2. Z 9 Reference Guide
  3. Connecting to Other Cameras
  4. Synchronized Release

Synchronized Release

Configuring and Using Synchronized Release

Follow the steps below to create host profiles for synchronized release. Each camera saves the pictures it takes to its own memory card. Repeat the process to create identical profiles for each camera.

Wireless LAN

To create host profiles when connecting via wireless LAN:

  1. Select [Connect to other cameras] in the network menu, then highlight [Network settings] and press 2.
  2. Highlight [Create profile] and press J.
  3. Name the new profile.

    • To proceed to the next step without changing the default name, press X.

    • Whatever name you choose will appear in the network menu [Connect to other cameras] > [Network settings] list.

    • To rename the profile, press J. For information on text entry, see “Text Entry” (Text Entry). Press X to proceed after entering a name.

  4. Highlight [Search for Wi-Fi network] and press J.

    The camera will search for networks currently active in the vicinity and list them by name (SSID).

    [Easy Connect]

    • To connect without entering an SSID or encryption key, press X in Step 4. Next, press J and choose from the following options:

      Option

      Description

      [Push-button WPS]

      For routers that support push-button WPS. Press the WPS button on the router and then press the camera J button to connect.

      [PIN-entry WPS]

      The camera will display a PIN. Using a computer, enter the PIN on the router. For more information, see the documentation provided with the router.

    • After connecting, proceed to Step 7.

  5. Choose a network.

    • Highlight a network SSID and press J.

    • The band on which each SSID operates is indicated by an icon.

    • Encrypted networks are indicated by a h icon. If the selected network is encrypted (h), you will be prompted to enter the encryption key. If the network is not encrypted, proceed to Step 7.

    • If the desired network is not displayed, press X to search again.

    Hidden SSIDs

    Networks with hidden SSIDs are indicated by blank entries in the network list.

    • To connect to a network with a hidden SSID, highlight a blank entry and press J. Next, press J; the camera will prompt you to provide an SSID.

    • Enter the network name and press X. Press X again; the camera will now prompt you to enter the encryption key.

  6. Enter the encryption key.

    • Press J and enter the encryption key for the wireless router.

    • For more information on the wireless router encryption key, see the documentation for the wireless router.

    • Press X when entry is complete.

    • Press X again to initiate the connection. A message will be displayed for a few seconds when the connection is established.

  7. Obtain or select an IP address.

    • Highlight one of the following options and press J.

      Option

      Description

      [Obtain automatically]

      Select this option if the network is configured to supply the IP address automatically. A “configuration complete” message will be displayed once an IP address has been assigned.

      • It is recommended that you note the remote camera IP address, as you will need it in subsequent steps.

      [Enter manually]

      Enter the IP address and sub-net mask manually.

      • Press J; you will be prompted to enter the IP address.

      • Rotate the main command dial to highlight segments.

      • Press 4 or 2 to change the highlighted segment and press J to save changes.

      • Next, press X; a “configuration complete” message will be displayed. Press X again to display the sub-net mask.

      • Press 1 or 3 to edit the sub-net mask and press J; a “configuration complete” message will be displayed.

    • Press J to proceed when the “configuration complete” message is displayed.

    • The profile name is displayed when a connection is established.

  8. Highlight [Group name], press 2, and enter a group name.

    Enter a group name for the synchronized cameras. Group names can be up to eight characters long.

    • All master and remote cameras on the network must be in the same group.

  9. Highlight [Master/remote] and press 2.

    Choose a role for each camera from “master” and “remote”.

    • [Master camera]: Pressing the shutter-release button on the master camera releases the shutters on the remote cameras. Each group can have only one master. If the group has multiple master cameras, only the first to connect to the network will actually serve in that capacity.

    • [Remote camera]: The shutters on the remote cameras are synchronized with the shutter on the master camera.

  10. Repeat Steps 1 through 9 for the remaining cameras.

    When configuring remote cameras, be sure to select [Remote camera] in Step 9.

  11. On the master camera, highlight [Remote camera list] and press 2.

    Cameras assigned the remote camera role in Step 9 are added to the master camera’s remote camera list. The master camera can store information for up to 10 remote cameras in slots [01] through [10].

  12. Highlight the desired slot and press 2.

    Remote camera options will be displayed.

  13. Highlight [Address] and press 2.

    You will be prompted to enter an IP address.

  14. Enter the remote camera IP address.

    Enter the remote camera IP address you noted in Step 7.

    • Rotate the main command dial to highlight segments.

    • Press 4 or 2 to change the highlighted segment and press J to proceed.

    • Press X to add the remote camera to the master camera remote camera list and establish a connection.

    Viewing Remote Camera IP Addresses

    To view a remote camera’s IP address, select [Connect to other cameras] > [Network settings] in the camera’s network menu, highlight a synchronized release host profile, press 2, and select [TCP/IP].

  15. Add the remaining remote cameras.

    • When connecting to wireless networks, the cameras will display the band used by the selected SSID.

    • The master camera shows the number of cameras in the group currently connected or not connected.

  16. Take pictures.

    • Pressing the shutter-release button on the master camera releases the shutters on the remote cameras.

    • Note that the standby timers will not expire automatically when the cameras are in synchronized release mode.

Ethernet

Follow the steps below to create host profiles for Ethernet connections. Before proceeding, connect an Ethernet cable to the camera’s Ethernet connector. Do not use force or attempt to insert the connectors at an angle. Connect the other end of the cable to a router.

  1. Select [ON] for [Wired LAN] in the network menu.
  2. Select [Connect to other cameras] in the network menu, then highlight [Network settings] and press 2.
  3. Highlight [Create profile] and press J.
  4. Name the new profile.

    • To display IP address options without changing the default name, press X.

    • Whatever name you choose will appear in the network menu [Connect to other cameras] > [Network settings] list.

    • To rename the profile, press J. For information on text entry, see “Text Entry” (Text Entry). Press X to proceed after entering a name.

  5. Obtain or select an IP address.

    • Highlight one of the following options and press J.

      Option

      Description

      [Obtain automatically]

      Select this option if the network is configured to supply the IP address automatically. A “configuration complete” message will be displayed once an IP address has been assigned.

      • It is recommended that you note the remote camera IP address, as you will need it in subsequent steps.

      [Enter manually]

      Enter the IP address and sub-net mask manually.

      • Press J; you will be prompted to enter the IP address.

      • Rotate the main command dial to highlight segments.

      • Press 4 or 2 to change the highlighted segment and press J to save changes.

      • Next, press X; a “configuration complete” message will be displayed. Press X again to display the sub-net mask.

      • Press 1 or 3 to edit the sub-net mask and press J; a “configuration complete” message will be displayed.

    • Press J to proceed when the “configuration complete” message is displayed.

    • The profile name is displayed when a connection is established.

  6. Highlight [Group name], press 2, and enter a group name.

    Enter a group name for the synchronized cameras. Group names can be up to eight characters long.

    • All master and remote cameras on the network must all be in the same group.

  7. Highlight [Master/remote] and press 2.

    Choose a role for each camera from “master” and “remote”.

    • [Master camera]: Pressing the shutter-release button on the master camera releases the shutters on the remote cameras. Each group can have only one master. If the group has multiple master cameras, only the first to connect to the network will actually serve in that capacity.

    • [Remote camera]: The shutters on the remote cameras are synchronized with the shutter on the master camera.

  8. Repeat Steps 1 through 7 for the remaining cameras.

    When configuring remote cameras, be sure to select [Remote camera] in Step 7.

  9. On the master camera, highlight [Remote camera list] and press 2.

    Cameras assigned the remote camera role in Step 7 are added to the master camera’s remote camera list. The master camera can store information for up to 10 remote cameras in slots [01] through [10].

  10. Highlight the desired slot and press 2.

    Remote camera options will be displayed.

  11. Highlight [Address] and press 2.

    You will be prompted to enter an IP address.

  12. Enter the remote camera IP address.

    Enter the IP address you noted in Step 5.

    • Rotate the main command dial to highlight segments.

    • Press 4 or 2 to change the highlighted segment and press J to proceed.

    • Press X to add the remote camera to the master camera remote camera list and establish a connection.

    Viewing Remote Camera IP Addresses

    To view a remote camera’s IP address, select [Connect to other cameras] > [Network settings] in the camera’s network menu, highlight a synchronized release host profile, press 2, and select [TCP/IP].

  13. Add the remaining remote cameras.

    The master camera shows the number of cameras in the group currently connected or not connected.

  14. Take pictures.

    • Pressing the shutter-release button on the master camera releases the shutters on the remote cameras.

    • Note that the standby timers will not expire automatically when the cameras are in synchronized release mode.

Suspending Synchronized Release

To temporarily disable synchronized release without ending the camera’s connection to the network, select [OFF] for [Connect to other cameras] > [Synchronized release] in the network menu.

Viewing Remote Camera Status

To view remote camera status, highlight [Remote camera list] on the master camera and press 2.

  • Remote cameras are identified by IP address.

  • Remote camera status is displayed as follows:

    • [Connected]: Normal connection.

    • [Busy]: The camera is being controlled from another master camera.

    • [Error]: A remote camera has yet to be assigned to the slot or the group name is not correct. A further possibility is that the remote camera is off or its standby timer has expired.

    • [OFF]: [OFF] is selected for [Synchronized release] on the remote camera.

  • Highlighting a remote camera with the [Connected] label and pressing 2 displays the number of pictures awaiting upload from the camera via FTP, FTP connection status, the battery level, and the number of exposures remaining.

  • The entries for the remote cameras previously used for synchronized release will show the time of the most recent shot.

  • To edit remote camera settings from the master camera, highlight the camera in the remote camera list and press 2.

    • To temporarily suspend the connection to the selected camera, select [OFF] for [Connect to remote camera].

    • To temporarily suspend synchronized release on the selected camera, select [OFF] for [Synchronized release].

    • If desired, you can then edit the camera’s IP address by highlighting [Address] and pressing 2. To reconnect, select [ON] for [Connect to remote camera]. No connection will be established if no remote camera exists at the specified address.