) wi-fi connections. They do not support infrastructure mode allowing the camera to connect to existing wi-fi networks.
2) API does not support moving files off the camera.
My questions: Does Sony plan to address add these capabilities? If yes, what is the timeline?
Thanks,
Graham
Thank you for your interest.
(EDITED: multi Wi-Fi connection is used by Live View Remote LVR & Camera Remote API is officially NOT supported in multi Wi-Fi mode).
Sony lens style cameras QX1, QX30 and ActionCams HDR-AZ1, HDR-AS100V can connect to existing Wi-Fi networks (Multi Connection Wi-Fi mode). Please check if your Wi-Fi network is compatible with connection method used. Newer QX1, QX30, HDR-AZ1 cameras support content transfer API. Please check API Reference document for exact APIs. Best Regards, Prem, Developer World team.
I'd like to use the QX10 or QX100 cameras, but unfortunately 2.4ghz is off the table.
The other options are:
- usb cable
- wifi A or AC connection over 5ghz
The https://developer.sony.com/devices/cameras/sony-smartphone-attachable-lens-style-camera-dsc-qx100/ doesn't specify , what kind of wifi these cams support.
Can I use the Camera Remote (or other) api to access the features of the camera through USB?
Can I connect to QX10 or QX100 via 5gz Wifi?
(I'd use linux to query the api, so no android or ios specific details matter.)
Thank you.
It is not possible to use Camera Remote API beta via USB. QX100 and QX10 support only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.