Chrome is one of the first things I disable on my Android devices, and I hate the idea of signing up for any accounts just to access local files.
But Canon welcomed me with a big surprise, and a fuck you, too!
Not to defend Canon but can you not just use USB or transfer via SD Card? Just asking because I just got an EOS RP.
The app was used for live view and also geotagging, in addition to file transfer. So this requirement affects several features.
Alright well I need Geotagging so guess I’ll have to sign up. I completely forgot how shitty Canon were because I got massive tunnel vision while searching for a camera to buy…
Some other users pointed out that you can stay on an older version before the signup requirement and it will continue to work fine even without an internet connection. That’s what I’m going to do.
So to get Geotagging I need the camera to be connected to the phone on the latest firmware?
You just need the app. Either the older version (no account needed) or the new app (with an account).
But this also depends on the camera. I believe new ones can geotag live via Bluetooth (with the app). This is how my Panasonic camera does it.
But you can also set the app to keep a log of your location, so as you take photos, you can have the app tag them before transfer.
Check your camera’s manual to see how it works.
For what it’s worth, you can generally record a GPS tracking in another app or on another device and then use your photo editing software to add the coordinates to the photos after the fact.
I’ve used this method before, but it’s extra work.
I have an old point and shoot Sony that has GPS built-in. Newer models removed this and need the app to do the same thing. It’s like they went backwards on purpose.
Yeah, it’s extra work, and doesn’t change the infuriating aspect of enshitification, but it’s an option if you absolutely do not want to sign in to the app
Had the powder and fuse primed for an Oh Brother Where Art Thou joke. Picture my mild fury when I noticed this is about cameras, not printers.
I’d just return and leave a bad review lol
Canon is on my personal blacklist for decades. I bought a printer from them, not just a normal A4/legal, but a professional, wide one that uses rolls of paper, etc. I was unhappy with the state of the driver under Linux, so I called and asked for a programming documentation to write my own printer driver. Their opinion on Linux/open source was that “open source is theft of intellectual property”.
Their opinion is stupid, but I’m also not sure what you expected when you asked some random sales rep for deep technical info.
I contacted both technical support for commercial systems and later their booth on a big technical trade fair (CeBit Hannover), and got basically the same opinion both times. The first was definitely no “Sales Rep”, and the people at the booth were a manager and an engineer.
But I agree, their opinion is stupid.
Well, in a commercial space, at least if you’re big enough, asking sales reps for deep tech info is the norm. They are supposed to find an engineer and get them to answer.
If you’re a big enough customer, you set the norms.
I wonder how many open source libraries their driver codebase relies on, it had best be zero with that attitude.
They had no Linux driver back then at all, but there were some rudimentary from the community that printed Ok. They just did not support special printing modes, which i wanted to add.
Yup, sucks. What I do is just take out the card a plug it into a little USB dongle thing which I can plug into either my phone or laptop.
Also faster than the app too. The app uses WiFi or Bluetooth. Its also annoyingly finicky to connect tk the camera.
What I do is just take out the card a plug it into a little USB dongle thing which I can plug into either my phone or laptop.
What’s wild to me is that anyone would do it any other way. I’m astounded that this is somehow a “tip”.
Not even 10 years ago it was simply the way to do it.
Depends on your workflow.
As an example, if I’m in a studio and have a camera set up a certain way, it’s highly inconvenient to have to turn it off, pull the card out (which can mean removing it from the tripod if the card slot is on the bottom of the camera), plug it into a phone or laptop, copy the image, load the image for review, eject the card, reinsert the card, set the camera up again…
I mean, holy shit.
Why do that when you can tap the gallery through the app (already connected because you’ve got live view going), click on the photo, open it for review, keep shooting.
Of course, if you’ve shot a big day and have to offload 100gb of photos and video, an external card reader is the only way to go.
But for studio, live sessions, or quick shots, app transfer is so much easier. Some cameras have NFC, so you just tap your phone and start the transfer.
None of this has ever been a problem. It’s the requirement to have a connected account that makes it a problem.
I think it’s a bit hilarious that touching the camera is considered such a hassle now. When I learned photography we had to finish the reel and spend a day in a darkroom before we could see the final product.
Still, I hope someone makes some open source software for you. More convenience is always better.
I think it’s a bit hilarious that touching the camera is considered such a hassle now.
If you are being paid for your work, or you are under time constraints, there’s no way anyone would choose to take dozens of steps over a few.
I still love my older cameras, including one of the first DSLRs (Canon Digital Rebel). No apps. Every feature sold to you is right there in the camera, and those feature still work 20 years later.
It’s the enshittification of technology that’s the real problem. Most people would love the conveniences offered by advanced features, but not when there’s a catch.
And this extends to well beyond “regular cameras”. GoPro has completely ruined their hardware by locking basic features (like image stabilization) behind their app and/or subscription!
When I learned photography we had to finish the reel and spend a day in a darkroom before we could see the final product.
That’s when photography existed as a skilled art, and a more enjoyable hobby. I miss those times.
Cables are better but they have a minimum time to setup and can be inconvenient if you do it while traveling. If you just need a quick transfer then using an app or wireless transfer is better.
If you’ve never actually used the Canon app on your phone: I assure you that it would be faster to ride the elevator down from your hotel room, walk to the nearest store, haggle with the store owner for 10 minutes over the price of the cable, get your money changed, buy it, and return to your hotel room than it would be to wait for the app to connect to your camera over wi-fi.
Apparently not anymore.
Yeah but the app also does remote control / viewing. The transfer is a bonus of being able to quickly do the transfer and text it to someone right away.
Of course, none of this matters because I don’t have Chrome on my new phone and can’t even create the stupid account if I wanted to.
Also, can’t find information about which version they rolled that out in and get an older version.
You want version 3.2.40.36, which is the last one before the app requirement. It’s available on APKMirror and probably elsewhere as well.
Advantage of using the app: Remote shutter/control.
Very convenient if you take lunar photos.
Vendor software is always a pile of shame. Can’t you just copypaste images?
Edit: oh, mobile.
Is there something about Chrome specifically that’s no bueno nowadays? I haven’t heard anything but to be fair I don’t really keep myself in that loop too much now
There’s a general negative attitude towards chromium browsers due to some anticompetitive practices pulled by Google in addition to privacy concerns and probably some more issues I’m not aware of. So that includes chrome, but also edge and most other chromium based browsers.
Ah okay, I hadn’t heard about any of that, very good to know, thank you
I don’t want any of my business being shared with Google, including the fact that I use Canon products. It’s just yet another data point for them to weaponize via targeted ads and data brokering.
And simply opening Chrome means that a data siphon to Google was just opened, so telemetry data would have been collected immediately.
“Yes, I’d like to return this camera because it’s an invasive piece of shit”
I have returned printers for requiring an internet connection out of spite.
magiclantern.
Jailbreak your shit. You own it don’t you?
Jailbreaking locks you out of banking apps.
Edit: jailbreaking your phone might lock you out of banking apps.
Jailbreaking your camera does NOT.
I don’t think people are out here doing their banking on their Canon DSLRs
Don’t you gotta jailbreak your phone as well? Otherwise it will require the chrome browser
No, installing magiclantern on a jailbroken camera means you don’t need to do the Canon sign in bullshit at all.
Great! I’ll update my post! Thanks for clearing it up.
Maybe on Apple (?), bur GrapheneOS supports my banking apps just fine. The only thing missing is Google Pay, which I don’t use anyways
How? Having an unlocked bootloader or root breaks Safety Net, which disables many apps. You need an unlocked bootloader to install custom ROMs.
Magisck used to be a workaround, but Google has been sabotaging it at the OS and hardware layers, so it wasn’t working the last time I tried a few years ago.
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This is a useless comment.
Says the person who randomly brought up phones when the other person was talking about a camera jailbreak.
And isn’t that just exactly what they count on?
Magic Lantern is awesome!
Unfortunately, it’s for higher-end cameras, not my old point-and-shoot cameras. And it doesn’t magically give your device GPS for geotagging images :(
The app was fine. The enshittification of the app is not.
Can you not just find and use an old version and disable updates for it?
Yes, another user already confirmed that the old version still works. I’ve done the same with the old GoPro app.
EDIT: but old versions have built-in planned obsolescence, because they won’t support newer devices (both cameras or smartphones) for very long. My Samsung 360 camera was rendered useless once they discontinued app support.
I have an old Gear VR and a Samsung S3. I don’t believe there is any way to use it today. It wants to connect to Facebook to log in, but their auth token has expired.
It wants to connect to Facebook to log in
What a fucking cancer of integration.
You actually can still use it, there’s some folks on reddit trying their best to keep it going. App support is very poor though.
My S3 is garbage. I only wanted to try and stream videos to it (without motion tracking) but even that seems too hard.
How are you transferring these files? I understand it’s less convenient but could you maybe take the sd card out and plug it into a laptop instead?
How are you transferring these files? I understand it’s less convenient but could you maybe take the sd card out and plug it into a laptop instead?
WIFI. Way, way more convenient (before this BS) than taking out the SD card.
But this goes beyond just transferring images. If I wanted to use live view, I have to use the app. If I want to geotag photos, I have to use the app.
None of those features require Canon’s servers, so it’s infuriating that I have to “log in” for this nonsense.
So pulling out the SD card works?
I would hope/assume so. If they ever decided to encrypt the SD card and force you to use the app to decrypt it, I would throw their products against the wall.
How else are they supposed to gather data to sell to advertisers and train their eventual Ai bullshit?
I’m so over these corporate walled gardens trying suck every last drop of profitability from people.
their eventual Ai bullshit?
OMFG, I just checked the app, and under their “Recommended apps and services” is an AI image upscale option. If this can’t be done on-device, then I guarantee your photos are being used for their gain.
Much like every telehealth experience I’ve had in the past 3 years.
Telehealth software is some of the lowest quality slop out there… You would think security and privacy would a factor in this segment… It ain’t 🤡
also one of the things behind the decline private doctor care in general too.
A tip: you can build your own camera using a Raspberry Pi. There are kits. There are lenses and sensors which impress.
Yes, the depth of field and image quality the camera kit sensors and lenses produce sure can match those produced by full frame sensors and lenses. And fuck Canon’s industry leading autofocus, OP can write their own autofocus algorithm too!
Autofocusing external lenses is a real problem. Fuck the lens makers indeed, as a result of which I’ve only used Raspberry Pi based systems with manual focus.
Depth of field is a property of the lens, not the sensor.
Sensors: if you want to take pictures in starlight, you can get IMX585 (hard due to market problems). If you want lots of pixels, 64 M is not a problem. If you want to photograph a bullet, you can get the low-pixel global shutter sensor, there is code around to take video at 500 fps (disclaimer: tiny video, extreme light level required).
Cameras can be homebrewed, big integrators like Canon charge too much.
I’ve only used Raspberry Pi based systems with manual focus.
Well that’s certainly a problem, isn’t it? You don’t know what OP does with their camera, if it’s a hobby or for a living. Go try suggesting building a RPi camera kit to sports photographers, see if they give a fuck about it.
Depth of field is a property of the lens, not the sensor.
DoF has everything to do with sensor SIZE. You are simply never going to get the level of shallow depth of field with tiny sensors compared to even M43 or bigger sensors. You are simply never going to get the ISO performances or dynamic range of a bigger sensor because the photosites are just physically huge compared to those in phone camera sensors. Even a cheap old 12MP DSLR is going to destroy the images quality coming out of the best 64MP rpi camera kit, not even a question. And not to mention all the other functions a modern camera has, like weather sealing, subject detect autofocus, auto white balance, color science, image stabilization, etc.
Sensors: if you want to take pictures in starlight, you can get IMX585 (hard due to market problems). If you want lots of pixels, 64 M is not a problem. If you want to photograph a bullet, you can get the low-pixel global shutter sensor, there is code around to take video at 500 fps (disclaimer: tiny video, extreme light level required).
I count 3 different sensors for each scenario now, and you even know their downsides. What makes you think OP is willing to deal with these? The global shutter sensor is a 1.6MP sensor. Yeah, that absolutely can replace the gear that captured the photo of the bullet whizzing by Trump and won the Pulitzer prize.
What makes you think OP is willing to deal with these?
I’m not interested in whether the OP is even interested in open architecture or DIY. I’m pointing out that alternatives exist, and they are decent alternatives.
Yeah, that absolutely can replace the gear that captured the photo of the bullet whizzing by Trump and won the Pulitzer prize.
Capturing a photo of a bullet that’s been slowing down for 300 meters is not a great technical feat. Try to buy a ballistics camera from Canon, see how much you end up paying (if they agree to sell).
P.S. To my recollection, one inch and 3/4 inch sensors are available for Pi. Note: this is experimental, but: https://github.com/will127534/OneInchEye
I’m pointing out that alternatives exist, and they are decent alternatives.
And I’m pointing out that those alternatives in practicality are not even close. Suggesting a hobby project out of the blue when OP is not even asking for it (and even claiming that they are comparable) is just dumb.
Capturing a photo of a bullet that’s been slowing down for 300 meters is not a great technical feat.
You just missed my point about the 1.6MP elephant in the room. And that’s just ignoring every other camera feature used to take the shot, which you would have to manually dial in with your rpi camera. You are simply not going to do that in the chaos.
You just missed my point about the 1.6MP elephant in the room.
For your information, a global shutter sensor is not required in that scenario.
A global shutter is advisable if you want to get detailed video of a fast moving object that fills a large percentage of the frame, without distorting the shape of the moving object. With rolling shutter, you still see, but get a distorted (elongated, stepped) moving object.
- Does a bullet missing Trump fill a large percentage of the frame? No.
- Do you need to see details of the bullet? No.
- Is Trump moving too fast to photograph without distortion? No.
- Do you need to autofocus on the bullet? No, and you can’t. It’s fine, you already focused on Trump.
It follows that you don’t need global shutter, and you don’t care about autofocus. Merely using fast exposure and having a sensitive sensor + big lens (enabling you to use fast exposure) it will be sufficient.
You also need luck, of course. I think the photographer who snapped that shot had a considerable amount of luck. They weren’t fumbling on their bag for a better X or Y. They were already taking a photo, most likely. Things just happened at the right time for them.
As for practicality of modular and DIY equipment, yes, it may not be everyone’s preference.
Bah just buy clip-on accessory lenses for your phone. Cheap and cheerful. There is/was? even a thread standard for these little monsters. I had a metal case for my S7 that had a threaded opening over the camera and I could screw in a macro lens or a 12x telescope. Got me all the ladies too. No it didn’t.
Did you know you can build your own nationwide internet?
All you need to do is buy billions of dollars worth of gear and put it together yourself! It’s so easy!
A tip: you can build your own car using a Raspberry Pi. There are kits. There are motors and batteries that impress.
Reminds me of some car restoration videos.
“With the donation of a brand new, 100% rebuilt motor supplied by our friends at NAMEDROP CUSTOMS, we can get this build done for a cool $2k!”
“and just like that! skips three weeks of footage, we’re done!”
I thought they stopped making Cameras?
Anyways, learn to use a SD Card maybe. I would never install anything of theirs on any device, personally. I owned an old T5 once and it worked with their webcam software but they paywalled the full resolution, the bastards.
Good fucking printers, though. Better than HP. Not as good as an inktank for ink prices, tho.
Anyways, learn to use a SD Card maybe.
Completely irrelevant to the reason why I use the app, though.
I geotag photos, and that can only be done through the app.
I use live view, and that can only be done through the app.
Firmware updates. App.
You can do firmware updates with the SD Card, that’s the way it’s been done for decades.
I’m not going to pretend what geotagging and canon live view™ is but it sounds a lot like image metadata?
You can do firmware updates with the SD Card, that’s the way it’s been done for decades.
Yes, but I’m not checking Canon’s website for every camera I own, when the app would just tell you.
That’s one thing that I shouldn’t have to chase Canon for.
I’m not going to pretend what geotagging and canon live view™ is but it sounds a lot like image metadata?
Geotagging puts location data in the photo. This is something I add to every image, because I use location for searching.
Live view is cool. You can set up the camera, and view/control it through the app.
This has many applications, and should never need an account to access, since the app should be communicating directly with the camera.
For a moment there I thought they’d locked down the SD card or something. Don’t people transfer to their computers anymore?
For file transfer, I prefer WIFI direct connect, unless it’s large video files.
But this app is used for more than file transfer, so you can’t even geotag photos (for example) unless you have an account. Crazy shit, since this would strictly be between your phone and camera.
It’s not like the geotagging was all that great anyway. The phone app sucked battery like an alcoholic with a fresh bottle.
Are you sure? Thats not acceptable for most professionals so i doubt there is no way around it. Whats the modelname of your camera? How are you trying to access the files?
Are you sure?
100% Canon announced this last month, ironically on April Fool’s Day!. Funny, that they say it makes the experience “more convenient and enjoyable”.
Yeah, it was fine before, when you’d open the app, connect to your camera, and download the images.
Whats the modelname of your camera? How are you trying to access the files?
We’ve got several Canon cameras, and you cannot proceed to use the app unless you log in. This isn’t to allow for cloud storage or anything like this. This is to do ANYTHING through the app, including location data tagging, live view, etc.
And there is no other way to access the camera from your phone? Cant you just mount it as a storage medium over USB? Or if all else fails just use a USBC card reader dongle…
It’s more than just file transfer, unfortunately.
If you want to control your camera through the app, or geotag photos… you now have to use an account that connects to Canon (and probably 1001 “partners”).
Well then the title is just misleading i guess. If you need an app for extra features, they will harvest your data anyways even without an account. Unless the app was working without internet access before. The mistake is buying a camera that requires an app that isnt using an open protocol and expecting Canon not to make use of their software lock in thumb screws. In a year they will want a monhtly subscription fee for you to use the app.
Unless the app was working without internet access before.
It was.
The mistake is buying a camera that requires an app that isnt using an open protocol and expecting Canon not to make use of their software lock in thumb screws.
To ge fair, these cameras were purchased before the Golden Age of Enshittification.
As hardware features like built-in GPS were offloaded to apps, choices became slim.
Its somewhat unavoidable with some things, i have to admit.
Is it this app? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.canon.ic.cameraconnect
Im sure this can be reverse engineered relatively easily if it connects over WiFi, because you can just sniff all the traffic quite easily.I hope you havent installed any firmware updates recently, because they will surely try to prevent people from doing so and actively work to break existing 3rd party apps or older official app versions.
Edit: Nvm i saw you managed to downgrade the app.
So instead of just mounting the camera as storage, they require a proprietary app using a surveillance-packed web browser? Yeah, I’d be returning that pile of awful.
You can still use the camera as an MTP device via a USB cable without any app. Just not wirelessly; that connection is proprietary (-ish, there are third party apps on some platforms).
Oh OK, so this nightmare existing is only for wifi use. I imagine that would also be slower, especially if these cameras support USB-C.
You can connect the camera direct via USB and mount as storage without the app. Though it’s only USB2 speeds lol. The app allows you to transfer over wifi which is dumb because it only lets you do that with jpgs. It won’t transfer raw files wirelessly. I just pull the card and use a fast card reader.
I personally only use the app as a bluetooth remote shutter release.
But many people also use the app to auto geotag their photos, as not many canon cameras have built in GPS.
Yeah that’s what I was thinking. Why even need an app? The camera stores the pictures on an SD card anyway (probably). If the app is nice and has some extra features like being able to pick the best shot from a series, fine, but I somehow doubt that it does more than transfer pictures lol
It’s for transferring pictures over the wifi network or a local wifi network that the camera is hosting. If you have the SD card plugged in, there’s absolutely no reason to use the app instead of your phone’s file manager. I don’t even think the app will recognize an SD card, but I don’t really know. It might recognize a plugged in camera, but it doesn’t advertise that and I’ve never tried.
It allows you to grab an image, develop the RAW, do a quick edit on your phone or tablet, upload to socials, share with friends, etc. If that’s your thing.
You can also use it to geotag your photos/files automatically with the gps in your phone. It does firmware updates as well.
Also does remote shooting including allowing you to change exposure settings without touching the camera. Useful for photo and video in that respect.
I just uninstalled it. Going to keep using my usb-c hub with included SD card reader if I need to get at my media before I can get to a computer.
Using your Canon ID to login to Canon’s digital camera software and apps will give you access to quick and easy product registration, tailored notifications about firmware, software updates, equipment notifications, new product announcements, and more to help optimize your experience with your Canon equipment.
So, ads? You’d figure the account would provide extra features (that we didn’t need) but this doesn’t even give anything to the user.
It doesn’t really make it any better, but at least they let you opt out of data collection after creating the account (you know, when they have already collected your email, first and last name as well as camera serial no.) 🙄
