Can I tether and trigger multiple Canon DSLR cameras from one computer at the same time?
Asked 7/3/2015
5 views
2 answers
0
I want to connect several Canon DSLR cameras to a computer so that one action on the computer triggers them all and saves the images to the computer. I'm working in C# and can currently connect only one camera at a time. Is simultaneous multi-camera tethering possible over USB, and if not, what are the practical alternatives?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
2
You can use digiCamControl to connect multiple cameras and control it in same time, but you can't trigger multiple cameras in same time via USB connection will be a lag between cameras capture around 200-800 ms.
If you want do same programmatically you can use the CameraControl.Devices nuget package for it
Originally by user11597. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user11597
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, you can tether multiple cameras to one computer, but true simultaneous triggering over USB is generally not reliable. Based on the answers, Canon SDK-based control is typically limited to one camera connection at a time, or requires handling each camera separately, which introduces delay.
Tools such as digiCamControl can control multiple cameras from one PC, and the CameraControl.Devices package may help if you're building this in C#. However, USB triggering across multiple cameras will usually have noticeable lag between bodies—roughly a few hundred milliseconds rather than perfect sync.
If your needs are simple, gPhoto2 may also work for basic capture-and-download tasks. More advanced custom control would require low-level USB communication rather than relying on the Canon SDK.
If you need near-simultaneous capture, the practical solution is usually separate triggering hardware rather than USB-only control. Running separate virtual machines/OS instances per camera is another possible workaround, but it is resource-heavy and not ideal.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI11y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Can I wirelessly tether three Canon cameras to one laptop at the same time?
Can I trigger many cameras at once from a single remote, and what kind of cameras do I need?
Can I control a Canon camera from a computer and run CHDK scripts remotely?
How can I get images from multiple Canon 6D cameras onto one computer during a shoot?
Can a PC control multiple cameras at the same time?