Leica CL App

[David Campbell]

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I cannot conceal my amazement at the unbelievably poor Leica app - it is just not worth using - I have contacted Leica who confirm I am using it correctly, but there is nothing they can do at the moment!!

 

I set up the CL camera on a tripod, selected the picture, set ISO, focus, aperture and exposure. I then on the camera went into menu, WLAN, setup, then select the one of three options for the correct Wifi.

I then went into my iPhone, selected Leica CL app,& it then connected to the camera.

 

At this point the image on the camera disappeared, and the only image was on the iPhone, together with camera settings details - why it has this I don’t know, because you cannot do anything to change the settings & it would be better if the image was still on the camera.

 

However, I pressed the shutter button on the iPhone & it took the picture.

 

But, now the next major problem arises that you have to disconnect the Leica app in order to take another picture, so then have to go through all the same tortuous procedure of setting it all up again to just take one more picture!  Apart from this, the CL camera is great.

 

 

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[eraydinc]

I sent an e-mail for all Leica Software department.

 

Please send e-mail to Leica with your problem.

 

 

My e-mail was like this [emoji4]

 

Bugs

 

-Review picture with lots of noise (When you make a zoom in play menu on picture, noises are gone. But first impression of picture with too noise.

 

-With a M lens mounted, A-mode and AutoISO set, ISO remains stuck at 100.

In M-mode ISO varies as one would expect.

With a TL lens mounted and manual focus set, ISO also varies as one would expect.

One can still set ISO manually. (Leica Forums general problem)

 

-When I in so dark area and want to manuel focus, EVF make digital zoom for easy focus but getting so so dark like a black.

 

Improving Features

 

-Full Manuel Settings in video program

 

-Non-cropping 4K video (Full APSC area)

 

-4K 25p, 4K 24p, 4K 30p video framerate selection

 

-120p slowmotion video

 

-Digital Zoom selection in video mode

 

-Stop Motion Animation

 

-EVF Display Style settings

 

-Monitor Display Style Settings

 

-Icon style Favorites menu

 

-Seeing all ISO options (100-200-400-800 etc..) in one screen.

 

-Remaining Display Settings (Recordable Pic or video time)

 

-Touchscreen menu system

 

-CL App is not work well. We need a monitoring system like a D-Lux App.

 

-Turkish Language

 

 

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Edited February 9, 2018 by eraydinc

[mhoutman]

+1

 

Send a mail to Leica software support too.

 

Involved in ipS app development, I must admit that the CL App - except for missing many options/features - has worst implementation for both connection and usability.

 

How awkward that you need to save an iOS Profile to keep the CL in memory and renew connection again and again. Wi-Fi connection should be continuous. (with some more energy consumption).

 

 

IOS version currently lacks iPhone X support.

[thighslapper]

 

I cannot conceal my amazement at the unbelievably poor Leica app - it is just not worth using - I have contacted Leica who confirm I am using it correctly, but there is nothing they can do at the moment!!

 

I set up the CL camera on a tripod, selected the picture, set ISO, focus, aperture and exposure. I then on the camera went into menu, WLAN, setup, then select the one of three options for the correct Wifi.

I then went into my iPhone, selected Leica CL app,& it then connected to the camera.

 

At this point the image on the camera disappeared, and the only image was on the iPhone, together with camera settings details - why it has this I don’t know, because you cannot do anything to change the settings & it would be better if the image was still on the camera.

 

However, I pressed the shutter button on the iPhone & it took the picture.

 

But, now the next major problem arises that you have to disconnect the Leica app in order to take another picture, so then have to go through all the same tortuous procedure of setting it all up again to just take one more picture!  Apart from this, the CL camera is great.

 

 

 oh dear ...... I don't think you have got the hang of this at all....

 

the app is to take photos via a phone/tablet INSTEAD of changing the parameters on the camera.

 

the app on the phone gives you remote access to everything you need ..... just touch the relevant bit on the phone screen and adjust. If it doesn't work there is something odd going on. 

 

as long as you turn off any auto-off settings on the camera and stay within range you can keep going till the battery is flat .... which it does tend to do quite quickly on the CL. 

[David Campbell]

Many thanks for the comments. I appreciate that you can make adjustments using the phone, except you do not get the under/over exposure results, so you are just guessing - not good for me.

I really want to enjoy using my lovely camera, not bugger about on an iphone!

I really believe that most people will just want as I do - a wifi connection that just operates the shutter & nothing else, particularly as this camera does not have shake reduction.

I sent my comments to Leica who did not disagree with what I was saying & said "The app is constantly evolving to ensure new features and easier handling." So I look forward to change.

Thanks again for all your comments

[thighslapper]

.... well.... I don't think it was ever designed as a remote shutter release.

 

I suppose it would be handy to have a simple app that just does that and nothing else ...... or a small dedicated WiFi remote. (hint, hint, Leica .....  )

 

If you have it on a tripod to avoid shake then the 2 sec timed release is a better option. 

[mhoutman]

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Many thanks for the comments. I appreciate that you can make adjustments using the phone, except you do not get the under/over exposure results, so you are just guessing - not good for me.

I really want to enjoy using my lovely camera, not bugger about on an iphone!

I really believe that most people will just want as I do - a wifi connection that just operates the shutter & nothing else, particularly as this camera does not have shake reduction.

I sent my comments to Leica who did not disagree with what I was saying & said "The app is constantly evolving to ensure new features and easier handling." So I look forward to change.

Thanks again for all your comments

 

Making and designing apps is not Leica's core business, that said this is perhaps done external. I don' know any of their other apps but they probably share the same protocol for connection etc.

 

The very best apps are simple to use, have a GUI which everybody understands (intuitive) and are rock solid..

 

Leica have some challenge here

Edited February 10, 2018 by mhoutman

[Mark Pope]

I have just installed the app on my iPhone 7.  I used to think that a camera with WiFi capability was a bit of a gimmick but given that there is no other way of firing the camera remotely, I thought I would give it a go.  A free wireless cable release with some added knobs and whistles.  I'm happy with that.  Until my phone battery runs down when I am out and about...

[Jared]

 

I cannot conceal my amazement at the unbelievably poor Leica app - it is just not worth using - I have contacted Leica who confirm I am using it correctly, but there is nothing they can do at the moment!!

 

I set up the CL camera on a tripod, selected the picture, set ISO, focus, aperture and exposure. I then on the camera went into menu, WLAN, setup, then select the one of three options for the correct Wifi.

I then went into my iPhone, selected Leica CL app,& it then connected to the camera.

 

At this point the image on the camera disappeared, and the only image was on the iPhone, together with camera settings details - why it has this I don’t know, because you cannot do anything to change the settings & it would be better if the image was still on the camera.

 

However, I pressed the shutter button on the iPhone & it took the picture.

 

But, now the next major problem arises that you have to disconnect the Leica app in order to take another picture, so then have to go through all the same tortuous procedure of setting it all up again to just take one more picture!  Apart from this, the CL camera is great.

 

 

 

 

There is definitely something strange going on with your configuration.  My experiences do not match yours (as far as how the app works on an iPhone).  Here is how it works for me, and I just double checked it to be sure:

 

- In the camera I go to WLAN-->Function and select "Connect to App"

- In the iPhone, I go to my WiFi settings and connect to the camera.  It remembers the password and so on from the last time I connected

- In the iPhone I launch the "Leica CL" app and wait a few seconds for it to find the camera, then "tap to connect"

- in the iPhone I press the "Remote Camera Control" button

- The image preview moves from the camera to the iPhone

 

So far, I think this is the same as your experience.  From here out, my experience is different.  

- I can adjust all camera settings (PASM mode, aperture, ISO, EV compensation, white balance, etc.)

- I can change AF mode

- The default AF is touch AF and the touch point shows on my iPhone and reacts to wherever I press on the display on the phone

- I can take as many pictures as I want with the shutter release on the phone

 

When I am done, I click on "Home" and "Disconnect" and the camera returns to normal.

 

It's more button presses than I would want in an ideal world, but it certainly works as expected, and I get full camera control without needing to re-connect.  About the only things I would want them to change... It would be nice if the "Connect by QR code" could automatically switch over my WiFi connection and connect the camera rather than just setting up a WiFi connection on the phone that I then need to choose manually.  Also, I don't know why, once it recognizes the camera on the network, I still need to "tap to connect".  That seems superfluous.  Maybe protecting against more than one Leica CL in the room?  Seems pretty remote, and I'm only going to have a WiFi connection setup for my own camera, surely.  Just a needless button press.  The one other thing I think it is missing is the ability to download DNG files from the camera to the phone.  iPhones can read DNG files (the built in camera actually stores its raw images as DNG's), and I can use Mobile Lightroom to edit the DNG's on the phone.  Why will it only transfer JPG's?  

 

Aside from those minor issues, I find it works quite well.  I can fully control the camera.  I can take all the pics I want.  And I can download images from the camera over WiFi (though slooowwwwlllly) to the phone.  

[Jared]

.... well.... I don't think it was ever designed as a remote shutter release.

 

I suppose it would be handy to have a simple app that just does that and nothing else ...... or a small dedicated WiFi remote. (hint, hint, Leica .....  )

 

If you have it on a tripod to avoid shake then the 2 sec timed release is a better option. 

 

It actually works OK as a remote shutter release, but the more common use case for me is actually to get images off the camera and into the phone so I can text or email them to people without waiting to get home.  Useful for things like kids' sporting events when my wife wants play-by-play while she's at work.  It's not super fast or anything, but if I need to get the images (JPG's only, unfortunately) from the camera into a mobile device it's fine and avoids the need for a "lightning" connector dongle.

[scott kirkpatrick]

My experience with the app (Android model) is the same.  Fussy to set up the wireless link, but it gets easier with practice.  Then you can use it continuously.  And everything shuts off without side effects.

[Mark Pope]

I used the app (apple) in the field for the first time today.  Connecting to the camera was easy - just turn wi-fi on, go to settings in the phone to connect to the CL'a network, open the app and connect.

It was pretty useful and I can see me using as a remote shutter release when I have the camera mounted on a tripod.  Being able to see what the viewfinder sees was also very useful.

 

So for me, a hit!