date and time sync with Q3 and FOTOS app

[andrewj]

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I haven't found documentation of this, but what is the expected behavior of date and time sync with the FOTOS app and the Q3?  I have Date & Time sync on, but when is that supposed to happen?  Only when I connect the FOTOS app and am able download images/control the camera?  Or does it automatically happen in the background when FOTOS is running in the background with Bluetooth connection on?  Right now the FOTOS app is connected in the background since it is automatically GPS tagging the pictures I'm taking.  However, the time is not being sync'd up with the iPhone's time.  I would expect that if it can apply the GPS information, it could also sync up the time as well.

[andrewj]

To follow up on this, I heard from Leica that the date and time sync only occurs when connecting by WiFi, not by Bluetooth.

[coleica]

Thanks for the information.  I know the connection is wifi at home, but when is it bluetooth?  The foto app does not even show up in my bluetooth device list.  The issue I am having with wifi, is that while the connection is in place I cannot share any pics from my iphone to the outside world.  Not a big deal.  Just a little bit of an inconvenience.  

[andrewj]

10 hours ago, coleica said:

Thanks for the information.  I know the connection is wifi at home, but when is it bluetooth?  The foto app does not even show up in my bluetooth device list.  The issue I am having with wifi, is that while the connection is in place I cannot share any pics from my iphone to the outside world.  Not a big deal.  Just a little bit of an inconvenience.  

To clarify, I meant the connection between e.g. the iPhone and the camera.  So the date and time sync will only work when the iPhone is actively connected to the Q by WiFi using the FOTOS app (and this is the connection that allows you to control the camera remotely and download the images from the Q to the iPhone).  I think Bluetooth is a connection that occurs in the background that allows the Q to grab the GPS information from the phone and geotag the photo taken.

[Qwertynm]

apart from the removable battery every camera has a small internal battery to keep the time and other settings on hand. Just like this little cell battery on the mainboard of every PC. If you're not constantly flying trough time zones, once set up on the camera, the Q3 should be able to keep the time fairly accurate over long periods of time without syncing it with the phone I'd assume. Is your experience different?

Edited March 20, 2024 by Qwertynm

[haelio]

This seems like a missed opportunity. Surely date/timezone data can be sent via Bluetooth... On my Sony cameras, connecting via Bluetooth for GPS tagging also syncs the camera's clock to GPS time.

Edited March 21, 2024 by haelio

[Qwertynm]

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tell them here: customer.care@leica-camera.com

[dnease]

I recently traveled to Italy from the US, and looking at my timestamps for my first few photos my Denver timezone was retained, but after that things switched over. This was before I’d connected the Fotos app to download any of the photos. So, not sure how it’s happening, via Bluetooth or WiFi, but it seems to be automatic.

[andrewj]

To follow up on this, I thought the issue was resolved.  But lately, I've noticed that the time is not syncing, even after manually connecting using the Fotos app.  I'm using version 4.4.1 on Fotos with firmware 2.01 on the Q3.  Anyone else experiencing similar issues?