camera

The coming enshittification of Canon Camera Connect

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A screenshot of the announcement on Canon's web site that a login with a Canon ID will be required to use its apps starting next year

I recently got a popup message on my phone from the Canon Camera Connect app, which I use to download photos from my Canon EOS camera. It took me to this announcement, which states that, from later next year, I’ll need to sign in to my Canon ID to use the app.

This seems silly. All I use the app for is to move photos from my camera to my phone wirelessly. The camera and my phone have a persistent Bluetooth connection when both are switched on and in range, and then when photos are to be downloaded, it switches to a private peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection. There’s no need for me to be signed in to a Canon ID to be able to use the app, as no data needs to be sent to Canon’s servers.

Canon’s stated reasons for requiring a sign in with a Canon ID are that it’ll allow better integration with their cloud services. At present, these are separate apps, but I’m assuming they want people to upload their images to their cloud service, so that they can charge a subscription. I don’t know if digital camera sales are falling, now that everyone has a pretty good camera in their smartphone, but I suppose Canon see this as an additional revenue stream.

And there’s being able to use people’s personal data, too. If people are signed in using your app, you can track what they do.

I like using Cory Doctorow‘s term ‘enshittification‘ for this, as it’s an example of requiring a user to do something that isn’t going to make their experience any better. It’s a very one-sided act on the part of Canon. I would also argue that it goes against the spirit of Principal C of the GDPR, which is to minimise the data being captured. I think even Canon would struggle to argue whether it’s necessary for people to surrender their personal data, just to use an app that works locally between their devices. Indeed, I may well draft a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office about this to pre-empt this change.

As for alternatives to Canon Camera Connect: the only one I could find is PhotoSync. The ability to download photos from Canon cameras (and other brands) requires the purchase of a Premium subscription, which is either a £25 one-off payment, £6 per year or 80p per month as I write this.

New camera!

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Canon EOS 450D

I’m now the proud owner of a Canon EOS 450D (or EOS Digital Rebel XSi). Like last time, it’s my Dad’s old camera – he’s upgraded to an EOS 600D and so he’s passed his 450D to me. In turn, my old EOS 300D will be going to Christine who presently has a small Nikon point-and-shoot camera.

So far the main benefits have been higher resolution images – 11 megapixels, rather than 8 – more intuitive use of advanced features like adjusting the focal length (since it actually makes decent use of the LCD screen), larger LCD screen, lighter weight and use of the more ubiquitous SD cards rather than the big old CompactFlash cards.

I’ve taken a few photos with it but with it being winter and therefore generally rubbish weather they’re not the greatest pictures. I’ll link some tomorrow though.

Vest Pocket Kodak

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Vest Pocket Kodak

This is a camera made by the Eastman Kodak company in 1917, as part of their ‘Vest Pocket Kodak’ range. It was given to me by Christine’s grandparents. I haven’t tried taking any pictures with it yet, as it didn’t have any film in it. Apparently, the film is still available to buy from specialist retailers though.

I gather that it gets its name from the fact it could fit in one’s vest pocket, as folded up it’s quite small – about the same size as a modern compact digital camera. One such Vest Pocket Kodak model has been up Mount Everest before.

I’m not sure quite what to do with it. I will probably ask the National Media Museum if they are interested in it, since they’re in Bradford and have a large photography gallery; however, several hundred thousand of these cameras were made and so it’s possible that they aren’t interested in it; nor will it make a lot of money second hand (examples in better condition are available for about £50 on eBay from specialist camera sellers). Still, I’ve taken a few pictures of it and may be willing to give it a worthy home if approached.

Canon EOS 300D

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Me and my EOS 300D

One of my Christmas presents was a “new” camera – a Canon EOS 300D. Those of you who know about cameras will know that the 300D is not exactly a new model – in fact, it was launched over 5 years ago. This specific camera was in fact my dad’s camera, but he’s since acquired a Canon EOS 450D, so his old camera was passed down to me.

It’s my first SLR camera and I’m still getting used to it, but I used a trip to the coastal town of Scarborough today to get a bit of practice. The photos will look dull because of the weather – which was dull all day.

You can see them in this Flickr set.