Photography News Issue 62

Photography News | Issue 62 | photographynews.co.uk

First tests

CamRanger mini £229.95

Specs

The CamRanger mini is a device that can expand your photographic potential whether your interest is nature, landscapes or close-ups . The mini is a small USB accessory that connects to Canon and Nikon DSLRs and creates its own Wi-Fi network so that you can connect to your tablet or smartphone with the free app and control key functions and take pictures remotely. Claimed working range is 120m. In my test, I retreated 30m from the CamRanger mini-equipped camera and had no signal drop out. Many of the mini’s features are shared by the older original CamRanger but the new unit does have a few benefits apart from the size – it’s cheaper, faster, has a longer range and the app has more features. To start with, the mini needs charging and this is done easily via its micro USB port and the LED tells you when it’s fully up to speed. A battery check button is supplied and a four- LED display tells you charge level. While that was going on I installed the free CamRanger mini app on my smart device, an Apple iPad Pro 9.7in tablet running the latest iOS. I tried connecting the mini to a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and Nikon D850. Turn it on and you get a red LED showing power is on and a blue LED to indicate Wi-Fi is on; this LED blinks during data transmission. When the unit is ready the next step is to link the tablet to the mini’s network, using the password on the unit itself. It was a pretty straightforward process and within minutes I was viewing the camera’s live view image through the tablet. The live view image on the 9.7in iPad is very bright and clear and can be magnified by 200% to check focus by double tapping the screen, while single tapping the screen

Price £229.95

In the box CamRanger mini, case. iOS/ Android app free from Apple App or Google Play store Key features Creates its own Wi-Fi network Remote camera control Free app for iOS and Android Compatibility Works with most Canon and Nikon DSLRs. Full list on website Wi-Fi range 120m approx Battery Rechargeable 1800mAh lithium ion, through micro USB port. Fully charged, last three to four hours Weight 55g Size 94x35x18mm Contact Intro2020.co.uk, camranger.com

Above A tripod-mounted Canon EOS 7DMark II fitted with a 100mm macro lens was used for this 11-frame stack. Two focus points were set – petal left side and the heart of the rose. The mini showed that 11 shots were required and these were later merged in Affinity Photo software to give this final result.

I tried connecting the mini to a Canon EOS 7D Mark II and Nikon D850

Below This is the main screen of the mini app on an iPad Pro.

focuses on that area or lets you adjust focus incrementally. There is an impressive degree of controllability in terms of what camera settings can be altered and the features available. ISO, mode, shutter speed and aperture value are among the settings adjustable remotely. And there’s more. Drive mode, image quality settings and light measuring mode can also be adjusted. Basically, once you have the CamRanger and mini paired, your smart device becomes a fully featured remote control. There are extra features too such as bracketing (you can even bracket with ISO so aperture and shutter settings stay constant), and you can shoot time lapse, HDR and focus stacking for merging in a third-party software. Focus stacking has two options, Classic focus stackingorCamRanger’s more automated option where you can choose the closest ant furthest parts of the scene you want sharp and the size of focus steps required and the mini works out the number of frames required. Push the virtual shutter button when you’re ready and the mini does the rest. If you enjoy macro shooting this is a great feature. For many, the mini will be used for remote shooting and for this it works very well too. For stills shooting,

Verdict

The CamRanger mini is a neat device that works well and provides plenty of opportunities for photographers and video makers to explore. The mini’s app makes camera set-up really straightforward, the interface is intuitive and you get features like focus stacking, which macro workers in particular will appreciate.

Pros Small, versatile, well featured Cons Canon/Nikon compatibility only

there is inevitably a tiny amount of lag between pressing the virtual shutter button and the exposure being made. Video shooters won’t have that issue of course, but still shooters need to time their shots and quick reflexes will help too. WC