Video Capture

Video capture is available using all recent Canon DSLR, mirrorless and PowerShot cameras.

General Operation

Canon cameras can only capture video to the camera's memory card and with live view enabled. To capture video with DSLR Remote Pro for Windows first make sure the camera has a memory card with sufficient free space and the camera is setup for video capture (please see below for information on how to setup each camera model for video capture). Next, live view should be selected and the "Rec" button pressed to start and stop video capture. During video capture a small red circle together with the approximate duration of the video is displayed in the bottom left corner of the live view image. At the end of video capture a small thumbnail file will be downloaded to DSLR Remote Pro and displayed in the main window. This thumbnail file has a .THM file extension and is for identification purposes only - the main .MOV movie file is stored on the camera's memory card.

The main .MOV movie file is stored on the camera's memory card. To download the movie file to the PC first close the live view window and then either select "Download movies..." from the Camera menu or right click on the thumbnail image and select "Download movie". After a movie file has been successfully downloaded it can be automatically deleted from the memory card to free up space (by selecting the option to delete movie files in Preferences). The memory card can also be formatted by selecting "Format memory card..." from the Camera menu. Please use this option with care as it will erase the memory card and any images or movies that have not been downloaded will be lost.

The normal live view focus and histogram options are available during live preview and video capture. The zoom option is only available during live preview and can be used to zoom into an area to check the focus. The lens can be focused in small, medium or large steps using the <<<, <<, <, >, >> and >>> buttons or by using the middle wheel on the mouse.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Please note that 720p 120fps fast video mode is not supported in DSLR Remote Pro. If this setting is used the camera may lock up and will need to be turned off and the battery removed to reset it.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Please use firmware version 2.0.4 or later for the best results. The latest camera firmware can be downloaded from Canon's website.

In the camera settings the live view function setting should be set to "Stills+movie" and the screen settings should be set to "Movie display". The "Movie rec. size" should be set to the required resolution and frame rate as these cannot be set remotely from the PC.

Select live view in DSLR Remote Pro for Windows (e.g. by typing Ctrl+L) and the live view window will be displayed. This will show shaded areas defining the frame extent either above and below the image if 1920x1080 resolution is selected or to the left and right if 640x480 resolution is selected (the resolution is also displayed in the window title bar). Press on the "Rec" button to start recording a video clip and a red circle together with the duration of the video will appear in the bottom left corner of the live view display. Press the "Rec" button again to stop recording - the red circle and video duration will disappear and a small thumbnail will be automatically downloaded to the PC and displayed in the main DSLR Remote Pro window.

The camera's LCD needs to be turned on in order to use the camera's controls to capture video. This can be done by right clicking on the live view display in DSLR Remote Pro for Windows and selecting "Display live view on camera LCD" or by pressing the live view button on the camera. The "Set" button can now be used to start and stop recording.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 6D and Canon EOS 70D

The EOS 7D and EOS-1D Mark IV have a dedicated movie/camera switch on the back of the camera. If this switch is in the movie position when the camera is switched on the start/stop button needs to be pressed in order to be able to use live view. Videos can be captured from the PC with the movie/camera switch in either position, but can only be controlled using the camera's start/stop button if the movie/camera switch is in the movie position. The various options are described below:

Movie/camera switch in the movie position when camera turned on: run DSLR Remote Pro for Windows and press the start/stop button on the camera once it has connected to the camera. Videos can be started by pressing the start/stop button on the camera and stopped by pressing the start/stop button again. Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting live view (e.g. by typing Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

Movie/camera switch in the camera position when camera turned on: video can be captured from the PC by selecting live view (e.g. by typing Ctrl+L) and clicking on the "Video" button. The live view images will display shaded areas defining the video extent and the video resolution and frame rate will be displayed in the live view window title bar. Press on the "Rec" button to start recording video and again to stop recording. Alternatively video mode can be selected by moving the movie/camera switch on the camera to the movie setting - this will allow the camera's start/stop button to be used to start and stop video capture.

The video resolution and frame rate can be selected from the PC by right clicking on live view display in DSLR Remote Pro for Windows and selecting the required setting from the menu. Pease note that the video resolution ad frame rate can't be changed during video capture.

Canon EOS 60D, Canon EOS 550D/Rebel T2i, Canon EOS 600D/Rebel T3i, Canon EOS 1200D/Rebel T5 and Canon EOS 1100D/Rebel T3

These cameras have a dedicated movie setting on the camera's exposure mode dial. Videos can be captured from the PC with the exposure mode dial set to any setting, but can only be controlled using the camera's record button if the exposure dial is set to the movie position.

If the camera's exposure mode dial is set to the movie position video capture can be started by pressing the record button on the camera and stopped by pressing the record button again.Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting live view (e.g. by typing Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

If the camera's exposure mode dial is not set to the movie position video capture can only be controlled from the PC. To do this first select live view (e.g. by typing Ctrl+L) and then press the "Video" button. The live view images will display shaded areas defining the video extent and the video resolution and frame rate will be displayed in the live view window title bar. Press on the "Rec" button to start recording video and again to stop recording.

The video resolution and frame rate can be selected from the PC by right clicking on live view display in DSLR Remote Pro for Windows and selecting the required setting from the menu. Pease note that the video resolution ad frame rate can't be changed during video capture.

Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i

The EOS 500D/Rebel T1i has a dedicated movie setting on the camera's exposure mode dial and this must be set to the movie position in order to be able to capture video. Please note that the Canon EOS 500D/Rebel T1i cannot be used for video capture from a PC without having access to the camera's controls. In order to capture videos you must have access the camera to either turn the exposure mode dial to the movie setting or to press the "Rec" button.

Exposure mode dial is set to the movie position when the camera is turned on: run DSLR Remote Pro for Windows and press the start/stop button on the camera once it has connected to the camera. If the "Save to camera only" option is selected in DSLR Remote Pro for Windows videos can be started by pressing the start/stop button on the camera and stopped by pressing the start/stop button again. Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting live view (e.g. by typing Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

Exposure mode dial not set to the movie position when the camera is turned on: when DSLR Remote Pro for Windows is run normal live view operation is available but video capture is not possible. To enable video capture turn the exposure mode dial to the movie position. If the "Save to camera only" option is selected in DSLR Remote Pro for Windows videos can be started by pressing the start/stop button on the camera and stopped by pressing the start/stop button again. Videos can also be started and stopped from the PC by selecting live view (e.g. by typing Ctrl+L) and pressing the "Rec" button.

The video resolution and frame rate is displayed in the live view window's title bar but can only be changed from the camera.

Trouble shooting

If "busy" is displayed on the camera's LCD when the "Rec" or "Start/Stop" button is pressed it means that movie mode needs to be selected on the camera (either by turning the exposure mode dial to movie or by setting the movie/camera switch to movie).

If nothing happens when "Rec" or "Start/Stop" button is pressed on the camera please try selecting the "Save to camera only" option in DSLR Remote Pro for Windows' Camera menu.

If the live view window does not display live view images you may need to press the "Rec" or "Start/Stop" button on the camera.