Do It Yourself

WLAN retrofit to remote control your DSLR via Wi-Fi and transfer data, offers numerous advantages. You need fewer cables, can see your pictures immediately on the smartphone and do not have to go through the PC. We will show you how to do it.

WLAN retrofit is worthwhile. This allows you to wirelessly control your DSLR via Wi-Fi, and conveniently access data from the camera. If you already have a modern SLR or current mirrorless DSLM, you should already benefit from integrated WLAN. But how can photographers retrofit WLAN with their old camera and also enjoy this comfort? Read on.

WLAN retrofit: Wi-Fi cards for DSLR and Co.

To Wi-Fi the fastest with a DSLR retrofit, Wi-Fi memory cards are available to play the game. These are special SD cards, for example from Toshiba, Transcend and Eye-Fi, which build a WLAN hotspot. And view and copy JPEG and RAW files on the memory card.

This works quite well now and needs only less technical knowledge. However, WLAN memory cards also contain a few disadvantages. Starting with the price, which is several times higher than with regular SD cards. In addition, these models boast no speed at all: in the laboratory, the fastest card reaches a maximum write rate of less than 20 MB per second. For huge RAW files and serials, it is therefore hardly recommendable. But if you have two card shafts flashing in its camera, you can use this card to store smaller JPEGs.

Nikon and Canon DSLR: WLAN professional upgrade

The WLAN solutions from Nikon and Canon work more quickly and professionally. For the manufacturer’s DSLR range, special WLAN adapters are launched, which plug into the USB port or even function as a battery grip.

The WLAN adapter Nikon WU-1a for the four-digit D-series and a handful of Coolpix cameras beats about 50 euros. The WU-1b for the D600 and D610 as well. The official compatibility list can be found here. If a Nikon D800, D4S or a Canon EOS its own, must be much deeper into the pockets. The Canon WFT-E5 facilitates photographers around USD 533, the Nikon WT-4 even around USD 686 euros. This is probably only for very ambitious hobby and professional photographers.

Wi-Fi Adapter for Canon and Nikon DSLRs:

Price wise between the CamRanger settles itself and also connects via USB connection to current DSLRs of Canon and Nikon. The functionality of the Wi-Fi app makes the CamRanger an interesting partner for demanding photographers. Users are given access to virtually all important setting options – from exposure to white balance to ISO sensitivity, or entire HDR series. For this, the Wi-Fi app can score with professional features such as a histogram as well as an over- and under-exposure warning. The camRanger transfers the photos taken directly to the PC, smartphones and tablets. The CamRanger is compatible with all current Canon and Nikon DSLRs.

DSLR Dashboard: CamRanger in house

If you have some technical understanding, you can build your own CamRanger and much cheaper. The WLAN router TP-Link TL-MR3040, which you connect to the camera via USB, serves as the basic module. Replace the factory firmware with the open-source firmware OpenWRT. Then configure the WLAN function to your liking. Now you need the control software “DSLR Dashboard” for PC, Android or iOS and plug into the WLAN of the router. Once connected, you can remote control the camera and transfer pictures wirelessly using your Wi-Fi.

The cloud storage is awesome, as far as flexibility for users is concerned. But many companies have abdominal pain, to give sensitive data into foreign hands. Own Cloud Storage is a handy opensource alternative that allows companies to build their own Cloud Storage on their servers.

Whether the data is with Apple, Google, Microsoft or the Telekom, companies are difficult to outsource sensitive data to cloud offerings. The flexibility that can be achieved is exactly what companies want; Only the security conscience is registering. Those who prefer to build their own Cloud Storage instead can do it with own Cloud. Our DIY Mode has set itself the goal of building a cloud on its own servers.

Make users happy

With own Cloud the benefit for the user is in the foreground. Cloud back and forth, is more interested in the synchronization of files, appointments and addresses. We show you what you need for own Cloud as you discover the software.

Checklist: You need this for own Cloud Storage

The requirements for own Cloud are not particularly high. A standard server environment with Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP is sufficient for the start.

Currently own Cloud is available in three versions: Community, Business and Enterprise. For the first experiments, the Community Edition does it, in professional use, there is the Enterprise with the best support as well as the possibility to operate several own Cloud instances side by side. There are also clients for OS X, Linux and Windows for building the cloud, which is available for Linux and Windows. They are also going to introduce useful apps very soon.

Cloud Storage Server with standard tools

Setting up own Cloud is not rocket science it is easy if you follow our DIY, but if you’re looking for a simplicity like Dropbox, this is wrong. On a naked Windows Discover the latest info on Windows 10! Or Linux does not run the software. Apache 2, PHP as well as a MySQL database are necessary. Get the current Own Cloud package and unpack it. Then copy the directory “own cloud” into the web server directory, usually / var / www. In order for the configuration to work, the user under whose account the web server is running must also have the apps, config and data directories. This can be done with chown -R www-data: www-data / var / www / own cloud / install / x, where for x once apps, config and data must be specified. “Www-data” is, for example, the owner of the webserver under Ubuntu.

Cloud Storage: Fine settings for Apache

If you are using Apache, you should then switch on .htaccess. To do this, open the / etc / apache2 / sites-enabled / 000-default file in an editor, find the entry “AllowOverride” and set it to “All”. After that restart Apache and it can go with the actual configuration.

Perfect setup: Cloud Storage in your server room

With Cloud, admins can easily tack the configuration via a browser. We help with the first setup steps.

If the device has worked as described, the own Cloud interface should be available after restarting Apache at http: // localhost / owncloud. If the installation did not work out completely because a PHP module is missing, own Cloud also shows the same. On this first visit, you must assign a username and password. This will be the admin account for ownCloud. After the “Advanced” drop-down menu, you can explicitly specify the data directory for own Cloud, ie / var / www / owncloud / data; You must enter the access data for the database. If MySQL users and password, then ownCloud itself can create the appropriate database. Now you can register and make the first configuration steps.

Fileupload

The makers of  Cloud have a sense of humor, after the first login you can see that everything is still empty and you should now upload something quickly. However, they have set a hurdle and limited the file size for uploads to 2 MB. You can change this directly in the file php.ini via the PHP values post_max_size and upload_max_filesize. Important: Apache must be restarted for the changes to take effect.

Users create and updates

For a basic function test, the admin can now himself upload a few documents and check the clients. In a second step, however, a few test users should also be created. To do this, click the gear wheel at the bottom left of the window and select “User”. Via “Create” you can create new accounts. By the way, you can limit the storage space for users using the “Standard Quota” option. It is also important that you keep your own Cloud up-to-date. You simply need to download the latest version, unpack it and install it over the old version. Important: Leave the two folders / config and / data untouched, because your settings and data are there. On the next login own Cloud will update automatically.

OwnCloud Cloud Storage: advantages and disadvantages

All the advantages of the cloud combined with the security of your own server, that sounds good. In practice, however, it is not so easy, because you also give away a few advantages of real Cloud Storage offers.

The advantages of own Cloud are obvious: Companies can operate a powerful sync service in their own server room. At the moment, there are clients for Windows, Linux and OS X, and mobile apps are set to start soon. You can force encryption on your own Cloud or use a file diversion.

Scalability is not self-evident

The great thing about Cloud Storage offers is that you can scale very well. You suddenly need twice as much memory because they have two major new projects? No problem, simply choose the cloud provider with the doubling and already the memory space is available. If you run your own Cloud Storage, you have to take care of it yourself. Even flexible payment options, such as “pay per use”, of course, is not with your own Cloud Storage. The third disadvantage is that companies keep control over their data, so they must also ensure their own security for our business area. Whether the company is just as good as a professional Cloud Storage provider, is questionable.