Wirelessly shooting Nikon D4 photos to your iPad

No Canon transmitter for this shoot, so I had to go wired!

Over the past few years, the coolest "techie" thing that I do on set is to shoot wirelessly from my Nikon camera to the iPad. It really is a simple thing, but it really draws in the client and art directors. Allowing the creatives to see the images in real time is a great way to communicate your visual ideas. You know if you are on the same page and can immediately  make changes if necessary.
Since I shoot both the Nikon D4 and D800, I use the Nikon WT-4 wireless transmitter. (The new WT-5 transmitter only works with the D4). I know that the settings are confusing, but I will try to explain it as simply as possible. You can even just copy down my settings if you want!




For my setup, you will need:

• Nikon D4 (or similar Nikon body)
• Nikon WT-4 transmitter, USB cable to camera
• iPad (I am using the Retina display iPad 4)
• Shutter Snitch (available in the App Store)

Step 1:
When the WT-4 is attached to the Nikon camera, you can create and edit the settings for the transmitter under the SETUP MENU / NETWORK.

Network/MODE/Transfer Mode
Choose "FTP registration" (Create a profile. I named mine Nikon ad hoc)

Wireless:
SSID: nikon (this is the wireless network your iPad will connect to)
Connection mode: Ad Hoc
Channel: 8
Authentication: open
Encryption: None

TCP/IP:
Obtain Automatically IP 
Address: 192.168.003.104 
MASK: 255.255.255.000
Use gateway: yes check it
ADDRESS: 192.168.003.001 
Enable DNS: no

FTP:
Target server address: 192.168.3.101 (this is the IP address you use for your iPad)
Target Folder:
Port: 26000
PASV mode: no don't check
Login name: snitch  (this is the Shutter Snitch username/password)
Password: *****
Proxy Server: no

Under the transfer settings:

Autosend: ON
Delete after send: OFF
Send file as: JPG
(Of course, you can change these as you need. This is what I generally use) 

Make sure to click OK when done - If you don't, the settings will not be saved. 

iPad wifi setup screen

Step 2:
Now, on your iPad, you will connect to the "nikon" wireless network that you just set up. The iPad's IP address for "nikon" should be : 192.168.3.101.

Step 3:
Open Shutter Snitch on the iPad. Make sure that you have the correct Username and Port number as you set in the D4 setup menu. (when you first opened Shutter Snitch, it asked you to set a username/password. If you forgot it, delete the app and reinstall. This time, write down what you set!

Shutter Snitch option screen

Now, create a "collection". You need to be inside a collection in order for the images to transfer to the iPad. The IP address and the port number will flash briefly when you are inside a collection. Make sure they match up with your camera settings



Step 4: 
Verify that you are connected. Check the SETUP MENU / NETWORK on the Nikon body. If the "nikon ad hoc" is highlighted in GREEN, you are connected! Hooray. Shoot your photos!








Accessories:

Wallee connect system

Another question I get is how to connect the iPad to the C-stand. I use the Tether Tools Wallee system. You will need to buy the Wallee Case, Wallee Connect and a Matthews F830. The cases are specific for each generation of iPad, so make sure to buy the right one.

http://www.tethertools.com/plugging-in/wallee-ipad-modular-case/


I hope that this helps. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. I know that the new Nikon D600 comes with a $50 transmitter. That sounds awesome, but I do not have that camera yet. Maybe it'll be easier to set up than the WT-4. Unless Nikon makes a very inexpensive wireless transmitter for the professional bodies, I will continue to use this set up.

UPDATE: If you have successfully set up the wireless system there is a chance that it will not work when you try it again. If this happens to you, log out of your "superuser" in Shuttersnitch and log back in. That seems to solve my issues.