onOne Software Blog

DSLR Camera Remote Auto-Focus

June 3, 2009 by Mike Wong • 10 Comments

Many of you have been requesting that we add auto-focus capability to a future update of our DSLR Camera Remote app for the iPhone. We are planning on adding auto-focus to the Live View mode of the app in an upcoming 1.1 release, but in the meantime, I wanted to make sure that you all know that in the non-Live View modes, auto-focusing is already in there!

Assuming that you have your lens focusing set to AF and not MF, then when you press and release the Fire button on the iPhone or iPod Touch, the camera will automatically attempt to focus before taking the shot. If it cannot focus, let's say that the subject is too close, then you'll get an error message on the iPhone screen telling you as much. But other than Live View mode, auto-focus is indeed in there.

If you've been asking about auto-focus as a feature, please leave a comment if this is the scenario that describes why you've been asking for it. If it's not, let me know that too! Thanks!

Update 6/5/2009

To clarify, the Auto-Focus functionality that I describe above only works if you have your camera set to auto-focus with the shutter button. If you've set up a custom function to have your AF-ON button on the back of your camera serve as your auto-focusing, the aufo-focus will not work when triggered from the DSLR Camera Remote.

10 thoughts on “DSLR Camera Remote Auto-Focus”

  2. Just wanted to check – with AF set to the back * button, I’m not getting AF at the moment. Since many people make such a change using the CF’s, perhaps modify your blog entry to say that you need to change AF to the shutter button for it to work. Eagerly awaiting AF in liveview :-)

    Thanks

  3. Just got this the other day and have been playing with it shooting my birdfeeders. Found out the hard way about using back button focus and your software. Only took a couple of minutes to figure out so no big deal. Will you eventually be able to access the cameras menus so we can have more control remotely?

    For those that asked for really long exposures for night shooting could you beef up the computer side client so it can receive and store commands and carry them out without having to keep the itouch/iphone on for hours? Just a thought.

    Have you considered a thread just for feature requests so we can cosolidate them?

    So far this is cool software. Considering a cheap netbook just to use with this.

  4. Great software, really enjoying it!!
    Small feature request though:
    Higher fps in interval mode. 3-4 fps shouldn’t be a problem when shooting “lower res” jpeg’s.

  5. Hi. I was wondering whether or not you guys are considering making the server software work on either iphone or ipod touch as well. I have both an iphone and an ipod touch and i was wondering if one can be used as the wifi (with the server software installed) and the other as the wireless trigger. I think this could be very useful for those who own these two devices and do not want a bulky laptop attached to their camera. Please consider this request as I believe many would want this feature also.

    Thanks!

  6. @bixby – we’re considering it. not sure about when it would happen though.

  7. How about adding a focus bracketing function? Maybe set it up so one could take a burst at specified focus settings from near to infinity. That would help in creating files for layer stacking in Photoshop CS4 to obtain focus throughout the frame on extreme close-up photography. Thanks for the consideration.

  8. I also think adding a focus bracketing function would be great. This is an essential feature for macro photography. I am sure there are a lot of people out there who would buy your software just for that feature.

  9. Focus bracketing? Surely the remote software can only be capable of controling existing features? How could it take over control of the focus mechanism?

    Mickster

  10. to the left of the space bar instead of the ALT key. The ALT key is to the left of the ~ key.

    2. Build – VERY solidly built netbook. Does not feel flimsy like all the other ones I have seen. I have a Dell XPS 1530 which I thought had a super solid build, this Toshiba NB205 is just as solid. Construction and design are great. I did not like the glossy covers and fingerprint magnet designs of the other netbooks. NB205 has a matte cover and texture to it that does not attact ANY fingerprints.

    3. Battery life – Reviews tested well and better than the Asus 1000HE. Been using it for 1 hour and says 90% battery life after installing updates and downloading.

    4. Trackpad – VERY large and controls well. Glides smoothly. No dinky trackpads like other netbooks. Has 2 separate buttons instead of just one. The pad is slightly recessed so it’s easy to find it by feel.

    The ONLY thing I dislike about the laptop is the 6 cell battery sticks out the back about .85 inches.<b

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