Leica Fotos (Pro) {merged}

[scott kirkpatrick]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've now got FOTOS 2.1 on both Android and iPad platforms, carefully avoiding invoking the $50 Pro features.  But I haven't been able to connect any of these to my SL2 yet, after an hour or so of trying.

There are two claims to test --- you can have two chips in an SL2 now, and geolocation works using only BTLE, which will save a lot of battery time. Please share experiences, stating what operating system and phone/tablet you are using.  I think we may all still be beta testers for a bit longer.

There's a pit that I keep falling into with an SL2, in which I end up with BT OFF and can't turn it back on.  Has anyone else encountered that state?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[scott kirkpatrick]

OK, I tried an easy one first with Fotos 2.1.  Connected to my M10-D from a Moto=G 7 (Android).  Connection works (to make sure, I deleted the earlier camera information, reacquired the QR code) as long as I started the connection just as the green LED stopped flashing.  You can make about a dozen internal settings on the M10-D using the "settings" > "Setup" path of Fotos.  M10 and M10-P owners may want to try this.  Drive mode is one of them, but although you can set continuous shooting, bracketing, and 2 or 12 sec delay this way, pressing the shutter in Fotos Remote only gives you an immediate single shot.  It has been this way, so with an M10-D, where the only way to set these controls is via Fotos, you just set them and then press the shutter on the M10-D.  Other M10 owners may want to see more function.

[wlaidlaw]

I have just heard back from CC App Support at Leica re my request for Fotos support for the C112 camera. Apparently for technical reasons, this is not possible but they may look again at some future date (Porker squadron fuelled and ready for take off 😀). In that case I would suggest making the Leica C Image Shuttle app available again on the Apple app store internationally, so those of us still using C112 cameras, have an option for remote control and image access from iOS devices. I have one of my phones where I managed to track down a legacy copy of version 2.2.0 and back load it from an encrypted back up to my iPhone SE. I can confirm it does run and work in the latest operating system of 13.4.1, so there is no technical reason it could not be made available again. I have replied to CC App Support along those lines. 

Wilson

[w44neg]

I tried the Fotos App the other day. Here are my thoughts:

1. it's quicker than most other camera brands to get going. Not perfect, but fast enough if you pre-plan.
2. The focusing method is poor. I haven't tested whether it works with the camera in manual focus, but I found if I touch the screen, it focuses on that point, even with the camera's lens set to zone focusing/manual mode
3. There is no histogram on the app. Judging your exposure isn't easy but thankfully the RAW files can save a lot of mishaps
4. If you set the frame lines to say 35mm on the camera body (I use Q2) and then go in to the app on the phone, the 35mm frame remains, but it's impossible to now change this to 28mm, 50mm etc
5. If I wanted video features, and by the looks of it, nothing more than that, I'm expected to pay £49/year. What. a. joke.

Honestly, it still feels like the App is in BETA testing, and not even Alpha. I love you Leica, but there are so many shortcomings here, it's almost embarrassing compared to other manufacturers.

Sure, simplicity is carried in to the app, but if I bought a Q2 with the frame lines in mind, at least let me jump between them, and let me see my histogram while you're at it.

[jake-leica]

Throwing this in here ...

I actually quite like the app.  Love video preview on an iPad, see what’s in frame, change exposure, is brilliant.  
 

And so much better than what Canon offers for “free”. 
 

Does app development cost a bunch of money, on an ongoing basis?  Is Leica a fairly small, boutique camera brand?  Should we expect free stuff for buying a camera, maybe ongoing free straps and cases?  😉

I for one, totally fine paying a few bucks to support this app development, especially since it’s useful to me. 

[snooper]

38 minutes ago, jake-leica said:

Does app development cost a bunch of money, on an ongoing basis?

The best iOS / Android team you can find in India is about $3500 per month, you'd need 6 months to build a Fotos equivalent, the only difference with a European development being the fact that it would probably cost 10 times more and would probably be slow, and not be working properly.

Wait a minute... Expensive AND not working properly ? Reminds me of an app... 

Edited September 5, 2020 by snooper

[jake-leica]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

9 minutes ago, snooper said:

The best iOS / Android team you can find in India is about $3500 per month, you'd need 6 months to build a Fotos equivalent, the only difference with a European development being the fact that it would probably cost 10 times more and would probably be slow, and not be working properly.

Wait a minute... Expensive AND not working properly ? Reminds me of an app... 

That’s just not true.  One of my own companies relies on an iOS app and we have tried many Indian developers - you’re not getting quality work at $3,500 a month.  Not even remotely close.

Also Leica is probably supporting the local economy more than India’s.  

App works great for me.  Price isn’t cheap but certainly not out of line for features that enable pro workflows. 

 

 

 

[snooper]

We have 2 apps out there and as everyone does we had them developed in India except for the UI / graphic part. The prices I gave above are indeed for the best team. You can find much cheaper.

Fotos is a file management. It takes files from the camera (unless the wifi part on the camera is proprietary, it is not a big deal) and uses standard sdk calls to transfer these files to the device. Once there, it creates a pipe (fifo) and calls the launch of Adobe indicating Lightroom (providing you paid your Adobe licence) where the files are. Once again, using iOS / Android standard calls. The only code you need to write is the opening of a directory and then give access to Adobe.

I doubt the "remote" part of the app is the one justifying the €50 per year. You have access with your iPhone on the free version, meaning that it was found logical to "offer" the buyer of a $5 to $10k camera (and a $20K system) a remote control that DJI, GoPro, etc. are offering on a $300 device. I know, we should be grateful and thankful for this "fantastic remote" which takes years to connect and which resets your camera settings (try it!) but no, this is not a proper remote because it looses connexion, and yes, all of your current settings are gone as soon as your iPhone is (at last) connected (shooting mode, aperture, speed...)

If you want to try, we are enough people here with proper wallets to be crowd-funding a real app that would work with any Leica camera. We need to raise 10K, maybe 15k and send that to some developers in India. You'd get your app with the same features than Fotos in 1 month, and much better features after maybe 3 months. After all we are (a very small) part of Leica's "crowd-funders" being the bozos paying $50 for an app.