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sonysony-camera-api

Sony Remote Camera SDK demo app unable to connect to Sony FX3

I am writing a small app to remotely control Sony full-frame cameras. Everything works fine for the Sony A7C (ILCE-7C) and Sony A7RIV, however, my app has issues with connecting to the Sony FX3 (ILME-FX3). The demo app that came with the Sony Camera Remote SDK release is also unable to connect to the FX3:

RemoteSampleApp v1.05.00 running...

Remote SDK version: 1.5.00
Initialize Remote SDK...
Working directory: CrSDK_v1.05.00_20211207a_Mac_original/build/Release
Remote SDK successfully initialized.

Enumerate connected camera devices...
Camera list is null? True
CR_FAILED(enum_status) False
No cameras detected. Connect a camera and retry.
Program ended with exit code: 1

Here are the relevant lines in the source code:

    cli::tout << "Enumerate connected camera devices...\n";
    SDK::ICrEnumCameraObjectInfo* camera_list = nullptr;
//     auto enum_status = cr_lib->EnumCameraObjects(&camera_list, 3);
    auto enum_status = SDK::EnumCameraObjects(&camera_list, 10);
    if (CR_FAILED(enum_status) || camera_list == nullptr) {
        cli::tout << "Camera list is null? "<< (camera_list == nullptr ? "True": "False") << std::endl;
        cli::tout << "CR_FAILED(enum_status) "<< (CR_FAILED(enum_status) ? "True": "False") << std::endl;
        cli::tout << "No cameras detected. Connect a camera and retry.\n";
        // cr_lib->Release();
        SDK::Release();
        std::exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    auto ncams = camera_list->GetCount();
    cli::tout << "Camera enumeration successful. " << ncams << " detected.\n\n";

The Remote SDK demo app recognizes the Sony A7C and Sony A7RIV camera, so I think the USB-C cable and the ports on my laptop are working fine:

RemoteSampleApp v1.05.00 running...

Remote SDK version: 1.5.00
Initialize Remote SDK...
Working directory: CrSDK_v1.05.00_20211207a_Mac_original/build/Release
Remote SDK successfully initialized.

Enumerate connected camera devices...
Camera enumeration successful. 1 detected.

[1] ILCE-7C (D01060399BD8)

Connect to camera with input number...
input>

The Sony Imaging Edge - Remote app recognizes the Sony FX3 and works as expected, so i assume that the USB-C port on the Sony FX3 is working properly and the settings are correctly set in the camera menu
PC Remote -> on
PC Remote Cnct. Method -> USB
Sony Imaging Edge - Remote

Any ideas on what could be the problem?

Platform and version info:
Sony A7C - ILCE-7C - firmware v2.00 Sony A7RIV - ILCE-7RM4 - firmware v1.20
Sony FX3 - ILME-FX3 - firmware v1.01. Sony Camera Remote SDK v1.5 (v1.05 on the website)
RemoteSampleApp v1.05.00
OS: Mac OS 12.4 Monterey Xcode and compiled for x86_64 (Rosetta)

Solution

  • Only a handful of camera models are currently supported according to the Camera Remote SDK info web page. Although the Sony FX3 is very similar to the Sony A7S III, the FX3 doesn't connect and A7S III connects successfully.

    Supported device
ILCE-1, ILCE-9M2, ILCE-7RM4A, ILCE-7RM4, ILCE-7SM3, ILCE-7M4, ILCE-7C
DSC-RX0M2 (Ver. 3.00 or later)

    Edit: With the introduction of the Sony FX30 camera, Sony updated the SDK and now supports the FX lineup.

    "Added support for ILME-FX6V/ILME-FX6T(Ver. 3.00 or later), ILME-FX3(Ver. 2.00 or later) and ILME-FX30."