[App Review] DSLR Controller App – A remote for you camera

Note: DSLR Controller app has very specific requirements. Before purchase you should go to dslrcontroller.com to make sure that you meet all of the requirements for connecting your Android device to your camera.

Google Play Info

Getting that perfect shot with your DSLR can sometimes be a challenge. Just because the camera is in the perfect position does not mean that it is in a good position to look through the viewfinder or to manipulate the controls. The DSLR Controller app seeks to solve this problem by giving you remote access to your camera’s controls and to the Live View feature that most modern DSLRs have.

Making sure that the app will work with your Android device and camera can seem intimidating at first, it can be broken down fairly simply. It has been tested to work with any newer Canon EOS series DSLR (sorry Nikon users). The newer the camera is, the more functionality the app will have, since upgrades in camera firmware have allowed for greater remote access.

As for Android devices, your device must support the proper USB On-the-Go drivers to work. This unfortunately leaves out HTC devices but most modern Samsung devices and some Motorola devices have been tested to work (see here for the complete list).

A USB On-the-Go (USB host controller) cable is required for use and I purchased mine for $2.50 shipped from Amazon.

Once you have everything you need, the rest is easy. Just plug in your chosen Android device into the camera and switch it on. Your phone will automatically detect the connection and either launch DSLR controller app or, depending upon what apps you have installed, will ask what app you would like to launch.

Once the app launches, you will be confronted by a view through your camera’s lens. There are numerous control buttons that surround the Live View that’s use should be readily evident to anyone familiar with their camera. Right from the start, one of the most useful features presents itself, a live histogram.

A simple tap anywhere on the screen will focus the lens (assuming that you have an autofocus lens attached). By pressing the AF button you can switch the app into manual focus mode where you can, using the lens’ autofocus motor, make manual adjustments to the focus.

Under the exposure button, you can set your camera to any of its available shutter speeds and, additionally, use the app as a bulb for those really long exposures. The same can be found for setting the lens aperture and, again, it will only list available f-stops.

A nice touch to the DSLR Controller app is that it is capable of decoding Canon RAW format. This enables you to view any photos that you have already taken with the camera directly on your Android device as well as seeing an immediate preview of the photograph that you have just taken. This screen also enables you to delete photos directly from your camera if you find yourself running out of space or found that shot to not be up to the cut.

Testing the DSLR Controller app out in the field, I found it to be an invaluable tool. The live histogram made making exposure adjustments much easier without having to rely upon taking a photo and then checking the histogram. While I do have a remote shutter for taking long exposures, I find this app to be far more versatile. At this point, the only reason I see to keep my remote shutter is that it is wireless.

The usefulness of the app is shown in the following photograph.

Summary:

For an app that is still in beta, the DSLR Controller app is incredibly polished and full featured. While it does have the occasional force closes, it is not something that happens frequently enough to detract from the usefulness of the app.

Rating: 

Play Store Link

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James Forestier

Sr Editor at Android Does

James is a former military man living in PA. He has been an Android fan since the OG Droid days. He likes to tinker with his phone and always has something funny to say. You can find some of his great work on the site which range from news articles to in depth app and game reviews.

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