The built-in EOS 5D Mark IV WiFi offers the most capability of any Canon EOS camera with built-in WiFi, so which is the right mode to choose?
Choosing the right EOS 5D Mark IV WiFi function
I’m really happy to see so many capabilities in the EOS 5D Mark IV WiFi and want to offer some guidance on the right method to select. Firstly choose where you need the pictures to arrive at, smartphone or computer. Secondly work out if you need remote control of the camera, or need to connect multiple cameras at the same time to the same computer.
Connect to smartphone
- Transfer images from camera direct to smartphone
- Remote control your camera from your smartphone
- Easy configuration
Connect to smartphone lets you transfer images to your phone and remote control the camera from a smartphone running the Canon Camera Connect App.
If you just need to transfer a shot you’ve taken, or remotely release the shutter it’s all possible in this mode. Most likely this will be used when the camera creates a WiFi hotspot (Easy Connection) that you connect your phone to. You can even start and stop video recording from the app, but video files are not recorded directly on the smartphone.
You select pictures that are stored on the camera memory cards to be transferred to the smartphone. If you choose a RAW image, it is converted to a JPG for you.
Canon Camera Connect App is available for both Android and iOS devices from the Android and Apple app stores.
Remote control EOS Utility
- Transfer images from camera to computer as you shoot
- Complete camera remote control & setup from your computer
- Relatively easy configuration
EOS Utility mode works with the Canon EOS Utility software that offers a whole set of features; remote camera control, camera settings, automatic transfer of images to the computer etc.
Functionally this is the same as connecting EOS Utility to the camera with a USB cable. If you work in a studio, I recommend that you select the network, rather than use the Easy connection. If you have multiple cameras, then EOS Utility can only work with a single camera at a time, any others will not connect. Every picture you take is transferred to the computer right after it’s stored on the memory cards.
Due to the constant back and forth communication when using EOS Utility mode it uses the most bandwidth. I usually shoot RAW + JPEG on the camera and set EOS Utility to only transfer the JPEG images to the computer to speed up transfers. A small image is 3360 x 2240 pixels and will transfer much faster than larger JPEGs.
For studio and location photographers working with a single camera at a time, this is the mode to choose and is likely to need the minimal computer knowledge to get it working.
FTP mode
- Transfer images from cameras to a computer as shot, or on request
- No remote control of the camera
- More complex system configuration
FTP mode is a new addition for the WiFi built-in to EOS cameras. It has been used on the wireless file transmitters in the past. FTP mode allows multiple cameras to send images to a computer that is configured with an ftp server.
FTP mode can be configured to send only the JPEG image when the camera is set to capture a RAW + JPEG. What’s more the transfer can be automatic or initiated by the photographer. In automatic transfer mode each image is transferred as it’s shot. When the transfer is initiated from the camera it can be a selected group of pictures or a single image. The camera can be configured so that in playback mode, a press of the SET button starts the transfer of the displayed image. It is also possible to add a caption to each image. Up to 15 captions can be preset in the camera.
If you photograph events with multiple photographers, then FTP mode is the mode you are likely to be using.
If you are using a Mac, then you’ll need this old post (still works) to enable the Mac OS built-in FTP server. If you are using a PC then i’d recommend filezilla ftp server as it’s much simpler to get working. As with most server setups you may need to be a little more computer-literate to make ftp mode work.
JAN-2017 – I’ve posted a setup guide to show how to connect your EOS 5D Mark IV using FTP mode through your mobile phone.
These next two options are a little different, from the three above, and they focus on sharing images online and in-print.
Upload to web service
Upload to web requires the setup of an account on the Canon Image Gateway system, and then the service to upload to is set there. You can setup flickr, google drive and Canon’s Irista services.
I think it’s a little clunky, and i’d probably transfer to a phone and upload from there myself.
Print to WiFi printer
It is possible to print direct to a whole selection of WiFi printers straight from the camera. RAW images are converted by the camera before sending them to the printer. I have used it once or twice on other cameras, but most of my images see at least some post production so it’s not something I have regularly used.
I will be offering more guidance and some step-by-step videos on setting up some of these modes shortly.
If you have any questions about using the new EOS 5D Mark IV please ask, i love questions 🙂
Thank you! This is the best info on Canon Mark IV wifi I have found on-line.
Thanks for the info! I had hoped the Mark IV would send RAW files to my phone, rather than converting to JPEG. Kind of a bummer there.
Hi Brian,
Have you tried live view via wifi and an iOS or Android device? I am wondering about ease of connectivity and speed/video feed lag. I’d like to be able to set up a shot through my iPhone or tablet when the camera is in an awkward position on a tripod; e.g. close to the ground.
Thanks,
Andreas
Hi Andreas,
Yes I have used the remote shooting on the iPhone over WiFi. It is fast enough for remote viewing when the camera is in an awkward location. If you need to have the shortest shutter release lag i’d suggest using a remote cable in to the camera, as that appears to be faster to me than tapping on the iPhone screen to trigger the shutter.
Brian / p4pictures
Hi Brian, thank you for this guide!
I find the Wifi option very useful but I just don’t know what to do to make my macbook able to recieve pictures from the mk4 after setting up the ftp. Do I need another Software on my mac?
Do I need to establish a new network directly from the mac to which I connect the camera or do both just have to be in the same wifi?
Thanks for you help,
Best,
Michael
Hi Michael,
You need to setup an FTP server on your mac. In the article above there is a link to an previous article where I shared the terminal command to activate the mac’s built-in ftp server.
You have two options. If there’s a usable wireless network e.g. at home or in your studio, you can use that as long as both the computer and camera are connected to the same network. Alternatively – out on location – the camera can set as a WiFi access point, it will create the network, and the password to access the network. You then connect your mac to the camera’s network.
Hope this helps you out until I get the video guides online.
Brian / p4pictures
Hi Brian, I accidentally pressed the forget button when I tried to connect to my canon mark 5div from my phone. I am able to find the network o.j. my phone for my camera but out wants a password and I don’t remember it. I tried to find the password on my camera but have not had any luck. When I am under the Wi-Fi settings the “clear settings” option is greyed out and I can’t select it. Do I have to be in a certain setting for that option to be available? Hopefully you can help me.
Hi Kimberlee,
You will need to re setup the connection. I can’t find a way to see the password on my camera.
The Clear settings option is greyed out if the connection is already active or trying to be active, or if you have switched off the camera WiFi.
Brian / p4pictures
With the capability of editing raw files in Lightroom Mobile, is there no way to transfer raw files via wireless option?? I have tried and failed, but hoping there is a workaround?
Hi Matt,
Currently the Canon Camera Connect app doesn’t support transfer of raw files.
I hope that it will come to the app soon.
Brian / p4pictures
Cheers for that; very useful. Is it possible to auto-transfer images from the 5D4 to an android tablet using the Canon App? I currently do so with my 5D3 and an eye-fi card and it’s something that I would hope would be easier with the 5D4’s built in Wifi.
Hi Charles,
I’ve tried but with no success. You’ll possibly need to switch and use a standalone FTP server app on the the tablet then use FTP mode to auto send the files to the tablet with the ftp server on.
Brian / p4pictures
Hi Brian,
Thanks for the advice! I’m thinking of using the mk4 in a slow motion photo booth. Is it possible to make the camera play back the videos remotely. The camera will be plugged into a monitor through the hdmi out.
Alex 🙂
Hi Alex,
There’s no way to switch the camera to “playback” mode from the app or EOS Utility. It’s the same for all the other EOS cameras too.
Brian / p4pictures
Nice article. Here are my findings. The app does not connect anymore after 5dIV firmware update. The wifi works fine, the phone (S3LTE) sees the camera but the Camera Connect app just sits there doing nothing. Hope you have an answer on this. I really liked this app.
Hi Rob,
Have you tried recreating the connection between the camera and the phone since the update. My own 5D4 has been updated and works ok with an iPhone and the iOS version of the App.
Brian / p4pictures
Rob
I have a question about untethered flash control on the 5dM4 I have the canon 430 EX 111 not the RT version can the camera fire the flash like the 7d does or do i need to mount the 430 and then get another flash unit
thanks
David
Hi David,
The 7D uses it’s built-in flash to trigger the 430EX, and since the EOS 5D Mark IV doesn’t have a pop-up flash then you’re out of luck. You need to have a suitable trigger or master flash on the camera.
The simplest – and lowest cost – Canon master flash is the Speedlite 90EX from the EOS M models. However it is pretty limited on the range between it and your 430EX. You might also try a Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2.
I suggest you get one of the 500 or 600-series flashes, they are all capable of being an optical master.
Are you sure you have a 430EX III, I have not heard of a non-RT version of the 430EX III? If yours is actually a 430EX III-RT then you could use a Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT on the camera to trigger your flash.
Brian / p4pictures
Hi Brian
thanks for the info it is only the 430EX II that i have, so an optical master maybe my only option, or a receiver/transmitter setup
thx David
Two possible options, the Yongnuo YNE3-RX or the Phottix Laso receivers. These are basically a radio receiver that you fit a 430EX II or 580EX II on and then they can work with other Canon radio flash devices.
You would still need a suitable radio transmitter.
I tested out the Phottix Laso system a few months ago, there’s a write up on the blog, this should find it http://p4pictures.com/?s=phottix+laso
Brian/p4pictures
I’ve used Eye-Fi cards for years using the protect function to selectively transfer images to my iPad to ShutterSnitch.
With the Eye-For card the Wifi turns on, when I protect the images, very easy and fast to use.
Hi Gudi,
You can do something similar with the EOS 5D Mark IV. Again with ShutterSnitch the protection can be a flag to send an image, or you can use the ftp mode and initiate the transfer by reviewing the image on the camera then pressing the SET button.
I think I need another more detailed article on using FTP mode now – thanks for the question.
Brian / p4pictures
Thanks for article. Very helpful. I see there is a place to add a caption to the photo. It’s grayed out. Any idea how I use that ?
Hi Alan,
Transfer with caption is only workable with FTP mode. Up to fifteen captions can be created in EOS Utility and then added to the camera. You can’t edit the captions in the camera.
Don’t forget that similarly you can add 39 standard fields of IPTC information to the camera and have that added to each image captured. You add the IPTC info in EOS Utility also.
Brian / p4pictures
Hi Brian!
What about when you’re shooting outdoors with no wi-fi connection?
In those situations what would you recommend to transfer jpg’s from the Mark IV to your Iphone?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Gonçalo,
There are a couple of choices open to you, including making use of the camera as the WiFi point.
Firstly you can use a cable if you like… take a look at this article I’ve recently written – http://www.p4pictures.com/2016/11/easy-transfer-pictures-eos-iphone/
If you just want to transfer a few images from the shoot to your phone you can set the camera to create a wifi network that your phone will connect to, then you can use the Canon Camera Connect App.
If you want to shoot tethered so that each jpeg is sent to your laptop, again use the camera to make the network, connect the laptop to the camera’s network port and use EOS Utility mode and software to link the laptop and camera. This is kind of like a USB cable over wifi.
Lastly activate the personal hotspot on your mobile this makes a network point the camera can connect to. Then you can even ftp images from the phone to an ftp server on the internet.
I’ll soon be posting some more detailed examples of several different scenarios with specific configuration settings on the blog so do check back again soon.
Brian / p4pictures
Hi Brian,
I’m curious if it was possible to use the Canon’s smartphone app to do a long exposure shots instead of the remote releaser such as Canon TC-80N3. Thanks you for letting me know.
Hi Krisztián,
Yes it is… there are a couple of options depending on the camera.
1. You can set the long exposure up to 30s in Tv or M modes.
2. You can use Bulb mode with the app, tap once on the app to start the exposure and again to stop the exposure
3. You can use Bulb mode, and set the bulb timer in the camera to the required duration. Now a single tap in the app will start the exposure and the camera bulb timer will determine the duration.
It’s a great question, I feel a blog post is needed to make it really clear, so thanks for the idea.
Brian/p4pictures
Here’s the post about using the camera connect app for long exposures
http://www.p4pictures.com/2016/12/long-exposures-camera-connect/
Hi Brian.
I need some of wisdom and advice please.
I have just moved onto the canon 5d mk iv from mkii and eyefi card. I am recording onto card1 cf Raws and Card 2 sd low res JPEGs. Play back is one card 2 and the jpegs then go via wifi from mkIV to Iphone and camera connect app.
Questions
1. How do select and send a particular image and not all like using the old Eyefi pro.
Which was based around the protect images button. The images are being sent to Camera connect app on iPhone
2 Now it sends everything and it causes buffering which prevents me from shooting.
Is this because of the speed of the Sd card, but i am using the one that I got for my GoPro for video so it should be fast enough. So I am confused why buffering is happening and of course this happens when I really need to take a shoot at live events very Frustraiting.
I am finding nothing on line to guide me through question 1 or 2
Yours
Al Nicoll
Hi Al,
To be able to select an image then you will need to change over to using FTP mode transfers. With FTP mode you can set the camera to not send everything automatically, so you can shoot as you like.
FTP mode has a couple of possibilities, you can go in to the camera menu and select a number of photos and queue them for sending. Alternatively you can enable the transfer with SET option. Doing so means that when you playback the image on the camera LCD you press the SET button to add the displayed image to the transfer queue.
You have a choice of where to send to. You can use an app like ShutterSnitch on your phone to create an FTP server that the camera will send to. Once on the phone, ShutterSnitch can be configured to do tasks like send the file via email for each file it receives. Alternatively you can use the phone to create a WiFi hotspot and have the camera connect to an ftp server on the internet, then files are simply moved via the phone to the internet server.
If the SD card you have is really slow, then a quick fix might be a faster SD card, but it’s more likely the transfer rate from the camera to the phone over WiFi.
I think another blog post is called for on these options, thanks for the inspiration.
Brian/p4pictures
Hi Brian,
I was looking forward to remote control of 5Dm4 via my iPhone in certain situations, but I have been disappointed in the Camera Connect app. I previously used CamRanger which was ok, but had its issues. I was hoping an OEM solution would be better, but why is the Camera Connect app so limited in functionality? For example, I sometimes want to trigger multiple exposures, or bracketed exposures with one click of the button on iPhone, but it seems this is not possible (or what am I missing?) I feel like the old Canon EOS Remote app was better? Any advice Besides “complain to Canon”?
Regarding the “Upload to Web Service” option. Is Facebook not included? I know it was on the 6D. If they removed it here, that would be very disappointing.
Thanks!
Hi Karl,
Yes Facebook is included in the Canon image gateway so if you had it working with an EOS 6D it will still work with the new camera.
Brian/p4pictures
So to be clear, if I get the Mark IV ( have the Mark III) I will be able to take photo and with the proper setup (in camera) I can transfer the files to my laptop with no issues? I shoot and print photos onsite and often tether my camera but would like to be free of that. Can you confirm? If there is anything I need to keep in mind please share. Great article.
Hi Joseph,
I can’t promise you no issues. Anything without wires can be affected by a whole lot of other factors. My best suggestion is go for FTP mode and send JPEGs for speed.
I’ve just written a guide to sending with FTP here http://www.p4pictures.com/2017/01/ftp-images-from-eos-5d-mark-iv/
Brian/p4pictures
Are you able to tether your Canon 5D MarkIV to a computer and also have wifi enabled to an iPad, possibly even two iPads?
Hi Brittney,
With WiFi you can only have one kind of connection active at a time. So if you want EOS Utility mode over wifi then you can’t also have smartphone/tablet active. I’ve not tried using EOS Utility with a USB connection and Wifi to an iPad at the same time, but I’m not expecting it to work – though I’m open to a pleasant surprise if it does.
For what you are looking at then I think that PhaseOne Capture One offers a solution where the CaptureOne software running on the Mac/PC to connect the camera can also provide previews on an iPad or tablet using the Capture Pilot app.
Brian/p4pictures
Hi Brian,
First off thanks for putting this in such a readable and clear presentation. It’s got me further along than previous posts or the Canon manual has.
My question is this: Have you had success with ftp upload direct to the computer on the same network when using a Mac. The manual says this is not supported and even using the Terminal commands we have not been able to get it to work. I either receive an error message or an “unable to connect” message. I would like to connect about 30 cameras uploading small jpegs in ftp to one computer and up till now have only had the option to use multiple stations hard tethered in.
Thanks for the help in advance.
Hi Ben,
Yes I can connect my mac to my wireless router, and my camera to the same router. Then the camera can access the ftp server on the mac. You will probably need to use ip address of the mac as the ftp server address, not the name. For my own sanity I would often assign a fixed IP address to the mac.
So for example if my WiFi router normally gives out an address like 192.169.0.100 to my mac, then I would use that, or something much higher like 192.168.0.200 for the static address of the mac wifi interface. (do this in the network panel of system preferences)
Then in the camera configure the ftp server as 192.168.0.200 and login to the mac using the short username and your normal password. It definitely works – I have done this on many occasions on different macs and even some windows machines! It does help to disable the firewall on the mac, at least to get the initial setup.
What is not supported is connecting a camera direct to the mac with no access point when using ftp mode.
30 cameras might be possible, I’m not sure if there are any limits as to how many concurrent connections the mac ftp server is built for. I would advise that each camera is configured to write in to a unique sub folder, so camera #1 writes to CAM01 and so on to camera #30 writing to CAM30 folder.
Brian/p4pictures
I Brian,
Is it possible to use the wifi transfering mode to laptop and still record the files on the cards (just in case something is wrong) ?
Thanks
Hi Stéphane,
Yes you can keep a copy of the files on the card. This is what I normally do.
Brian/p4pictures
Thanks, so I’m probably missing something, because it seems I can’t review any images on the card when in wifi/laptop mode. I see the image transfering on the computer, but when I press the “play” button on the camera it doesn’t show me the images.
Is there a setting I missed?
Hi Stéphane,
You just need to make sure EOS Utility is set to download the picture to the computer, and keep a copy on the card. Have a look at this picture and it shows where you need to make a change in the settings. (In the red box).
http://www.p4pictures.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/eosutility-saving.jpg
Brian/p4pictures
Ohhh… great! Thanks, it was that simple. 😉
Hi Brian
Thanx for all your helpful explanations in this blog. I’d like to use the remote control with my Mark IV but have the following problem with EOS Utility and smart phone (Android): As long as I use the custom functions for certain camera buttons the focusing does not work. In EOS Utility it even mentions a warning, that custom functions are activated. As soon as I delete all custom functions the focusing works. Do you see any sense in this?
Thank you for your answer.
Thomas
Hi Thomas,
Sounds like you are moving the AF from the shutter to the back button. The software tools are basically “pressing the shutter button by remote control” and so when you have back button AF configured then it can’t focus in the usual way.
In Live View mode within EOS utility there’s a switch to activate the focus and this works. Using the latest version of the EOS Remote app on my iPhone I get an AF button appear next to the shutter button on the phone screen to activate the AF when I have back button AF configured.
One possibility is to configure a custom shooting mode that you designate as the tethered shooting mode, and then reactivate focus on the shutter button only in this mode.
Brian/p4pictures
Hi Brian,
Have just bought the 5D mark 4 and it’s brill.
One problem…how do I change the size of the files I download to my phone via NFC.
Whatever I attempt the only option I get is the S2 size jpeg and I would like something a little larger.
The resize function (on camera using Q menu) won’t move from the S2 size regardless of what wheels/buttons I use.
Is this configured somewhere.Am sure I recall sing it but can’t remember where!
Your help would be much appreciated.
Chris
Hi Chris,
In the Canon Camera Connect App, you can view the images on the camera, and then tap the three dots in the top right corner. This then will have the option about resizing images. It’s probably set to resize, but you can choose it not to resize or ask each time.
Brian/p4pictures
Hi Brian,
Great site by the way. Glad I found you.
Got as far as the three dots on the app and set to resize but don’t get any options and always end with the same size file.
Same with sending from camera. Only size option I get is S2.
I understand I should be able to send from RAW also?
Am i missing something or has my ageing brain let me down…again?
Thanks,
Chris
Hi Chris,
If you set the app so that it doesn’t resize the images, and shoot the image as a large JPEG on the camera does that work. I’m not sure you can transfer RAW images to the phone using the Canon App, they get converted.
I just tried with a picture that was captured as a Raw + Large JPG, it was set not to resize and the full resolution JPEG image was transferred. If there’s no JPEG, the you get a small JPEG sent only.
I think the only work around would be to process the single RAW in the camera and make it a large JPEG, then transfer that.
I’m doing this on the iPhone, I don’t have the Android to hand.
Brian/p4pictures
Good stuff! Very helpful.Thanks much.
I’m about to run out and buy an iPad so I can review photos on it in the field using this wireless function. Any tips on what specs that iPad should have? And have you done any Photoshop work using the iPad with pencil?
I linked my 5d4 to shuttersnitch on my ipad like I did to 5d3/5ds. But when I stop shooting for like a minute, the connection will be lost. If I push set button to keeping sending photos to shuttersnitch, the connection will be kept. Could you tell me how to do the setting to keep the connection while I do not need to keep push the set button like shooting with 5D3/5Ds. Many thanks!