FMX for iPad: Camera Settings

Updated 2 weeks ago · 8 min readIntermediate

The Camera section in FMX for iPad Global Settings controls the capture source, live preview, image capture, and presentation to guests. You can use the iPad's built-in camera or a compatible external Canon, Nikon, Sony, or GoPro camera connected by USB.

Important: External-camera support requires a physical iPad and a compatible camera, firmware, USB data cable, and adapter or powered hub where needed. Test the exact event setup before taking it on site. A camera supported by FMX for Windows is not automatically validated on iPadOS.

Choose the Capture Source

Open Global Settings > Camera.
Open Capture Source.
Select the built-in iPad camera or External Camera.
If you chose External Camera, connect and power on the camera, then tap Refresh External Cameras.
Choose the detected device in External Camera.
Wait for Connection to report that the camera is ready.
Set Camera Rotation, Fill Mode, and Mirror Live View for the booth mounting.
Open Camera Settings and complete a Live View and Take Photo test.

FMX scans Canon, Nikon, Sony, and GoPro connections together and identifies the brand automatically. You do not need to choose a brand before refreshing.

Connect an External Camera

Canon

Insert a memory card, use a stable battery or AC adapter, and set Manual mode for consistent exposure.
Disable wireless transfer or close any camera app that could compete for control.
Connect the Canon to the iPad with a USB data cable and the required USB-C adapter or powered hub.
Tap Refresh External Cameras, select the Canon, and confirm that Connection is ready.

FMX shows the capture, preview, and camera-setting controls that the connected Canon makes available.

Nikon

Insert a memory card and set photo quality to JPEG or JPEG+RAW, not RAW-only.
Set the camera to P, S, A, or M; Manual is recommended for event consistency.
Connect by USB using the camera's normal PTP/tethered mode.
Tap Refresh External Cameras, select the Nikon, and wait for a ready connection.

Nikon features are capability-based. FMX enables Live View, Take Photo, video, and exposure/focus controls only when the selected body reports the corresponding operation. Nikon D5500 has been hardware-verified; other compatible DSLR and Z bodies must be tested with their current firmware.

If Nikon reports an error, check the mode dial, memory card, battery, and any active HDMI/TV output before reconnecting.

Sony

Insert a memory card and set the camera to Manual or another compatible still-photo mode.
Set the Sony USB connection/control mode required for tethered remote operation; this is normally PC Remote.
Close Sony remote-control software on any nearby device and disable conflicting wireless control.
Connect by USB, tap Refresh External Cameras, select the Sony, and confirm the ready connection.

Sony support uses the USB connection, not Imaging Edge or a Wi-Fi transfer workflow. Live View, Take Photo, video, and manual controls appear according to the camera's reported capabilities. Sony a6700 has been hardware-verified on iPadOS; test other bodies before event use.

GoPro

Insert a formatted SD card with enough free space.
Set USB Connection on the GoPro to GoPro Connect, not MTP.
Configure photo output, video resolution, frame rate, digital lens, and stabilization on the GoPro.
Connect the camera with a USB-C data cable.
Allow FMX local-network access when iPadOS prompts you. The control connection uses the USB network interface.
Tap Refresh External Cameras, select the GoPro, and confirm the connection, battery, and SD Card status.

GoPro Live View, Take Photo, and Record Video use native camera capture. FMX downloads the full-quality media from the SD card. Native video uses the GoPro microphones, and the optional delete-after-download setting removes media only after a verified transfer. GoPro HERO13 Black is hardware-verified; test other Open GoPro-compatible models before an event.

External Camera Controls

Controls in Camera Settings depend on what the selected camera reports. FMX can show:

Live View and test capture
ISO, aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and focus controls where supported
Camera and storage status
Rotation, fill, and mirror options
Brand-specific download or recording options

An unavailable control does not necessarily indicate a fault; the body may not expose that property over USB. Set unavailable exposure or quality options directly on the camera.

Built-In Camera Settings

Camera Position

Front camera (TrueDepth) -- A natural fit for guest-facing photo booths. The front camera allows guests to see themselves on screen while posing, providing a natural selfie-style experience.
Rear camera -- Higher resolution on most iPad models. Useful for specific booth designs where the iPad faces toward guests with a separate preview monitor, or when maximum image quality is the priority.

Select the camera position that matches your booth hardware setup. FMX remembers the selection and uses the same camera on subsequent launches.

Camera Device Type

On iPad models with multiple rear lenses, you can select which lens to use:

Wide -- The standard wide-angle lens, available on all iPads. Best for most booth setups as it captures a broader field of view.
Telephoto -- Available on iPad Pro models with dual-camera systems. Provides a tighter crop and slight compression that can be flattering for portraits.

Tip: Not all iPads have a telephoto lens. If your iPad model has only a single rear camera, this option will not appear. Check your iPad's hardware specifications if you are unsure which lenses are available.

Aspect Ratio and Fill Mode

Aspect ratio -- Choose the capture aspect ratio. Common options include 4:3 (native iPad sensor ratio), 16:9, 1:1 (square), and others. The selected ratio determines how the camera feed is cropped during capture.
Fill mode -- Controls how the camera preview fits within the display area. Options typically include filling the screen (cropping edges) or fitting the full frame (with letterboxing).

Tip: Match the capture aspect ratio to your photo layout design. If your layout expects a 4:3 photo, set the camera to 4:3 to avoid unexpected cropping or letterboxing in the final output.

Mirror Settings

Mirror settings control whether the camera preview and captured image are flipped horizontally:

Mirror per camera position -- Front and rear cameras have independent mirror settings. By default, the front camera preview is mirrored (as guests expect from a selfie view), while the rear camera is not.
Preview vs. capture -- You can configure mirroring independently for the live preview and the saved photo, giving you control over whether the final image matches the preview or is flipped.

Mirroring the front camera preview feels natural to guests because it matches what they see in a mirror. The captured image can be saved unmirrored (true orientation) or mirrored to match what the guest saw on screen.

High-Resolution Capture

High-resolution toggle -- When enabled, FMX captures photos at the camera's maximum available resolution rather than the preview resolution. This produces higher-quality final images suitable for large prints.
Performance note -- High-resolution capture may introduce a brief delay between the shutter trigger and the photo being available for processing. On older iPad models, this delay may be more noticeable.

Tip: Enable high-resolution capture when print quality matters. For digital-only events where speed is the priority, standard resolution provides faster processing with minimal visible quality difference on screen.

Screen Flash

Screen flash is an iPad-exclusive feature that uses the iPad's display as a light source during capture. When triggered, the screen briefly flashes white (or a configured color) at maximum brightness to illuminate the subject.

Useful for low-light environments where no external lighting is available
Supplements but does not replace proper booth lighting -- it provides a soft fill light from the front, similar to how smartphones handle low-light selfies
Configurable -- Can be enabled or disabled depending on your lighting setup

Tip: Screen flash works best in dimly lit environments where it can make a noticeable difference. In well-lit venues with professional booth lighting, you can disable it to avoid the brief bright flash between shots.

Screen flash applies to the built-in iPad camera. When using an external camera, use the camera-compatible continuous lighting or flash setup and test its timing separately.

JPEG Quality and Compression

JPEG quality -- Controls the compression level of captured photos. Higher quality produces larger files with more detail; lower quality produces smaller files with some loss of fine detail.
Recommended range -- 80-95% for most booth applications. This balances file size with visual quality. Values below 70% may show visible compression artifacts, especially in areas with gradients or fine textures.

Test Mode

Test Mode toggle -- When enabled, FMX cycles through a set of built-in test photos instead of using the live camera feed. This is invaluable for workflow testing and event setup.
Use cases -- Test your workflow sequence, layout composition, sharing flow, and printing without needing to position someone in front of the camera. Test Mode images behave identically to real captures throughout the entire workflow.

Tip: Enable Test Mode while building and debugging your event workflow. Switch back to the live camera only when you are ready for final testing with real subjects.

External Camera Troubleshooting

No camera appears after refresh

Confirm that you are using a physical iPad and a USB data cable, not a charge-only cable.
Unlock and power on the camera before tapping Refresh External Cameras.
Reconnect through a powered USB-C hub if the camera or adapter needs more power.
Close other apps that may be using the camera, then reopen FMX.

The camera appears but is not ready

Recheck the required camera mode: tethered/PTP for Nikon or Canon, PC Remote for Sony, or GoPro Connect for GoPro.
Insert a memory card, check battery level, and disable conflicting Wi-Fi or HDMI features.
Select the detected camera again after refreshing.

Live View works but capture or video does not

The connected body may not expose that operation over USB.
For Nikon, use JPEG or JPEG+RAW and a P/S/A/M mode.
For GoPro, confirm the SD card has space and leave quality settings on the camera.
Run a short end-to-end workflow test rather than relying only on the settings preview.

See FMX Supported Camera List for the platform comparison and Take Photo: Overview for workflow setup.

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