The first Breeze tutorial of 2021 has been written to help fix that most irritating issue – when the camera won’t connect to the app. Finding the cause can be difficult and frustrating. Solving camera connection problems is here to help.
This release enhances Photo Booth Mode and adds support for Canon’s EOS R camera.
Breeze Multi-Camera 2.1 – what’s new
Support for Canon EOS R camera
Photo booth mode supports cameras in portrait as well as landscape orientation
Photo booth mode includes new screen ready_no_live_view.jpg . This disables live view, and allows external triggers to capture action shots with minimum delay
Animate Photo booth screens with full screen MP4 videobehind live view images
Multi-Camera Animator can save GIF and MP4 animations with a unique id making it easier to provide privacy when sharing images on a microsite
Product name shortened to “Multi-Camera”
New name – same product
Please note that DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera has been shortened to Multi-Camera in this release. It is the same software and registrations for DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera issued within the last twelve months still work.
Breeze Multi-Camera 2.1 is a free upgrade for all registered users of DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera who purchased a license on or after 29th November 2017. Customers with older licenses can buy an upgrade license to use this release.
We are often asked which camera is best for a photo booth. Canon cameras have very good live view quality, an important attribute for photo booths. The models below are not the only cameras you can use. Many older Canon DSLR cameras work very well. You can find a button linking to a list of the cameras you can use with Breeze DLSR Remote Pro here.
At the time of writing* (May 2018) we believe the ultimate photo booth camera is ….. the new (mirrorless) Canon EOS M50.
The standard kit lens ( EF-M 15-45mm STM ) has a flexible 15-45 mm zoom. For a super slim booth, try the EF-M 22mm STM lens
Best: Canon EOS M50
Update: February 2019 Canon have released firmware version 1.0.2 for the M50 which fixes the issues with triggering external flash. The new firmware can be downloaded fromCanon’s UK site
A big thank you to Caroline Winata of Giggle and Riot Funbooth for sharing this example of slow motion video (EOS M50 with DSLR Remote Pro 3.10)
120FPS Slow motion video with no additional processing
Similar performance to the Canon EOS 200D/Rebel SL2 including Canon’s excellent dual pixel auto focus in live view.
Suitable for video with external microphone socket.
Compact, slim and light; the M50 will fit in a smaller housing than Canon’s DSLR cameras.
July 2018 This post has been updated to include cameras supported in DSLR Remote Pro 3.11.2 ie the Canon EOS 1500D (aka Canon EOS 2000D/Rebel T7/EOS Kiss X90) and Canon EOS 3000D (aka Canon EOS 4000D).
The photo below shows the different sizes of the new EOS M50, EOS 200D/Rebel SL2 and new EOS 2000D/1500D/Rebel T7:
[top to bottom] EOS M50 with EF-M 22mm STM lens, EOS M50 with standard kit lens EF-M 15-45mm STM , EOS 200D/Rebel SL2 with 24mm pancake lens, EOS 2000D/1500D/Rebel T7with 18-55mm kit lens
Disadvantages
Access for external power is underneath the camera instead of at the side.
The external power cord connection for the M50 is on the camera base
Update February 2019
Canon have released firmware version 1.0.2 for the M50 which fixes the issues with triggering external flash. The new firmware can be downloaded from the Canon UK site (There was a bug in the original firmware of the Canon EOS M50 which meant that triggering an external flash or studio strobe via the hotshoe could be unreliable. We reported this bug to Canon, who have fixed it.)
Good for video: 200D/Rebel SL2, 800D/Rebel T7i
These cameras do everything the M50 can do except slow motion video. They are larger and heavier than the M50.
Excellent auto focus in live view
Suitable for video & have an external microphone socket
The 2000D/T7 is an update of the popular Canon EOS 1300D/Rebel T6 with a higher resolution 24 mega pixel sensor. Unfortunately Canon initially removed the center contact on the hotshoe. This means early versions of this camera cannot trigger most external flashes or studio strobes so is not recommended for photo booth use.
Tuesday 25th February. Canon announced at Photo Booth Expo that the EOS Rebel T7/2000D camera has been updated to add a center contact (X sync) on the hotshoe, making this a great budget choice for photo booth users. More details.
Canon EOS 4000D/3000D
Similar to the Canon EOS 1300D/Rebel T6 with the same 18 mega pixel sensor but cheaper build quality (plastic lens mount, fewer buttons, no remote release socket and no cable access for external power). This camera has no center contact on the hotshoe. This means the camera cannot trigger most external flashes or studio strobes so is not recommended for photo booth use.
Web cameras & iPad booths
This post does not cover booths powered by web cameras or the built-in cameras provided with iPads, laptops and tablets. The new Breeze Booth (iPad + iPhone) uses thedevice’s built in camera. Breeze Webcam Photobooth software will run a booth with either a webcam or built in camera in a Windows 10, 8 or 7 PC or laptop.
*This post has been updated in February 2020. As new cameras are introduced this post will inevitably become outdated.
Canon’s DSLR cameras can be set to auto focus (AF) or manual focus (MF). The auto focus setting is very convenient for photo booth operators, but when the camera cannot find anything to focus on it will not take a photo.
You may notice a long pause before the camera takes a photo. The focus motor whirrs and the camera lens moves as the camera tries to focus. Two different error messages may be displayed: ‘Unable to release shutter’ or ‘Unable to focus’.
Unable to release shutter
When setting up the booth the operator presses Release(F8) or Preview (F9) to check camera operation. No photo is taken and this error message is displayed:
DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 ‘Unable to release shutter’ error message
Unable to focus
After the countdown there is a long pause before the camera takes the first photo. The focus motor whirrs and the camera lens moves as the camera tries to focus. Eventually this message* is displayed:
DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 ‘Unable to focus!’ error message *
*Hint (localization)You can translate this message into your local language using the PhotoboothAfErrorMsg message in the configuration files
Why does this happen?
Usually the camera cannot focus because
there is not enough light
the booth is empty and has a plain background
guests are too close to the camera
the lens cap has not been removed
Autofocus works best with good lighting and guests positioned at the right distance from the camera. It may be improved by changing from a plain background. The most reliable solution is to switch the camera to manual focus.
How to make sure the camera will fire: Set the camera to manual focus
Exception : cameras with dual pixel AF. If your camera has dual pixel AF please see the Camera Settings section of the program help files. (At present the Canon EOS DSLR cameras with dual pixel AF are the Canon EOS 800D/Rebel T7i, 200D/Rebel SL2, 70D, 77D, 80D, 7D Mark II, 5D Mark IV and 6D Mark II*.)
*Support for the EOS 6D Mark II will be added to the next release of DSLR Remote Pro.
Simplest way to set the camera to manual focus
Set the AF/MF switch on the camera lens to the MF (manual focus) position.
Each time you set up the booth turn the focus ring on the camera lens until you see a sharp image on the PC live view display.
Canon REBEL T5 (1200D) showing AF/MF switch Photo by Kārlis Dambrāns (edited to highlight AF MF switch)
Use the screen on the back of the camera to set the custom function “C.Fn IV: Operations/Others – Shutter/AE lock button” to “1:AE lock/AF” (refer to your camera manual if necessary).
Customer function IV screen on Canon EOS 200D camera
This setting has the advantage that focus can still be adjusted remotely from the PC but auto focus won’t be used when taking a photo. The lens can be focused in fullscreen photobooth mode by typing Ctrl+A.
For more precise control of focus exit photobooth mode and type Ctrl+L to display the live view window. Then use the <<<, <<, <, >, >>, >> buttons or the mouse wheel to manually adjust the focus.
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When we first showed light painting in a bright exhibition hall at Photo Booth Expo 2016, the industry was amazed. This post explains how to use light painting at indoor venues with an open or closed booth using DSLR Remote Pro.
DSLR Remote Pro Multi Camera animated GIF (5 cameras). Flash with 3 second exposure.
What equipment do I need?
Camera
Photo booth software that lets you control the camera settings
Flash
Black backdrop
Lighting props
Camera: we recommend using a Canon DSLR camera. Webcams and iPads are not suitable because you need complete control over the exposure and settings (including aperture). This is not possible with a webcam or an IPad.
Photobooth software: The examples here use DSLR Remote Pro and DSLR Remote Pro Multi-Camera. You can use the same technique with other programs which allow you to control the camera settings.
DSLR Remote Pro with open photobooth at Photo Booth Expo 2017
Flash: You need a powerful flash to freeze the subject at the start of the exposure. We like to position the flash high up so that people are less likely to look directly at it and be dazzled by the light. The flash also acts as a cue to the guests to start light painting. Ask them to pose until the flash fires and then start moving the lights.
Black backdrop: the light trails show up best against a black background. If you have a light background you may get ghosting (dark shadows) when guests move around.
Lighting props: guests’ phones, colored torches, LED batons or more elaborate props such as pixel sticks.
How do I use DSLR Remote Pro to control the camera to create the light trails?
Use external flash mode
Set a slow shutter speed
Use a small aperture and low ISO to cut out ambient lighting
External flash mode: Run the photo booth setup wizard; select <Advanced Settings> and check the box to set external flash mode. If you also check ‘Mirror output images’ the words guests write with the lights will be reversed to read correctly:
DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Photobooth Settings screen: check boxes for External flash mode and Mirror Output Images highlighted
Shutter speed: You need an exposure of at least 1 second to create the light trails. We find between 2 and 3 seconds is best. (Guests start to run out of ideas with exposures longer than 3 seconds).
In the <Advanced Settings> screen select camera settings mode Bank 1, then click on the <Camera Settings> button to the right. This takes you to the camera settings screen. You need to adjust the Bank 1 settings for both taking photos and live view.
DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Photobooth Settings screen: select Bank 1 and click on <Camera Settings>
Camera settings: Start with exposure (Tv) set to 2″ (2 seconds), aperture (Av) 22, ISO 100 and white balance ‘flash’.
DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Camera Settings screen: Bank 1 ‘taking photos’ settings highlighted
Live view: Select Tv: bulb for a bright live view image and White balance: Auto (ambience) for reliable colors.
DSLR Remote Pro 3.7.3 Camera Settings screen: Bank 1 live view settings highlighted
In a brightly lit venue you may need to reduce the length of the exposure or use a screen to dim the ambient light.
Colored torches (DSLR Remote Pro with open photobooth)
The simplest props are guest’s own mobile phones and colored LED torches. A set of LED finger torches can be glued together.
LED baton (DSLR Remote Pro with open photobooth)
Our most popular props are made from LED lighting strips wound round a foam baton and powered by rechargeable batteries. Pixel sticks can be customized for branded events.
For more ideas search for specialist websites and articles such as these
