Using DSLR Camera Remote HD with a Nikon D7000 and a MacBook Air

Thanks to a gift card, I had $50 to blow on iTunes, and decided to grab a copy of DSLR Camera Remote HD by onOne Software, which is one of the pricier apps that I’ve had my eye on ever since I grabbed my Nikon D7000. This app allows you to use your iPad to remotely control your compatible DSLR camera, and even view what your camera sees live via your iPad, and focus on a particular part of what your camera is pointed at by simply touching the view on your iPad in that spot. It’s very cool.

However, it is limited by the fact that you have to have your DSLR connected to a computer for it to work. You also have to have special DSLR Camera Remote Server software running on your computer. Once I had all this set up, I still found it not connecting until I took a few extra steps. This was about 20 minutes of frustration for me, that I thought I’d write up here to save anyone else who grabs this software the trouble.

How to use DSLR Camera Remote HD with your DSLR

Step 1: Buy and install DSLR Camera Remote HD by onOne Software. If you don’t have an iPad, they also have an iPhone version: DSLR Camera Remote Professional Edition by onOne Software.
Step 2: Download and install the companion server software for your computer. On the App Store, onOne directs you to grab this software from this page but as you can see there’s no big “DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE” link and it looks like they sent you to the wrong place. It’s horrible website design. There’s a tab at the upper right that reads “Download Server”. This triggers a pop-up that requests your contact info and emails you a link to download the software. Lame. Skip all of those steps and just grab the software from their support page without giving them any of your information.
Step 3: You would think you would simply install both apps, connect your camera to your computer, and then launch both apps and it would work. It doesn’t. I was stuck waiting forever for the iPad app to connect to the server, even though it saw my computer. The solution? Create your own network just for this. On my Mac, I simply chose Create a Network, from my WiFi menubar drop down:

And then filled out this popup:
Step 4: Connect your iPad to the network you just set up by going to Settings—>WiFi and selecting the network.
Step 5: With your DSLR on and connected to your computer via USB, launch the DSLR Remote Server application:
Step 6: Launch DSLR Camera Remote HD on your iPad, turn Live View on and start taking pictures.