13Dec Is the Camranger really a TP-LINK TL-MR3040?
The short answer to that question is yes. I spoke with the guys from TP-Link this morning, i’m currently on Scotland time, so I think that’s evening in the United States. Here’s what they said.
Under an agreement with TP-LINK, CamRanger is a rebranded TP-LINK router. CamRanger has altered the TL-MR3040’s firmware and created an app which provides a much greater degree of functionality than what the TL-MR3040 would otherwise provide for camera buffs.
The CamRanger uses proprietary firmware that allows you to use it with Canon and Nikon cameras on Android, IOS, and windows devices. As far as I know the DSLR controller option only works with Canon cameras being used with Android devices. It does a great job, but if you are looking to use an IOS or windows devices, you’re going to have to pony up for the CamRanger or learn to write your own app and firmware for the TP-Link TL-MR3040.
Also I didn’t mention in my previous post that you will need a USB to USB mini cable. If you bought your Camera new the cable you need is in the box. Chances are you’ll probably have the cable laying around the house, but if not you can pick up the cable on Amazon for around $5.
The tests I’ve done so far on the Canon 6d have been very positive. Frame rates are fast enough to be completely usable as a field monitor, controls work well, and linking the DSLR Controller app to the TP-Link TL-MR3040 is a very simple process. For wireless monitoring and control of your Canon camera, this is the most affordable and useful options I’ve tried.
I often get questions about monitoring options for others on a shoot. While this isn’t a perfect solution, It’s more than good enough when you’re shooting on a budget. I’ll try to post a video demo once I’ve made it to my hotel this evening.
December 13th, 2013 at 5:31 am
You’re in Scotland?? That’s awesome!!
December 13th, 2013 at 9:54 am
In Edinburgh right now on the Royal mile. I’ll be in Manchester tomorrow.
December 14th, 2013 at 2:15 am
Oh no way!! Did you go down to the German Market? (I do realise this is completely unrelated to the post) what were you filming? or just on holiday?
December 14th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Just finished shooting some xmas stuff at the Manchester mall, the bbc was shooting right next to us. Made it down to the xmas ice rink at the fest next to the train station while i was in Scotland, went on that underground tour.
December 15th, 2013 at 2:23 am
Mary King’s Close? It’s a good one! Love edinburgh at that time of year! That’s brilliant, hopefully be working with some guys from the bbc in the near future!
February 19th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
does anyone have the software in camranger so tplink users and save $250.
February 19th, 2014 at 12:15 pm
The software for camera ranger actually has a list of serial numbers that can be used. Even if you get your hands on the firmware, your device won’t work unless camera ranger has added it to the list. At least that’s what I’ve been told.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Does anyone here have a real Camranger? can they offer up their serial number? I’m guessing using a real serial number would work. just a thought.
December 13th, 2013 at 7:43 am
I can’t wait to see the video. Nice find!
I have one request for you. Could you please test the ability for this set-up to monitor for focus peeking while manually focusing the lens. All of the video reviews I have watched show the DSLRcontroller app focusing by presses on the Andriod tablets screen. This is an awesome feature for initial focusing, but not good once recording. I understand the slight lag may make fast camera movements difficult, but most of my shots are relatively static. (Talking heads or stage work)
I am hoping this could serve as a replacement to a regular monitor, but not if I can’t use it for monitoring manual focus. I do not have an external monitor, but my understanding is on a crop sensor camera (60D) the resolution on the hdmi out goes way down during recording. This in turn gives less than optimal results for good manual focusing via hdmi. Is this correct?
Thanks in advance.
March 2nd, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Anything?
December 13th, 2013 at 8:22 am
Don’t know if this is the right post to comment on, but…..
Do you experience lag and/or dropped frames when you use DSLR controller? As soon as i hit record, the nexus 7 (mark 1) gets dropped frames, and makes it usesless as a field monitor. It’s fine as lone as i use it on a crane, but if i use it with a shouldrig, the lag and dropped frames makes it very hard to use.
December 13th, 2013 at 9:52 am
Wired I get a little less than 1/2 second delay. Probably wouldn’t be the best option for a shoulder cam. The original release had delays as long as 3 seconds, it’s gotten a lot better, but you’re still pushing a lot of data across a usb cable or wifi.
December 13th, 2013 at 10:03 am
Yeah okay. Thanks for your time and knowledge! 🙂
December 15th, 2013 at 11:38 am
so… $220+ for the camranger firmware….ouch! I know what i’m buying…. and I already have dslr controller 🙂
December 18th, 2013 at 9:22 am
What is the battery life on TP-Link? I do mean in use not just powered on. Thanks
December 18th, 2013 at 10:11 am
I haven’t sat down with a timer, but I would say loosely about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
December 19th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Does this setup work on your EOS-M?
December 19th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Yes.
December 19th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Great … I just discovered Canon’s EOS Utility software doesn’t work with my EOS-M.
Altho I have tens of thousands of dollars invested with them … I often times hate Canon …
December 19th, 2013 at 4:19 pm
Are you sure there isnt something wrong with the camera? I thought eos utility worked with the eos-m? Let me take back that yes and say maybe. Someone is barrowing my eos-m ill check it this weekend when it comes back. I thought i tested it, but i’ll check again.
December 19th, 2013 at 7:19 pm
I have checked my EOS M on 2 WIN computers … my 60D works on both with EOS M utility with live view and settings and the whole 9 yards, but not the EOS-M. Then I went looking on the web and all I found was the same result, it didn’t work.
So I gave up, but I just searched again and it looks like I am happily proven wrong:
http://www.canonwatch.com/canon-adds-eos-m-support-to-dpp-and-eos-utility/
Is there a setting on the M that I am missing? I guess there has to be….
December 19th, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Sorry, should have said 60D works with Canon Utility …
December 19th, 2013 at 8:03 pm
Damn … I have update the EOS Utility and the program sees the camera …. but I do not get the LIVE VIEW / CONTROL tab in the software…under CONTROL CAMERA, I just have
1) Start to Download Images
2) Lets You select and Dowload
3) Camera Settings
I have the latest Firmware v 2.0.2 on the M.
Is there another setting on the M I am missing???
December 20th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Just spoke to CPS and they told me that without a mirror, there is no way the EOS M will function with LIVE VIEW monitoring in EOS Utility.
So, if you know that your TP Link on an adroid device works with the EOS M, I will give that a shot…
December 20th, 2013 at 9:17 am
I’ll get back to you as soon as I get a chance to test it.
January 16th, 2014 at 11:25 am
question then, if i the camranger firmware uprgrade on camranger website, i will transform my tl mr 3040 into a branded camranger wich will work with my ipad ?????
if someone has already tried this, then we’re in tha future !
tell me before i order ^^
and forgive my froggy english live from france
January 16th, 2014 at 11:46 am
If you manage to get a copy of the cameranger firmware, send it my way and I’ll give it a test try.
January 17th, 2014 at 12:43 am
I was wondering this same thing. You can download the upgrade package from camranger here http://camranger.com/firmware-upgrade/
It’s an application but on a mac if you right click and hit show package contents you can get to the .bin file it flashes
January 17th, 2014 at 1:46 am
great! but all i can find on the web is this firmware upgrader from camrager http://camranger.com/downloads/
let me know if this makes it … and you’ll be my hero
January 17th, 2014 at 1:48 am
sorry bad link http://camranger.com/firmware-upgrade/
January 17th, 2014 at 8:23 am
Need the bin file.
January 17th, 2014 at 8:38 am
there are many .bin files in the upgrader i don’t know wich one is the right one ….
anyone here to extract his camranger Bin file to make the test?
here is what we have in the uprgader
CR_Special.bin
CR1.bin
CR2-v1.bin
CR2-v2.bin
CR6.bin
i think the good one is le last one, somebody to confirm?
January 17th, 2014 at 8:58 pm
any luck with the firmware swap?
January 18th, 2014 at 4:28 pm
I don’t have a Tp-Link to it on yet. If it doesn’t work the unit will probably be bricked though so there is some hesitation to try it.
As for which .bin file it is my guess is either is CR6.bin too. I would guess that CR2-v1.bin was probably for the version 1 TP-link and CR2-v2.bin was for the version 2.
CR6.bin might have merged those two into one firmware but my guess is as good as yours.
January 21st, 2014 at 12:20 am
After doing so research this isn’t even worth trying. It looks like the camranger software requires you to enter a registration code that is on the unit itself. It then verifies hat with it’s servers to see if it is legit before letting you use the software.
So unless someone also comes up with a way around that it’s no dice.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Where i can find bin files??
February 25th, 2014 at 8:54 am
You can’t.
February 7th, 2014 at 3:25 pm
Could you send me bin files??
April 10th, 2014 at 5:02 pm
http://www.datafilehost.com/d/ab44c5bb Here are the Bins
If you open the Bins as text files and compare them to the tplink firmware, CR2v1 and CR2v2 follow the same format as the TPlink firmware. CR1 and CR6 are very similar to each other and contain alot of camera information and commands totally different then the tplink firmware. The CamRanger firmware update directions say that it applies 2 upgrades. My best guess is it first upgrades CR2v1 or CR2v2 depending on the model, Then upgrades CR6. CR1 is probably a copy of their first firmware and not used. If someone with camranger can record a screen video of terminal while the firmware upgrades it might be possible to watch which ones it installs.
March 2nd, 2014 at 7:32 pm
You can, on a mac, it’s possible to see the contents of an app. In the case of a firmware upgrade, there are 5 bin files.
CR_Special.bin
CR1.bin
CR2-v1.bin
CR2-v2.bin
CR6.bin
April 10th, 2014 at 4:43 pm
If you open the Bins as text files and compare them to the tplink firmware, CR2v1 and CR2v2 follow the same format as the TPlink firmware. CR1 and CR6 are very similar to each other and contain alot of camera information and commands totally different then the tplink firmware. The CamRanger firmware update directions say that it applys 2 upgrades. My best guess is it first upgrades CR2v1 or CR2v2 depending on the model, Then upgrades CR6. CR1 is probably a copy of their first firmware and not used. If someone with camranger can record a screen video of terminal while the firmware upgrades it might be posible to watch which ones it installs.
April 16th, 2014 at 12:20 pm
If this is the same as camranger surely the camranger app on ipad would work…….
April 18th, 2014 at 12:49 pm
Camera ranger basically blocks their “custom” firmware from working on an off the shelf TP-link.
December 16th, 2014 at 4:47 am
helo, i have NIKON D3200, i have tp link MR3040 already with seeting for dsrlcontroller like recomended from tp link, for wifi router dslr camera.
but untill now, i can not connection my camera with dslr remote from android.
why ?