Canon WFT-E1A Wireless LAN File Transmitter

Comments about Canon WFT-E1A Wireless LAN File Transmitter:

Yes - the setup on this is a nightmare. But that is a PC / Windows issue. The functioning of this device is awsomely easy. If your Windows setup is done correctly. I still use Win XP, and it would seem like I will be staying there for quite a while, since it works so well.

I use it just about every time I switch my camera on, it is just soooo nice to shoot directly to the PC!

Comments about Canon WFT-E1A Wireless LAN File Transmitter:

Set up can be very complicated. I was getting a lot of error 46, which is a computer communication error. The camera was set up and actually able to create the capture file on my mac. no file transfer though. I recommend trying to set it up (with set up wizard) wired with an ethernet cable first. (i use a netgear 5 port switch instead of a crossover cable) once you have that working. which should be easy... then use the set up wizard to set it up for wifi. I'm using an airport express on an isolated LAN. I set the airport express up with canons wft manual 2.0. I also recommend defragmenting your HD, and updating to wft 3.3. I almost gave up on it, but given these suggestions it works and i love it! I wish my phaseone backs had the same function! They should!

Comments about Canon WFT-E1A Wireless LAN File Transmitter:

Works very well but took a bit to figure out how it worked. one con is it will only work under the slower 11mb/sec wireless b mode when wanting to connect directly to a laptop. to get the wireless g mode you have to have a intermediate basestation to get it to work. that's the trick to it. the manual states this and it was easy to overlook. spent a hour pulling my hair out trying to figure out why it worked on my old wireless b laptop but not my new wireless g intel mac before reading the fine print. once this is set-up it works like a charm. i use a apple airport express as the basestation and a apple laptop with filesharing on for the destination in the field. able to shoot little league baseball and not have to run to the booth to download as soon as the game is over is a godsend. i think if the manual would state more clearly that a basestation is required for high speed transfer which i think everyone wants the high speed then it would get rid of alot of the problems that people are having.

Comments about Canon WFT-E1A Wireless LAN File Transmitter:

I use this on location for fast transfer to the laptop from the camera. Once it's set up, which does take some effort and understanding of wireless networks and computer file hierarchy... the system works fantastic! I can shoot, pull the people out of place walk to the laptop to show and the photos are there already. THAT is impressive to customers, they think it's magic (and it is!). The physical size could be better as attaching it to a 1D body makes for sizable mass in your hands but I love the system.

Comments about Canon WFT-E1A Wireless LAN File Transmitter:

I bought this to use with my 5D and Mac laptop with wireless card. I could not get this set up on my own even though I am very computer savvy! I called Canon and they can't tell you what settings you need on your computer for it to talk to this device directly (as a server), via a router, or WEP (wireless entry port). I had to hire an IT guy to help, but turns out the E1A was defective. Sent it back. Second one: IT guy got it hooked up to my laptop using the laptop as a server. Each image took 30-45 seconds to transfer instead of the 10 seconds I was expecting. A WEP or a router is supposed to be faster (additional purchase), but that would have involved paying the IT guy to help me again and with no guarantee it would be fast enough! Even the IT guy said it was confusing to hook up and he was surprised Canon didn't provide more info or support for this. When you call your cable company their support people walk you through the internet setup whether you are on a Mac or PC, and they tell you the numbers to enter in the menu boxes. They help you get your email set up. Canon assumes you know the numbers and where to find them, and all the buttons to click in the menus (and which menus to even go to)! WHO knows this but maybe IT people? Another guy in the photo forum who tried to use this device said it was a nightmare to set up and he had to hire an IT guy, too. I was so disappointed and frustrated I gave up and returned it. Canon has no plans to improve the E1A though they said they made improvements to the E2A. However, I must say B&H was WONDERFUL as always!!!!!!!! The return and refund was no problem.