Nikon D4 - Wireless Alternative to the WT-5

Nokin

Nokin

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Brian
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This is a first post for me and have finally been spurred on to make a little contribution to the forums.

If like me you are a little perturbed at the cost of the Nikon WT - 5 wireless transmitter you may be interested in an alternative that I have been experimenting with. First off I am aware of the drawbacks of this system. It is not as neat as the Wt-5 and involves a network cable to the camera but that is about it. The Sapido BRB 72n 3g/4g Router however costs £54 from Amazon and is therefore over £400 cheaper than the WT-5. I used a Youtube video as a guide to setting up the D4's network settings and immediately made the connection with my ipad. This allowed access to the cameras inbuilt browser and allowed all the functionality of the cameras controls including live view. I struggled initially to get my laptop to download the same info but after installation of the Nikon Wireless utility it now works perfectly and I am able to import photographs with ease to my laptop. I havent used it on a job yet, but I intend to, and early indications are that it will work perfectly well offering decent range. Battery power for this device incidently is the same Li battery fitted in the Galaxy S2 mobile phone and so is available from Amazon at £5.

This is the first time I have departed from buying a Nikon solution but I felt that they were taking the mickey when you consider that other wireless transmitters are availablefor sub £100 and indeed are now being built in to some lesser cameras. Whilst I am prepared to pay a slight premium for a Nikon product I dont like to encourage their greed!
 
Hey Brian, welcome to the forums, its not really an alternative as its tethered via the network cable, sort of defeats any reason to use a "wireless" transmitter

There are plenty of wired alternatives but thats where the problem lies, theyre wired and not wireless
 
Hi - Thanks for your take on this. Well if you count the short network cable between the router and the D4 it is not wireless. Obviously however there is no connection between the router and the laptop which is the objective. The router itself is powered by a rechargeable Li battery and is tiny and can be placed in a shirt pocket or attach to the strap using Velcro. Its significantly smaller than an iphone and weighs in at 100g.I have just taken over 100 shots at I guess arount 25 yard range or so and the pictures have successfully imported automatically into Lightroom. I am quite happy to call this a wireless solution which works extremely well at a considerable saving over the Nikon version. If I used it every day it may not be so convenient, but I see it as no more inconvenient to use than the WT-4 is for instance.
 
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I know this may be of limited use unless you have a network enabled camera but I have now used this wireless method at several events and it is working perfectly and has been totally reliable. It transmits large high res jpegs to the computer in only a few seconds over a 25 - 30 yard range without any difficulty. It is significantly quicker than the Eye Fi card I have been using in my D7000. Aside from the aesthetics of having a very small wireless modem connected to my camera strap with velcro I struggle to see the downside of this method.
 
Nokin said:
I know this may be of limited use unless you have a network enabled camera but I have now used this wireless method at several events and it is working perfectly and has been totally reliable. It transmits large high res jpegs to the computer in only a few seconds over a 25 - 30 yard range without any difficulty. It is significantly quicker than the Eye Fi card I have been using in my D7000. Aside from the aesthetics of having a very small wireless modem connected to my camera strap with velcro I struggle to see the downside of this method.
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Can you post a photo of this set up so we can see how it looks.
 
gramps said:
Similar to the Camranger by the sound of things www.camranger.com but the Camranger software has a lot more to offer :)
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I'm not sure of the capapbilities of the camranger other than what I have seen on a cursory glance at their website. What I can say is that this device gives me control of virtually everything from focus modes, exposure modes, white balance, live view etc etc. I haven't had cause to use it to be honest other than a brief fact finding excercise and all I can say is that it works.
 
I havent had time to do this properly, but I have a ttached a couple of photos which at least you show the relative size of the modem versus camera. The cable here is a very short one which I can attach to the strap which wasnt to hand when I took this. If I want to use my Black Rapid Strap which I prefer, I use a longer cable and just stick the modem in my shirt pocket. I have never found it to be a problem. Its certainly not as pretty as the WT-5, but it works every bit as well and at a fraction of the cost.
 
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BMD said:
I'd concur with that. I use my CR regularly controlling it off of my iPad. Very impressed
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For me the ability to use the ipad was a fortunate addition to the capabilities of the wireless modem - linked specifically to the D4 whcih has the software built in. I have no doubt it will come in useful at some point but at the moment its the ability to transmit pictures rapidly to a remote computer that I need and regularly use.
 
Nokin said:
For me the ability to use the ipad was a fortunate addition to the capabilities of the wireless modem - linked specifically to the D4 whcih has the software built in. I have no doubt it will come in useful at some point but at the moment its the ability to transmit pictures rapidly to a remote computer that I need and regularly use.
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Quite understand. My CR does that to my remote computers. I use a 1Dx and for me, getting the CR was an as good but a lot cheaper alternative to using Canons own transmitters especially as my usage is primarily bird/wildlife imagery.
 
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