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Sony has released a new software development kit (SDK) that allows third-party developers to control some selected Sony cameras. The SDK will offer remote access to key camera controls and still image data, including adjustment of shooting parameters, shutter release and a live view image.
The company says the decision to offer an SDK was made after ‘extensive interest in their camera lineup from commercial customers.’ Sony also believes this kind of camera control capabilities should appeal to companies from a variety of sectors, including security and entertainment.
‘The customer’s voice is absolutely critical to all aspects of our business,” said Neal Manowitz, Deputy President of Sony Imaging Products and Solutions Americas. “After receiving many requests, we’re excited to finally be able to open our platform in this manner. Companies will now be able to custom develop applications to control our cameras remotely, allowing them to take full advantage of the many innovations in Sony’s lineup including industry-leading autofocus, shooting speeds and much more. Ultimately, this gives professional clients the ability to create new and different imaging experiences unlike anything that’s been done before.’
Telemetrics Inc. is a company that specializes in robotics and camera control systems and one of the first to use the new SDK. One of its products is a weather-resistant camera housing unit on a remotely controlled pan/tilt head that is compatible with some of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. Customers include users in broadcast, production, sports and education companies.
To start with the SDK supports Sony’s Alpha 7R iV and Alpha 9 II high-end camera bodies but the company says it is planning to expand support in the future. Users of the current Camera Remote API will have to switch to the new SDK or look for other alternatives as Sony will close it down.
Press release:
Sony Electronics Announces New Camera Software Development Kit (SDK) for Third Party Developers and Integrators
New SDK Enables Remote Control of Sony Cameras for a Variety of Professional and Commercial Application
SAN DIEGO – Feb 11, 2020 – Sony today has announced the release of a new software development kit (SDK) that enables third party developers and integrators to access control of Sony cameras.
Sony, the industry leader in both full-frame and mirrorless cameras, is releasing the SDK based on extensive interest in their camera lineup from commercial customers.
“The customer’s voice is absolutely critical to all aspects of our business,” said Neal Manowitz, Deputy President of Sony Imaging Products and Solutions Americas. “After receiving many requests, we’re excited to finally be able to open our platform in this manner. Companies will now be able to custom develop applications to control our cameras remotely, allowing them to take full advantage of the many innovations in Sony’s lineup including industry-leading autofocus, shooting speeds and much more. Ultimately, this gives professional clients the ability to create new and different imaging experiences unlike anything that’s been done before.”
With the new SDK, key camera controls and still image data captured will be available for remote access, including adjustment of camera settings, shutter release and live view monitoring. These control capabilities are appealing to the workflow of a wide variety of industries including security, entertainment and many others.
One of the companies that have a high expectation of Sony’s SDK is Telemetrics Inc., a company that specializes in robotics and camera control systems, selling complete packages including a weather resistant housing unit on a remotely controlled pan/tilt head compatible with select Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. Telemetrics, Inc. sells to a wide variety of clients including broadcast, production, sports and education companies.
“Combining our expertise in robotics and camera control with the impressive capabilities of Sony’s Alpha camera technology will allow us to create some especially unique solutions for capturing live sports entertainment, which include the newly introduced PT-CP-S5 Compact Pan/Tilt Head and the WP-HOU-A9 Camera Housing unit,” said Michael Cuomo, Vice President of Telemetrics, Inc. “We’ve been thrilled with the results and are extremely excited at the potential for future integration with our systems.”
Initially, the Camera Remote SDK will support Alpha 7R IV and Alpha 9 II bodies, with plans to gradually expand the lineup of supported cameras hereafter[i]. The Camera Remote SDK is available now and can be downloaded from https://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/app/sdk/en/index.html on Sony’s website.
The current Camera Remote API’s provision will be closed following this new release of the new Camera Remote SDK and its support will be terminated[ii].
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)