gPhoto provides the software stack used by many Linux applications to communicate with digital cameras. Its two central components are libgphoto2, which provides camera access and control to applications, and gphoto2, a command-line frontend for using those facilities directly from a terminal or script.
The project is useful for far more than copying photographs from a camera. Depending on the capabilities exposed by the device, it can inspect and alter camera settings, trigger captures, download images and previews, manage files on camera storage and provide the foundation for tethered-shooting applications.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Automatic detection of many digital cameras connected over USB.
- List folders and files stored on a camera and download selected photographs.
- Upload files to camera storage where the device supports the operation.
- Delete files and create or remove folders on supported cameras.
- Trigger image capture remotely from the command line.
- Capture and download photographs in a single scripted operation.
- Retrieve camera previews and live-view frames where supported by the hardware.
- Read available camera configuration settings and change supported values remotely.
- Support for Picture Transfer Protocol devices and other camera-specific access methods provided by libgphoto2.
- Interactive shell mode for issuing multiple camera commands in one session.
- Event-waiting and hook facilities useful for automated capture workflows.
- libgphoto2 API allows graphical applications and specialist tools to reuse the same camera support.
- Camera support includes models from major manufacturers, with capabilities varying according to each device.
Website: www.gphoto.org
Support: Documentation
Developer: gPhoto developers
License: GNU General Public License v2.0 / GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1
gPhoto is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Camera Tools | |
|---|---|
| darktable | Virtual lighttable and darkroom for photographers |
| digiKam | Digital photo management application with revamped camera support |
| gPhoto | Digital camera command-line client |
| ExifTool | Library and program to read and write meta information in multimedia files |
| RawTherapee | RAW image processing application |
| RapidRAW | Non-destructive, and GPU-accelerated RAW image editor |
| Entangle | Tethered camera control and capture |
| Kamera | KDE integration for gphoto2 cameras |
| cameractrls | Set camera controls |
| rawbit | Camera RAW image preprocessor and importer |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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