DSLR and mirrorless over USB
The classic photo booth setup: camera connected to the Windows machine over USB, live view on the touchscreen, triggering by buzzer or screen, image transfer straight into the session.
Supported cameras for your photo booth: Canon, Nikon, Sony and webcam
RAWCaptureBooth controls DSLR and mirrorless cameras as well as webcams directly. This page lists the models that are supported at the current state, explains how they are connected and which camera properties really matter in continuous photo booth operation.
Connection types and camera categories
Cameras are controlled directly by RAWCaptureBooth – without additional software.
Sony with native USB driver
Modern Sony models are controlled without additional software. The camera has to be set to the USB mode „PC Remote“; the 64-bit version can optionally use the Sony Camera Remote SDK.
Webcam as an entry point
For simple builds, test installations or mobile setups a webcam is enough. The complete session workflow with layouts, printing and sharing stays the same.
RAW and JPEG in parallel
Cameras that store JPEG+RAW deliver the JPEG for the guest and keep the RAW file for later editing, complaints or high-quality client galleries.
List of supported camera models
The following models should be supported at the current state. As not every camera is available to us as a test device, we appreciate feedback from real events – for both success and problems.
Canon (EOS series via USB)
- EOS R (mirrorless): R · R3 · R5 · R6 · R6 Mark II · R7 · R8 · R10 · R50 · R100 · Ra · RP
- EOS M (mirrorless): M6 Mark II · M50 (Kiss M) · M50 Mark II (Kiss M II)
- EOS 1D: 1D Mark III · 1D Mark IV · 1Ds Mark III · 1D C · 1D X · 1D X Mark II · 1D X Mark III
- EOS 5D, 6D, 7D: 5D Mark II · 5D Mark III · 5D Mark IV · 5DS · 5DS R · 6D · 6D Mark II · 7D · 7D Mark II
- EOS two-digit: 40D · 50D · 60D · 60Da · 70D · 77D (9000D) · 80D · 90D
- EOS three-digit (Rebel / Kiss): 100D (SL1) · 200D (SL2) · 250D / 200D Mark II (SL3) · 500D (T1i) · 550D (T2i) · 600D (T3i) · 650D (T4i) · 700D (T5i) · 750D (T6i) · 760D (T6s / 8000D) · 800D (T7i) · 850D (T8i)
- EOS four-digit (Rebel / Kiss): 1000D (XS) · 1100D (T3) · 1200D (T5) · 1300D (T6) · 2000D (T7) · 3000D · 4000D (T100)
- PowerShot: G5 X Mark II · G7 X Mark III · SX70 HS
Note: The camera driver lists limitations for the EOS 40D – feedback from real events is especially welcome here.
Nikon (DSLR and Z series)
- Z series (mirrorless): Z5 · Z5 II · Z6 · Z6 II · Z6 III · Z7 · Z7 II · Z8 · Z9 · Z30 · Z50 · Z50 II · Zf
- Nikon 1 (mirrorless): 1 J3 · 1 J4 · 1 J5 · 1 V1 · 1 V2 · 1 V3
- Full frame, professional: D3 · D3s · D3x · D4 · D4S · D5 · Df
- Full frame (three-digit): D600 · D610 · D700 · D750 · D780 · D800 · D800E · D810 · D810A · D850
- APS-C (three-digit): D300 · D300S · D500
- APS-C (four-digit): D3200 · D3300 · D3400 · D3500 · D5000 · D5100 · D5200 · D5300 · D5500 · D5600 · D7000 · D7100 · D7200 · D7500
- Others: D90 · FC
Note: the Nikon D3000 series is not recommended, because those cameras do not provide reliable live view and image transfer.
Nikon models without live view:
- D200
- D40 · D40X · D50 · D60 · D70 · D70s · D80
- L830 · L840
Sony (over USB, „PC Remote“)
- Alpha 7 (full frame): α7 · α7 II · α7 III · α7 IV
- Alpha 7R (high resolution): α7R · α7R II · α7R III · α7R IIIA · α7R IV · α7R IVA · α7R V
- Alpha 7S (low light): α7S · α7S II · α7S III
- Alpha 7C (compact): α7C · α7C II · α7C R
- Alpha 9 and Alpha 1 (professional): α9 · α9 II · α9 III · α1
- Alpha 6000 (APS-C): α6000 · α6100 · α6300 · α6400 · α6500 · α6600 · α6700
- ZV (vlog): ZV-E1 · ZV-E10 · ZV-E10 II
- Cinema Line: FX3 · FX30
The camera has to be set to the USB mode „PC Remote“, otherwise it only appears as mass storage and cannot be controlled.
All listed models can be controlled over USB – including live view, autofocus, shutter release and exposure settings.
The 64-bit version can additionally use the official Sony Camera Remote SDK for a smoother live image and more reliable exposure values.
What matters when choosing a photo booth camera
Megapixels matter far less than the question whether a camera can be remote controlled continuously. Three properties are particularly important:
- Reliable live view: without live view guests get no preview. Models without live view can be triggered, but are inconvenient for photo booth operation.
- JPEG enabled in the camera: a JPEG is always required for the session. If the camera is set to RAW only, capture fails – choose JPEG or JPEG+RAW.
- Permanent power: a power adapter or dummy battery prevents the booth from stopping mid-event. A memory card should be inserted and have free space as well.
If older models react slowly when triggering, the option to focus again before capture helps. In dark rooms the live view exposure boost provides a visible preview without changing the actual exposure of the photo.
Frequently asked questions
First check whether the PC sees the camera at all (Device Manager). Then change the USB cable and port, switch the camera on before starting the software, and for Sony set the USB mode to „PC Remote“.
Enable the additional focus step before capture in the camera settings. Older models in particular refuse to release the shutter as long as focus has not been confirmed.
Set the camera to JPEG or JPEG+RAW. A JPEG image is always required for the session; in RAW-only mode the software cannot process the image.
Often yes. Many models of the same series behave identically. The trial version quickly shows whether live view and triggering work.