Camera Configuration

Explanation: CAPP is built against the Canon EOS SDK. Canon mirrorless cameras (R-series) provide the most reliable tethered workflow. Sony / Nikon / Fujifilm are technically supportable via shutter-cable dumb-trigger mode but lose the tethered experience.

Explanation: Mirrorless Canon bodies (R1, R3, R5, R6, R7, R8, R10, R50, R100) are the recommended path. They retain the SLR advantages (interchangeable lenses, large sensor) with smaller, lighter bodies and better software-driver support.

Explanation: USB 3.0 is the minimum. Slower interfaces (USB 2.0) cause the robot to wait for image downloads, slowing the entire production process. The cable must also be direct camera-to-computer with no USB hub.

Explanation: USB hubs are never recommended for the camera connection. Hubs share bandwidth, introduce variable latency, and have known compatibility issues with camera disconnections. Always connect the camera directly to a USB port on the computer.

Explanation: The 7-point baseline includes: factory reset, Mode dial = M, Lens = AF, Lens stabilizer = OFF (no shake on a stationary studio rig), Auto power off = Disable (no sleep during production), Live View exposure simulation = Disable, Custom controls baseline. Aperture Priority robs CAPP of exposure control; stabilizer adds vibration on tethered rigs; auto power off disconnects the camera mid-shoot.

Explanation: With the exception of the EOS R3, all EOS-R series cameras refuse to fire flash when in Electronic Shutter mode. The R6 is one of the affected bodies. Switch to Mechanical Shutter. (The full 5-step checklist: Speedlite control flash firing / Live View blocking on DSLRs / EOS Utility tethered / Electronic Shutter on R-series / Silent Shutter forcing Electronic.)

Explanation: Production studios use a “dummy battery” — a battery-shaped insert with a DC cable trailing to an AC adapter. Continuous AC power eliminates mid-shoot battery swaps and “low battery” interruptions. Internal batteries are only acceptable for short / mobile shoots.

Explanation: The recommendation is no less than 18 MPx, ideally 24-50 MPx. Below 18 MPx, fine product detail suffers. Above ~50 MPx, transmission and processing times dominate over visible quality gain. The sweet spot is 24-50 MPx for most product photography.

Explanation: PhotoRobot’s own testing of R8 vs 5DSR (24 MPx vs 50 MPx) shows the difference is invisible at default web zoom and only marginally visible at full mobile zoom. For e-commerce / web / mobile workflows the R8 is the right choice — it’s faster end-to-end, cheaper to store, and visually indistinguishable from higher-MPx alternatives at the customer’s viewing context.

Explanation: APS-C sensors have a crop factor of approximately 1.6×. A 50mm lens on an APS-C body behaves like an 80mm lens on a full-frame body — narrower field of view, more “zoomed in.” This is why APS-C bodies require wider lenses (or higher F-numbers + more light) to match full-frame results in product photography.

Explanation: Wi-Fi is NOT supported for sequence shooting — too slow, too unstable. Wi-Fi is acceptable only for supplemental handheld shots (close-ups, macro detail added to a Stills folder). For the equivalent handheld workflow with better reliability, use the PhotoRobot Touch iPhone app (B18).

Explanation: Video mode requires a memory card in the camera (the camera buffers video locally before transfer). All other settings stay the same as stills — leave Mode dial on Manual; CAPP will switch the camera to the correct movie mode automatically when a Video folder is selected.