Canon announces new Wireless File Transmitter units for latest pro models, enables DSLR hive-minding
By Tim Stevens 
posted January 7th 2010 10:31AM
posted January 7th 2010 10:31AM
Canon's 5D Mark II, 7D, and 1D Mark IV have all been released within the past year, more or less, and now they're finally getting the WFT treatment. Canon's Wireless File Transmitter units naturally enable the wireless beaming of pictures from camera to computer, but this latest generation adds some new functionality. 802.11a joins the b and g modes found on earlier models, and once connected the camera can act as an FTP site (available over the internet, if you wish), can beam a realtime preview image to a connected computer, act as a DLNA server, and can even synchronize itself with up to 10 "slave" cameras that all fire at the same time. Naturally this kind of tech won't come cheap, with the 5D's WFT-E4 II A and 7D's WFT-E5A costing $699 (no price yet for the 1D Mark IV's WFT-E2 II A) and yes, rather sadly none are compatible with each other. Did you really think it'd be any other way?
"Did you really think it'd be any other way?"
Well, yeah. From Canon I really thought it would be.
$699??? Eye-Fi nearly matches this capability for one tenth the cost.
@BH and also less than one tenth the size. As if a DSLR was just not big enough.
@BH
lol Really? I didn't think that eye-fi "can even synchronize itself with up to 10 'slave' cameras that all fire at the same time. "
I also didn't think that eye-fi could "see a remote live view of the camera's rear LCD screen and remotely fire a camera all through the Web."
That's a lot more complicated than what eye-fi does. This is a totally different (and awesome) device!
@BH +1. in reality, eye-fi is a more practical and economical solution. wifi transfer is the only feature that 99/100 engadget readers will use. problem: can't use the battery grip when the wifi grip is installed...
@dypeterc
Exactly, if you're going to spend that kind of dosh on something like this, than you're probably going to use it to it's full extent (or are just rich and stupid, either way, ordinary people aren't going to have this).
As for the battery grip, most people use the grip for... well, the grip. And this still has the same function of the former, and if you're using something like this to slave other cameras, you're probably not far from a power source anyway.
@CJ
Sorry, the first part of that was directed at Badison.
@BH
Unfortunately, Eye-Fi only makes SD cards, not CF cards, so that option is out.
@dypeterc
Fair enough, but 99/100 engadget users might prefer to carry around a non-DSLR camera too for all either of us know.
(I have no idea, we need a survey or something, ha ha).
@CJ
"if you're going to spend that kind of dosh on something like this, then you're probably going to use it to it's full extent"
+1 internets for you my friend and I totally agree!
@gbc Many DSLRs have an SD slot, and some people have been able to get the EyeFi to work with an SD to CF adapter.
@Badison That's why I wrote "nearly." The functions that you highlighted will be utilized by an extremely small population. The low volumes are why this thing costs so much.
@BH
Adapter - Oh, nice!
(@GBC - also, the 1D Mark IV actually has both SD and CF ports, which is pretty nifty)
Something tells me if you can afford eleven cameras of that calibre, that's not really a problem.
That is just f'in awesome. I need to get my hands on a 7D. You could technically get the "Matrix" style shots for a lot less $$$ with a higher resolution then the studios get.
At first glance, I thought they were "getting the WTF treatment."
wow...can synchronize itself with up to 10 "slave" cameras that all fire at the same time.... only if this would work with my old 20D's
Boy howdy I would love this thing. But give me a freaking break, Canon. You put 802.11a in it, (which maybe 10 people on the planet would want) while you ignore the more important 802.11n? Tell me you're not that clueless! I spent $8,000 on a 1Ds Mark II and $2,500 on a 5D Mark II and the LEAST I would expect is for you to add the current standard that everyone uses - especially with the monster size of your files!
Someone needs to give Chuck Westfall a poke to remind him to talk to the engineers and tell them they're bozos.
assuming Nikon comes out with a similar device shortly, then DAMN, there goes the money I spent on the "yet to be released" Eye-Fi Pro X2! rrrrr.
For that price it should have GPS. Looks like a good opportunity for Zeikos or another company that does nice lower cost grips to provide better value and a better solution.
*in my most dry voice* 700 dollars. Ack
This would be fantastic for (of course, depending on the range) taking massive panorama shots, multi-angle action shots for things like stadium sports, etc.
And of course, with video recording becoming more-and-more popular on DSLRs, I can see something like this being used (probably not exactly like this) for controlling several video cameras at once.
Aren't we suppose to say "secondary" now instead of "slave".......
well, there was a prediction for Nikon Battery grip, that should have build in GPS too. It is kind of shame that Canon did not introduce it first.
Why would they bother with wifi without GPS??
@hs Because it's meant for studio work, and you generally know where your studio is.
How would you be able to screw it in with those pegs sticking out?