I didn’t need to edit captures in the app, but it’s possible to apply image adjustments (exposure, contrast, white balance, vibrance, and sharpening) as well as crop, rotate, and resize captures on iOS devices. The CamRanger 2 app stores settings as presets for use whenever needed. I do a lot of night sky photography in dark and cold conditions it’s a relief not having to remember and input the settings for different lenses for sharp stars, star trails, and meteor showers. I was happiest to see the new ability to save camera settings as presets. I was familiar with many of these features from the original CamRanger, although most have been improved with the CamRanger 2. I had difficulty setting the near and far points, although once I had them set correctly, automatic stacking performed flawlessly. I tested almost all of these features and found them to be straightforward and reliable with the exception of focus stacking. I was able to photograph a ground-level four-exposure focus stack of a barrel cactus and stay high and dry by using the CamRanger 2 to control the shot. Advanced users can connect the CamRanger 2 to an external network, for example a network with internet access, to allow immediate image uploading to social media or FTP transfer. For even faster viewing there’s a Quick Raw viewing mode that sends the embedded raw JPEG to the screen in less than two seconds. Also available is the slower 2.4GHz transfer that extends the range of control to about 500 feet.
The CamRanger 2 supports full raw file capture and download for supported cameras, which is reasonably fast with the new 5GHz networking up to 250 feet. In addition, on iOS you can perform bulb ramping, edit and crop images, and compare captures.
You can also perform HDR bracketing over a 34-EV range, rate captures, view the contents of the camera card or CamRanger 2 card individually or as a proof sheet, perform automatic or manual focus stacking, live view zoom to 200%, and automatically view, save, and transfer captures. While some CamRanger 2 features depend on your camera model, you can generally view and change all the still and video functions, including touch-screen focusing, from your remote device. I confined testing to my iPad Air 2 and had no problems with reliability or functionality.
On my Android Google 3 phone and Nexus tablet, the app was pretty buggy due to networking issues with the Android operating system rather than the app itself.
The free CamRanger 2 app is available for Android 5.0 and later, iOS 9.0 and later, and MacOS 10.11 and later, with Windows 8.0 and later coming soon. Also new to the CamRanger 2 is a SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot for backup. A new tripod screw in the bottom of the unit allows you to attach the included hot shoe mount or an optional Arca-Swiss clamp for mounting options other than the carabiner clip attached to the case. The CamRanger 2 is significantly larger than the original and includes a more powerful battery, though battery life is reduced from six to five hours, according to CamRanger. Not only does CamRanger 2 support new camera models, it adds and expands on features of the original CamRanger, which I’ve used since 2016. CamRanger 2 adds wireless camera control to select Sony and Fujifilm cameras as well as the wide range of Canon and Nikon models supported by the original CamRanger and CamRanger Mini. Third-party mobile wireless controllers are available but have been limited to Canon and Nikon camera capability. Camera manufacturers’ apps are serviceable, but they don’t have the functionality or reliability that would make them a pleasure to use. CamRanger 2 mounted on the camera hot shoe with the hot shoe adapter and camera cable, both of which are supplied with the purchase.Įxisting options for mobile wireless camera control outside of a studio are somewhat limited.