How to Use Canon's Camera Connect App to Transfer Photos from Your 5D Mark IV to Your Cellphone

I recently upgraded my Canon 5D Mark III to a 5D Mark IV, and a new feature that was added to the camera line, that I thought I would have no use for whatsoever, was WiFi. I knew it was going to be in the camera beforehand, but I really did believe I would have no use for it at all, Now after using it for two months, I am hooked. Being able to quickly and easily transfer photos to my cell phone via the built-in WiFi has been really incredible for me, and now not a day goes by that I do not use it. So I would just like to just walk you through briefly how simple it is to set up and use.

First, I know you Nikon shooters out there have had this on your cameras for quite sometime already, but this is fairly new to Canon's shooters. It is the first time it is available on the 5D series, Canon's most popular model among professionals.

The app, which you can download for free here for Android and iOS, actually has another feature besides file transferring. The app also gives you live view remote shooting, which actually seems to work great and gives you control over most of the cameras important settings. Directly from your cell you change the ISO, shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and autofocus the lens all via your cell phone. However I do not use this personally at all in my photography or workflow, I just briefly played around with it to see how it was, but I can definitely see many other photographers loving this feature and using it often. Especially when placing a camera in hard to reach places, or not touching the camera during the exposure is preferred. Even the refresh rate on my phone screen seemed quite good in my opinion.

But what I am in love with about the app, and use on a daily basis, as I mentioned, is the ability to directly send photos to my cell phone. The benefit for me is when I am on set, be it in studio or on location. I know models just love to always snap pictures of the back of my camera so they can post it on social media right away, I deal with this all the time. Now in just a few seconds, I can send a couple of files directly to there phones. Every time single time I have done it, they are always impressed, they smile and it definitely brightens their mood. It really is great for client satisfaction and a good marketing strategy. I have now even had art directors that are working with me request a few files after they see that I am able do this, and than they forward the photo to someone else from the project that was not with us.

The only downside to using the WiFi on the 5D Mark IV is that it definitely takes a toll on the battery, on what already is a camera that seems to eat more juice than normal, at least in comparison over my Mark III. So to deal with these battery problems, I highly suggest keeping the WiFi off at all times, and only turning it on while actually doing the transfers.

So here is how I set it up.

1. First, obviously download the app for your specific operating system. Android and iOS

2. Then turn on the WiFi in your camera. This may sound confusing, but it is actually extremely simple. You just go to the fourth sub menu in the settings menu (Yellow), and it is under ''Communications settings,'' select that, than on the next screen is an option to enable WiFi, enable it.

3. Now you will connect your device to your camera. You go into the WiFi menu of your cell phone, and connect it to your camera as you would to any other WiFi. You have just basically turned your Camera into a hotspot. You have the choice in camera to add a password to the WiFi and also change the name of the signal, I chose not too do either, and use the default settings. It was super painless this way, and I have no fear of someone hacking into my files, especially since the WiFi is always off anyway.

Step 1-3 only has to be done a single time, to set up the initial connection for the first time. From now on, whenever you enable the WiFi on your 5D IV and on your cell phone, they will connect to each other automatically. All you have to do after that, is open the app on your phone. You cell remembers the WiFi just like it would any other router you previously connected to in your home or office.

4. And finally, now that the app is open, you just select what you want to do from the main menu on your screen, as I said, all I am using it for is transferring photos to my phone. So that's the first option, ''Images on camera,'' from here you can see all your photos that are on the cameras memory card, and save them to your device. Super easy in real world usage!

Now once they are on your phone, you can do with them as you please. Send them to your talent or clients that are on set, or post them directly on social media for yourself. You do not have to wait until you are at home on your computer anymore. I have also been doing this when just out with my friends. Snapping photos of us out and about, and giving them the photos immediately via Whatsapp.

The Canon Camera Connect App will also work with other Canon cameras such as the 6D, 80D, the new M5, as well as a plethora of Powershot models. And besides smartphones, the App also works with tablets and iPad's for a larger display if desired.