Hi, currently I have a project to develop a customized iOS/iPadOS app that is expected to can connect and communicate an External Cameras to iPhone/iPad device through USB Connection. The app should be able to access the taken photo from the External Cameras and/or take a shot executed by the app. The external camera manufacturers are like Canon, Nikon, and Sony.
As references, there are some apps that have that capability above released in Appstore:
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/camera-connect-control/id1457548017
- https://apps.apple.com/id/app/image-capture-go/id1606632530?platform=iphone
As far as I know, I can connect to the Camera by using External Accessory framework provided by Apple as long the external device is MFi program supported and I have the detail of command protocol of the the device used.
In my case, Canon Camera is listed as MFi device in https://mfi.apple.com/account/accessory-search. But I don't have the detailed command protocol of the device to communicate with.
Questions:
- Is my understanding related External Accessory framework correct?
- How to connect and communicate external camera to iPhone/iPad via USB by using External Accessory framework?
- Is there any other work around to do the things like the reference apps in Appstore above?
Thank you very much.