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https://github.com/gkoh/furble

A bluetooth wireless remote shutter release for Fujifilm X/GFX, Canon EOS, Nikon and Sony cameras.
https://github.com/gkoh/furble

ble bluetooth bluetooth-low-energy camera canon esp32 fujifilm m5stack nikon shutter-release sony

Last synced: about 1 month ago
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A bluetooth wireless remote shutter release for Fujifilm X/GFX, Canon EOS, Nikon and Sony cameras.

Awesome Lists containing this project

README 

          
# furble - ***F***lexible ***U***nified ***R***emote ***B***luetooth ***L***ow ***E***nergy



![PlatformIO CI](https://github.com/gkoh/furble/workflows/PlatformIO%20CI/badge.svg)



A Bluetooth wireless remote shutter release originally targeted at Fujifilm mirrorless

cameras. furble now supports:

- Fujifilm

- Canon

- Nikon

- Sony



The remote uses the camera's native Bluetooth Low Energy interface thus additional

adapters are not required.



furble is developed on ESP32 devices as a PlatformIO project.



## M5StickC Plus2 (Dark theme)



![furble - Dark - M5StickC Plus2](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/9888e348-1476-4d5e-bd47-3c03b87f062a)



## M5Core2 (Default theme)



![furble - Default - M5Core2](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0e60cff4-fc1b-4345-b0fc-5d85be0a705d)



## Supported Cameras



The following devices have been tested and confirmed to work:

- Fujifilm

   - Fujifilm GFX100 II ([@matthudsonau](https://github.com/matthudsonau))

   - Fujifilm GFX100S ([@adrianuseless](https://github.com/adrianuseless))

   - Fujifilm GFX50S II ([@TomaszLojewski](https://github.com/TomaszLojewski))

   - Fujifilm X-E4 ([@Rediwed](https://github.com/Rediwed))

   - Fujifilm X-E5 ([@daniel-ch73](https://github.com/daniel-ch73))

   - Fujifiml X-H1

   - Fujifilm X-H2S ([@val123456](https://github.com/val123456))

   - Fujifilm X-S10 ([@dimitrij2k](https://github.com/dimitrij2k))

   - Fujifilm X-S20 ([@kelvincabaldo07](https://github.com/kelvincabaldo07))

   - Fujifilm X-T200 ([@Cronkan](https://github.com/Cronkan))

   - Fujifilm X-T3 ([@ubuntuproductions](https://github.com/ubuntuproductions))

   - Fujifilm X-T30

   - Fujifilm X-T4 ([@TomaszLojewski](https://github.com/TomaszLojewski))

   - Fujifilm X-T5 ([@stulevine](https://github.com/stulevine))

   - Fujifilm X100V

- Canon

   - Canon EOS M6 ([@tardisx](https://github.com/tardisx))

   - Canon EOS RP ([@wolcano](https://github.com/wolcano))

   - Canon EOS R6 Mark II ([@hijae](https://github.com/hijae))

   - Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II ([@Mich2e](https://github.com/Mich2e))

- Nikon

   - Nikon COOLPIX B600

   - Nikon Z6 III ([@herrfrei](https://github.com/herrfrei))

- Sony

   - Sony ZV-1F

- Mobile Devices (beta)

   - Android

   - iOS



## Table of Features



| Camera             | Scanning & Pairing | Shutter Release | Focus | GPS   |

| :---:              | :---:              | :---:           | :---: | :---: |

| Fujifilm X & GFX   | ✔️                  | ✔️               | ✔️[^1] | ✔️     |

| Canon EOS (Remote) | ✔️                  | ✔️               | ✔️     | :x:   |

| Canon EOS (Smart)  | ✔️                  | ✔️               | :x:   | ✔️     |

| Nikon (Remote)     | ✔️                  | ✔️               | :x:   | :x:   |

| Nikon (Smart)      | :x:                | :x:             | :x:   | :x:   |

| Sony ZV            | ✔️                  | ✔️               | ✔️     | ✔️     |



[^1]: see [#99](https://github.com/gkoh/furble/discussions/99)



## Supported Controllers



Initially targeted at the M5StickC, the following controllers from [M5Stack](https://m5stack.com/) are supported:

* M5StickC (EOL)

* M5StickC Plus

* M5StickC Plus2

* M5Core Basic

* M5Core2



## Installation



### Easy Install



The simplest way to get started is with the web installer.

Follow the instructions on the wiki: [Easy Web Install](https://github.com/gkoh/furble/wiki/Easy-Web-Install)



### PlatformIO



PlatformIO does everything assuming things are installed and connected properly.

In most cases it should be:

- clone the repository

- plug in the M5StickC

    - `platformio run -e m5stick-c -t upload`

- OR plug in M5StickC Plus/Plus2

    - `platformio run -e m5stick-c-plus -t upload`

- OR plug in the M5Stack Core2

    - `platformio run -e m5stack-core2 -t upload`



More details are on the wiki: [PlatformIO](https://github.com/gkoh/furble/wiki/Linux-Command-Line-(For-Developers))



## Usage



The top level menu has the following entries:

- `Connect`

- `Scan`

- `Delete`

- `Settings`

- `Off`



On first use, put the target camera into pairing mode, then hit `Scan`. If the

camera advertises a known, matching signature, it should appear in the list.

You can then connect to the target camera, which, if successful, will save the

entry and show the remote menu.



`furble` will identify as `furble-xxxx` where `xxxx` is a consistent identifier enabling one to differentiate mutiple controllers.



Upon subsequent use it should be enough to hit `Connect`, selecting the

previously paired device and leading to the remote menu.



From the remote menu you may choose to disconnect, control the shutter or activate the intervalometer.



More details are on the wiki: [Usage Guide](https://github.com/gkoh/furble/wiki/Usage-Guide)



### Mobile Devices



Android and iOS devices are supported. `furble` connects as a Bluetooth HID keyboard and sends the _Volume Up_ key stroke to trigger the shutter.

Connection to mobile devices is a little iffy:

- hit `Scan`

- on the mobile device:

   - pair with `furble`

- on `furble` the mobile device should appear as a connectable target if the pairing was successful

- forget `furble` on the mobile device to remove such a pair



### GPS Location Tagging



For Fujifilm & Sony cameras, location tagging is supported with the M5Stack GPS unit:

- [GPS/BDS Unit v1.1 (AT6668)](https://shop.m5stack.com/products/gps-bds-unit-v1-1-at6668)



The previous unit is now EOL:

- [Mini GPS/BDS Unit](https://shop.m5stack.com/products/mini-gps-bds-unit)



GPS support can be enabled in `furble` in `Settings->GPS`, the camera must also be configured to request location data.



The default baud rate for the GPS unit is 9600.

The new v1.1 unit runs at a higher baud rate and must be configured under

`Settings->GPS->GPS baud 115200` for correct operation.



### Intervalometer/Timer



The intervalometer can be configured via three settings in `Settings->Intervalometer`:

- Count (number of images to take)

- Delay (time between images)

- Shutter (time to keep shutter open)



Count can be configured up to 999 or infinite.

Delay and shutter time can be figured with custom or preset values from 0 to 999 in milliseconds, seconds or minutes.



### Shutter Lock



When in `Shutter` remote control, holding focus (button B) then release (button A) will engage shutter lock, holding the shutter open until a button is pressed.



### Themes



A few basic themes are included, to change:

* `Settings->Themes->`

   * hit 'Restart' to save and restart for the theme to take effect

   * better dynamic theme change support is improving in upstream LVGL



## Motivation



I found current smartphone apps for basic wireless remote shutter control to be

generally terrible.

Research revealed the main alternative was attaching a dongle to the camera, of

which there were many options varying in price and quality.

I really just wanted the [Canon

BR-E1](https://www.eos-magazine.com/articles/remotes/br-e1-canon-bluetooth-remote.html),

but for my camera.



### Possibly Supported Cameras



#### Fujifilm



Given reports from the community and access to additional cameras, it

seems many (all?) Fujifilm cameras use the same Bluetooth protocol.

Reports of further confirmed working Fujifilm cameras are welcome.



#### Canon



With access to a Canon EOS M6, I was able to implement support for it. Other

Canon cameras might work, but I suspect the shutter control protocol will be

different.

@wolcano kindly implemented initial support for the Canon EOS RP.

@hijae kindly helped with better Canon EOS R support.



#### Nikon



Nikon cameras that support the remote wireless controller (ML-L7) should work,

use the "Connection to remote" menu option.

This has been tested on a Nikon COOLPIX B600. Unfortunately, the remote wireless

mode has no support for GPS or focus functions, thus only shutter release works.

Note that other Nikon cameras will appear in the scan, but will not pair

(further support is under investigation).

@herrfrei kindly assisted with Z6 III support.



#### Sony



Sony cameras appear to use a reasonably uniform and robust bluetooth control

protocol. Most modern Sony cameras should be supported. Testing was performed

on Sony ZV-1F.



To pair with a Sony camera (some models may have different menu options, the

following matches the ZV-1F):

- set 'Bluetooth Rmt Ctrl' to 'On'

- set 'Bluetooth Function' 'On'

- under Bluetooth, start 'Pairing'

- start 'Scan' with `furble'

   - due to an oddity with the Bluetooth library, if `furble` 'Scan' is started

     first, the Sony camera may not appear



#### Protocol Reverse Engineering



Android supports snooping bluetooth traffic so it was trivial to grab a HCI log

to see what the manufacturer supplied camera app was doing.



For all supported cameras, a snoop log of:

- scanning

- pairing

- re-pairing

- shutter release



was analysed with Wireshark.



It was then an experiment in reducing the interaction to the bare minimum just

to trigger the shutter release.



### Supporting More Cameras



The best way is to repeat the previous steps, analyse the bluetooth HCI snoop

log with Wireshark, implement, then test against the actual device.



## Background Story



### Requirements



#### Hardware



I wanted a complete solution out of the box to have:

- bluetooth low energy

- physical button

- visual indicator (LED or display)

- battery

- case

- low cost



My search concluded with the [M5StickC](https://m5stack.com/products/stick-c)

from [M5Stack](https://m5stack.com).

The M5StickC and M5StickC Plus have since been EOL and replaced with the [M5StickC Plus2](https://shop.m5stack.com/products/m5stickc-plus2-esp32-mini-iot-development-kit).



The M5StickC is an ESP32 based mini-IoT development kit which covered all of the

requirements (and more). At time of writing, M5Stack sell the M5StickC for

US$9.95.

The M5StickC Plus(2) sells for US$19.95.



#### Software



The project is built with [PlatformIO](https://platformio.org) and depends on

the following libraries:

- [esp-nimble-cpp](https://github.com/h2zero/esp-nimble-cpp)

- [LVGL](https://github.com/lvgl/lvgl)

- [M5Unified](https://github.com/m5stack/M5Unified)

- [TinyGPSPlus](https://github.com/mikalhart/TinyGPSPlus)



# Known Issues



- depending on your perspective, battery life is anywhere from reasonable to bad

   - with an active BLE connection and power management, the ESP32 consumes around 30mA

      - an M5StickC Plus2 would last around 6 hours

      - an M5StickC Plus would last around 4 hours

      - an old M5StickC would last around 3 hours

   - if battery life is crucial, and form factor is not, consider an M5Stack Core with the 1500mAh module

      - this might last 50 hours



# Things To Do



- Support more camera makes and models

   - Get access to and support the following:

     - Nikon Z

     - Others?



# Links



Inspiration, references and related information for this project came from the following projects/posts:

- Canon

   - https://iandouglasscott.com/2017/09/04/reverse-engineering-the-canon-t7i-s-bluetooth-work-in-progress/

   - https://github.com/ArthurFDLR/BR-M5

   - https://github.com/RReverser/eos-remote-web

- Fujifilm

  - https://github.com/hkr/fuji-cam-wifi-tool

  - https://github.com/petabyt/fudge

- Sony

   - https://gethypoxic.com/blogs/technical/sony-camera-ble-control-protocol-di-remote-control

   - https://gregleeds.com/reverse-engineering-sony-camera-bluetooth

   - https://github.com/Staacks/alpharemote