Pulse – The Best Remote Control for your DSLR Camera!
One would find a number of occasions when you would actually want to control your camera remotely especially while clicking selfies and group shots. Even those interested in shooting time lapses, and the like will always need a remote to control their camera from a distance.
Pulse is a new remote camera trigger brought to you by Alpine Labs suitable enough to control Canon and Nikon DSLRs remotely. One can wirelessly control the shutter and even make changes to the settings including ISO control, aperture settings and shutter speed from their smartphone itself. It can even control the mirrorless camera from a smartphone.
The Remote Yet Useful Pulse Advantage
Many new cameras already boast of built-in Wi-Fi, allowing the camera to be paired with a smartphone to be controlled remotely through the Pulse. Here is a list of advantages of using Pulse:
- It pairs with different smartphones using the low-energy Bluetooth as a medium to connect to about 100 feet.
- It allows quicker pairings and one does not have to punch in menus to check for Wi-Fi connection thus reducing the drain on camera battery.
- Unlike other remote triggers, the Pulse can plug into a USB port of the camera and adjust the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture settings.
- It does offer a live view setting for easy control on what is being shot along with control on video settings.
- The app can also warn about issues and potential problems before the shot including low camera battery alerts.
- The Pulse app can be used for quick shooting of stills, videos, or even time-lapse clips.
- The remote trigger has a clean and a very simple interface and can be connected to the DSLR through its hot-shoe.
Many cameras have built-in wireless features and many don’t. Pulse though is designed to deliver remote control functions to most of the Canon and Nikon DSLRs. The makers have previously worked on Michron, and Radian 2 time-lapse devices.
Compatibility with Many Devices and Boasts of Many Features
Pulse connects to a camera’s USB port and is compatible with 60+ Canon and Nikon cameras and controllable with an iOS or Android smartphone. The slim Pulse dongle can fit in with the hot-shoe on a camera and can allow access to camera settings through Bluetooth connectivity. Users can trigger the shutter for clicking photos, and even adjust relevant settings with absolute creative control. Sometimes it is not possible for photographers to be near to their camera; that is when the Pulse comes into action.
While the Bluetooth connection cannot work a live preview, one can view some of the thumbnail images after clicking photos. The Pulse also allows users control video recording and even shoot a series of shots in specific intervals especially to shoot time-lapse videos. There are features like exposure ramping along with other controls for managing seamless and efficient day-to-night transitions.
The duration of the time-lapse and the period of opening of the shutter are some of the things under control with the app. The transition info is noted as part of the EXIF data.
Feedback to the Pulse and its Charge
The makers received huge feedback from their users and backers stating that mobile-enabled wireless camera control has helped them click shoot time lapses, and the Pulse feels like a natural extension to their camera’s aesthetic and function.
The Pulse app can give control on three cameras on a simultaneous basis if each has their own Pulse device. Hence wedding photographers or even short film independent filmmakers can work solo without having the need for more cinematographers.
The Pulse is currently raising funds through the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform, and has garnered its goal and double the amount too! With an early bird price of $69, it is getting a lot of backers. A backing of $350 would land a prototype or the production version. The company had resorted to crowdfunding even for their time-lapse products and the makers reveal that their printed circuit board meant for Radian 2 allowed for Pulse’s swift development.
Nisarg is the Business Development Manager at Nimblechapps, a top mobile game development company and has been with the organisation since its inception in 2014. He likes to update his knowledge on changing trends in technology and marketing and pens his thoughts regarding the same on various blogs and LinkedIn.