wireless camera recommendations w/ auto-downloading to desktop of pictures

[Bernardgill]

After the Eye-Fi ceased operations a few years ago I have been searching for a reasonably priced camera, or wireless (I'll even settle for a wired system) sim card platform that will allow our church membership team to take new member portraits with the ability to seamlessly auto transfer the photo to the department desktop computer. We are currently faced with the time taking process of downloading the pics via cable and Canon's picture transfer program, which is a process that no one is adapt at performing outside of me. Help!

[stevet1]

Bernardgill,

You always have the option of popping the card out of the camera and inserting into a card reader that you plug into a USB port on your computer.

You said you wanted "auto transfer". Does that mean you want to transfer them as soon as they are taken?

Are your photos jpegs, or are they RAW?

What program are you using to view the pictures on your computer?

If your pictures are jpegs, and you are using Windows on your computer, there is a free image viewing and editing program called Irfanview. I use it all the time.

I am not familiar with Macs, but if you need a program that works in the Apple environment, maybe some can help.

If you want an instantaneous transfer, you are probably looking at Canon's EOS Utility software. Although I have never used it this way, I understand you can also use that software on your computer to do remote shooting.

Steve Thomas

[Bernardgill]

Thanks for the information Steve1. I've been pulling my hair out trying to create a fuss free environment to enable the team to take pictures in my absence and understand that this takes training.  I used to take tethered portraits, but that was me. I guess I'm looking for a simple desktop connected camera (tethered or wifi) that the staff can just point and press the button and see the image (preferably jpeg) transfer to the  computer, much like they do at the DOT when taking your license pic.

[stevet1 · Accepted solution]

Bernardgill,

I could be wrong, but I don't think EOS Utility will download pictures automatically as you take them, You have to hit a button instructing the software to download a picture that has been taken and stored on the camera's memory card.

However, if you use the software to do remote shooting (tethered shooting), you may get a preview of the picture pop up on your computer screen. I use a software app called Camera Connect and Control to do remote shooting on my tablet and that's what happens on mine.

I personally have never used EOS Utility to do remote shooting with my camera connected to my computer. I've only ever used it to download pictures I've already taken. You can do a batch download, or select a handful of pictures a few at a time.

The nice thing about EOS Utility is that it handles the file structure for you. It automatically creates a folder organized by shooting date.

I've only ever used it to download PAW files, but I'm pretty sure you can download jpegs, and you can use a free program called Irfanview to view and edit them.

EOS Utility is paired with Canon's Digital Professional 4 (DPP4) and you can view jpgs there too and do some minimal editing. Canon offers those programs free.

Steve Thomas

[Bernardgill]

Thanks for your helpful information Steve!

[p4pictures]

I use EOS Utility regularly and it will happily download the images from the camera to a computer as they are captured. EOS Utility will work on Windows and Mac computers.

EOS Utility can be unlinked from Canon DPP 4 very easily in its settings. I use it this way a lot myself. When I do studio photos I have my camera connected to the laptop, and as I shoot the images appear on the computer and are also stored on the camera card. If you shoot in JPG they will transfer pretty quickly, but since RAW images are much larger files they take a little longer. EOS Utility can even be configured to only transfer the JPG when the camera is set to RAW + JPG mode. 

[Bernardgill]

thanks Brian. Now if I can find a budget priced canon camera that utilizes the EOS utility.

[stevet1]

Bernard,

I think most Canon models do. What kind of budget did you have in mind?

Steve Thomas

[Bernardgill]

Under $250?

[stevet1]

Bernard,

I think you're pretty much looking at the used market. I did a Google search for Canon cameras under $250. I saw a bunch of T3's and T3i's, SL1'S, and T6 and T6i's.

Also the Powershot lines. I would stick with known reputable dealers like KEH and MPB.

I think SL1 was a good line in it's time, and I've seen some pictures taken with T3's and T3i's that impressed me.

You'll have to cross-reference a particular model with the EOS Utility software to see if it's supported.

Steve Thomas