The DSLR feature allows operators to connect a professional DSLR or mirrorless camera directly to Pictor, delivering high-quality images with full manual control over exposure, focus, and color. Requires a Pro or higher license.
How It Works
The DSLR feature has two independent configuration layers:
Preview Settings — control how the camera behaves during live view. Changes are visible in real time and optimized for responsiveness.
Capture Settings — control how the final photo is taken. Applied only at the moment of capture and may differ from what you see in preview.
The system automatically switches between the two. This is why the preview can look different from the final image — they are intentionally separate.
1. Accessing DSLR Settings
Open the desired Event in your Pictor dashboard.
Navigate to the Devices section.
When a DSLR is connected via USB, it appears in the device list (e.g. Canon EOS 400D — Detected). At this stage the camera is detected but not yet active.
Toggle the camera ON to enable it.
Initialization
After enabling, the system initializes the camera and loads its supported settings. This may take a few seconds — wait until the camera is fully ready before adjusting settings. Settings become available progressively during this phase.
2. DSLR Settings Overview
⚠ Important: Available settings vary by camera manufacturer and model. Pictor dynamically shows only options supported by the connected camera.
Recommended starting point: Set Exposure Mode → M (Manual). Manual mode unlocks full control of ISO, Shutter, Aperture, and more.
Preview Settings (Live View)
Control how the camera behaves during live preview. Adjustable settings include:
Exposure Mode — controls whether you or the camera manages exposure
ISO — sensor sensitivity; higher ISO = brighter but more noise
Aperture (f-stop) — depth of field and light entry; lower f-stop = more blur + brighter image
Shutter Speed — how long light hits the sensor; faster = sharper images
Exposure — overall image brightness
Image Quality — resolution and format (varies by model)
White Balance — corrects lighting color automatically or manually
Color Temp (Kelvin) — fine-tune white balance for warmer or cooler tones
Autofocus controls (in Preview Settings):
Size of one focus step
Pause between focus steps
Focus Time — set to the lowest value for faster, smoother capture experience
Autofocus during countdown — enables continuous autofocus until capture; recommended when guests move frequently
Autofocus during capture
Click Start Live View to see the camera feed in real time. Changes to Preview Settings are reflected immediately.
Capture Settings
Define how the camera behaves when the photo is actually taken. These settings are applied only during capture and control the final image output. They may differ from Preview Settings — always take a test photo to confirm the result before going live.
3. Assigning DSLR to Templates
Each template must be told which camera source to use.
Open your template in the Capture Configure section.
Locate Camera Source and select DSLR Camera (e.g. Canon EOS 400D).
Save the template, then save the event.
4. Launching the Event
When you start the event:
The DSLR automatically initializes and switches into Live View
Preview Settings control how the image appears during the guest experience
Capture Settings are applied when the photo is taken
5. Adjusting Settings During the Event
Camera settings can be changed while the event is running without stopping it.
Triple tap on the right side of the screen to open DSLR settings. Both Preview and Capture Settings can be updated and changes apply immediately.
6. Troubleshooting
Camera stops responding after changing settings
Usually caused by a dropped USB connection or camera freezing during Live View.
Fix: Turn the camera off → wait 2 seconds → turn back on to reset the camera state.
Live View not showing
Check the following:
DSLR is toggled ON in Devices
USB cable is firmly connected
Camera is not in video mode
Camera is not switch-locked
Some settings are greyed out or disabled
Cause: Camera is not in Manual (M) mode, or the setting isn't supported by your camera model.
Fix: Set Exposure Mode → M to unlock full control. The system only shows settings supported by the connected camera.
Preview is dark when using flash
Preview does not reflect flash output — the camera preview shows available ambient light only. External flash is applied only during capture. The final image will appear brighter than the preview.
Autofocus is inconsistent
Focus behavior depends on autofocus settings, focus timing configuration, and camera capabilities. Autofocus may behave differently between preview, countdown, and capture. Adjust focus step size, pause, and focus time in Preview Settings.
7. Best Practices
Wait for initialization — always wait until the camera is fully ready before adjusting settings
Start in Manual mode — set Exposure Mode → M for full control and more predictable results
Validate the final output — preview does not always match the final image; always take a test photo before going live
Test at the actual venue — lighting conditions vary significantly; adjust ISO, exposure, and white balance on location
Recommended baseline settings: ISO 400–800 · Aperture f/4 · Shutter 1/125s — then fine-tune from sample captures
Set Focus Time to the lowest value — reduces lag and speeds up guest flow
Use runtime adjustments if needed — triple tap the right side of the screen to update settings mid-event without stopping it
Keep spares ready — spare USB cables and battery/AC adapters prevent interruptions