Video Capture

General Operation

Canon cameras can only capture video to the camera's memory card and with live view enabled. To capture video with Multi-Camera first make sure each camera has a memory card with sufficient free space and the camera is setup for video capture (please see below for information on how to setup each camera model for video capture). While it is possible to use a mixture of different camera models it is simpler if all the cameras are the same model.

Next, "Multi Live View" should be selected from the "Camera" menu and the "Rec" button pressed to start and stop video capture. During video capture a small red circle together with the approximate duration of the video is displayed in the bottom left corner of each live view image. At the end of video capture a small thumbnail file will be downloaded to Multi-Camera and displayed in the main window. This thumbnail file has a .THM file extension and is for identification purposes only.

The main .MOV or .MP4 movie file is stored on the camera's memory card. To download the movie file to the PC first close the live view window and then either select "Download movies..." from the Camera menu or right click on the thumbnail image and select "Download movie". After a movie file has been successfully downloaded it can be automatically deleted from the memory card to free up space (by selecting the option to delete movie files in Preferences). The memory cards of all connected cameras can also be formatted by selecting "Format memory card..." from the Camera menu. Please use this option with care as it will erase the memory card and any images or movies that have not been downloaded will be lost.

When using two cameras and starting the video capture by pressing the "Rec" button in the live view window the video on both cameras should be synchronized to within approximately 1/10 second at the start. Because each camera pauses while it finishes writing the video to the memory card at the end of video capture the ends of the videos will not be accurately synchronized.

More accurate synchronization can be achieved with the Canon EOS-1D C, Canon EOS-1D X or Canon EOS 5D Mark III by starting and stopping video capture using the camera's shutter release and triggering all the cameras via their remote release sockets. Please see this page on our website for more information on triggering cameras. To enable this the cameras need to be setup so that the shutter release button is configured to start/stop video capture (please see the camera instruction manual for details on how to set this up). The 5D Mark III must also be set to movie mode by setting the movie/camera switch to the movie position.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Please note that 720p 120fps fast video mode is not supported in Multi-Camera. If this setting is used the camera may lock up and will need to be turned off and the battery removed to reset it.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Please use firmware version 2.0.4 or later for the best results. The latest camera firmware can be downloaded from Canon's website.

In the camera settings the live view function setting should be set to "Stills+movie" and the screen settings should be set to "Movie display". The "Movie rec. size" should be set to the required resolution and frame rate as these cannot be set remotely from the PC.

Select "Multi Live View" in Multi-Camera (e.g. by typing Shift+Ctrl+L) and the live view window will be displayed. This will show shaded areas defining the frame extent either above and below the image if 1920x1080 resolution is selected or to the left and right if 640x480 resolution is selected. Press on the "Rec" button to start recording a video clip and a red circle together with the duration of the video will appear in the bottom left corner of the live view display for each camera. Press the "Rec" button again to stop recording - the red circle and video duration will disappear and a small thumbnail will be automatically downloaded to the PC and displayed in the main DSLR Remote Pro window.

The camera's LCD needs to be turned on in order to use the camera's controls to capture video. This can be done by pressing the live view button on the camera. The "Set" button can now be used to start and stop recording.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EOS 6D, Canon EOS 70D and Canon EOS 7D

These cameras have a dedicated movie/camera switch on the back of the camera. If this switch is in the movie position when the camera is switched on the start/stop button needs to be pressed in order to be able to use live view. Videos can be captured from the PC with the movie/camera switch in either position, but can only be controlled using the camera's start/stop button if the movie/camera switch is in the movie position. The various options are described below:

Movie/camera switch in the movie position when camera turned on: run Multi-Camera and press the start/stop button on the camera once it has connected to the camera. Videos can be started by pressing the start/stop button on the camera and stopped by pressing the start/stop button again. Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting "Multi Live View" (e.g. by typing Shift+Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

Movie/camera switch in the camera position when camera turned on: video can be captured from the PC by selecting  "Multi Live View" (e.g. by typing Shift+Ctrl+L) and clicking on the "Video" button. The live view images will display shaded areas defining the video extent and the video resolution and frame rate will be displayed in the live view window title bar. Press on the "Rec" button to start recording video and again to stop recording.

Canon EOS 100D/Rebel SL1, Canon EOS 700D/Rebel T5i, Canon EOS 650D/Rebel T4i, EOS 600D/Rebel T3i, EOS 1200D/Rebel T5, EOS 1100D/Rebel T3, EOS 550D/Rebel T2i and Canon EOS 60D

The EOS 100D/Rebel SL1, EOS 700D/Rebel T5i, EOS 650D/Rebel T4i, EOS 600D/Rebel T3i, EOS 1200D/Rebel T5, EOS 1100D/Rebel T3, EOS 550D/Rebel T2i and EOS 60D have a dedicated movie setting on the camera's exposure mode dial. Videos can be captured from the PC with the exposure mode dial set to any setting, but can only be controlled using the camera's record button if the exposure dial is set to the movie position.

If the camera's exposure mode dial is set to the movie position video capture can be started by pressing the record button on the camera and stopped by pressing the record button again.Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting "Multi Live View" (e.g. by typing Shift+Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

If the camera's exposure mode dial is not set to the movie position video capture can only be controlled from the PC. To do this first select "Multi Live View (e.g. by typing Shift+Ctrl+L) and then press the "Video" button. The live view images will display shaded areas defining the video extent and the video resolution and frame rate will be displayed in the live view window title bar. Press on the "Rec" button to start recording video and again to stop recording.

Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i

The EOS 500D/Rebel T1i has a dedicated movie setting on the camera's exposure mode dial and this must be set to the movie position in order to be able to capture video. Please note that the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i cannot be used for video capture from a PC without having access to the camera's controls. In order to capture videos you must have access the camera to either turn the exposure mode dial to the movie setting or to press the "Rec" button.

Exposure mode dial is set to the movie position when the camera is turned on: run Multi-Camera and press the start/stop button on the camera once it has connected to the camera. If the "Save to camera only" option is selected in Multi-Camera videos can be started by pressing the start/stop button on the camera and stopped by pressing the start/stop button again. Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting "Multi Live View" (e.g. by typing Shift+Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

Exposure mode dial not set to the movie position when the camera is turned on: when Multi-Camera is run normal live view operation is available but video capture is not possible. To enable video capture turn the exposure mode dial to the movie position. If the "Save to camera only" option is selected in Multi-Camera videos can be started by pressing the start/stop button on the camera and stopped by pressing the start/stop button again. Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting "Multi Live View" (e.g. by typing Shift+Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

Trouble shooting

If "busy" is displayed on the camera's LCD when the "Rec" or "Start/Stop" button is pressed it means that movie mode needs to be selected on the camera (either by turning the exposure mode dial to movie or by setting the movie/camera switch to movie).

If nothing happens when "Rec" or "Start/Stop" button is pressed on the camera please try selecting the "Save to camera only" option in Multi-Camera' Camera menu.

If the live view window does not display live view images you may need to press the "Rec" or "Start/Stop" button on the camera.