EOS 7D Mark II - How to Use Smartphone as Viewfinder

[Canonnman]

Hello All. I am new today to the community and I am looking for help with using my Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ as a viewfinder for my Canon 7D MK2. What I want to do is use my phone as a viewfinder when I am taking photos at ground level. At the moment I have to lie on the ground to look through the viewfinder or the screen in LIVE VIEW to compose my picture. I don't want the phone to control the camera, just act as a viewfinder. This is where members with a lot more knowledge than me might be able to help. The camera video out is MINI HDMI and the phone is micro usb. I have bought an OTG cable (micro usb male to standard usb female)for the phone and by using the supplied data transfer cable, that came with the camera, I can download pictures in the camera to the phone in seconds, but that cable does not provide video. The camera is not wifi enabled and I don't want a wifi card. Can anybody help with information on what I need to buy. Thank you.

[Waddizzle]

Stop using the USB to HDMI cable before you damage both camera and phone.  

What app do you use to download image files from the camera to the phone?  

[Canonnman]

Hello Waddizzle. Thank you for the reply. I do not use any apps for this as I don't want to control the camera via any app on the phone. I just want the phone to act as an extension to my viewfinder. Is there a reason why I should not be using the hdmi to usb lead when the lead I use to transfer the images to my phone actually comes new with the camera for that very purpose.

[stevet1]

Caconnman,

I may be completely wrong in this, but I think the problem doesn't lie with your camera or cables, it lies in your phone.

Your phone has to be able to see and talk to your camera. You say you don't want to control your camera, but for what you want to do, I think that you're going to need an app, or a piece of software.

Simply connecting the two devices together with a cable is not enough.

Steve Thomas

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[Canonnman]

Hello Stevet1. 

Thanks for the reply. I think I might have to forget the phone and maybe buy a field monitor for the job. That would be a direct connection via HDMI cable.

Kind regards.

[stevet1]

Canonnman,

A field monitor would probably work for what you want. I'm afraid I can't help there. I don't know anything about them.

I personally use an app called Camera Connect and Control. It's a paid app that you can get off Google's Play Store. I think it's around $20.00 now. It sits on your Google account, so it can be used on multiple devices, like your phone and tablet. It can be used in either wired or wireless modes.

I use it mostly with my tablet, so it's like having a 10" monitor that I can use while sitting in a camp chair 20'  from where my camera is. I don't have to lie on the ground.

Steve Thomas