Nikon just released a new version of its camera connectivity app SnapBridge. The new SnapBridge Version 2.0—which is available for both iOS and Android devices starting today—has been redesigned with an easier-to-use interface and a bunch of new features like the ability to register up to five devices, and full-manual control of select cameras.

On the UI side, both the screen design and the menu structure have been updated to be 'more intuitive' and offer direct access to Help functions. The app has also now been equipped with a 'power saving mode' that keeps SnapBridge from draining your smartphone or tablet's battery when you're not connected to a camera (i.e. when it's not in use).

On the feature side, the major addition is full manual control. If you have a compatible camera—according to Nikon, these include the Nikon D850, D500, D7500, and D5600—you'll now be able to control exposure modes (P/S/A/M), shutter speed, aperture, exposure comp, ISO, and white balance.

You can learn more about the new SnapBridge app by reading the full press release below, or downloading it yourself off of the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

Easier to Use, More Intuitive and Simpler Connection with SnapBridge Version 2.0*

MELVILLE, NY (November 29, 2017 at 11:00 P.M. EST) – Today, Nikon is pleased to announce the release of version 2.0 of Nikon SnapBridge, which offers enhanced functionality, stability and ease of use. SnapBridge is the Nikon app that enables users to easily and seamlessly share images and control select Nikon digital camera via Bluetooth** and Wi-Fi® connection with a compatible smart device such as a phone or tablet.

Enhanced Interface and Connectivity

SnapBridge version 2.0 reflects feedback from users of earlier versions of the app and represents a significant update of the user interface (GUI). Screen design and menu structure have been significantly revised in several ways, including the adoption of progress displays to provide visual confirmation of the status of an operation (e.g. when a smart device is paired with a camera or connection is changed to a Wi-Fi connection). Direct access to help functions from the app menu are also now available. The app also offers different instructions for each category of camera to ensure easier setup, navigation and usage.

Additionally, up to five cameras can now be registered with the device running the app. This makes switching between cameras much easier for those who own multiple Nikon cameras.

The app is also equipped with a new power-saving mode that controls the amount of smart device power consumed by the app when it is not connected to a camera for an extended period of time. SnapBridge Version 2.0 also features a location data accuracy setting that allows users to choose between lower power consumption and greater location data accuracy by selecting how often the smart device updates location data.

Greater Remote Photography Functions

For even more creative control with select Nikon cameras, important digital SLR camera settings can now be controlled from the SnapBridge app through remote photography*. The live view display on the smart device can be used to confirm and adjust camera settings, allowing users to enjoy more full-scale shooting. Users also now have access to exposure modes (P/S/A/M), shutter speed, aperture value, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, and white balance. Controls will vary among various camera models.

Nikon Image Space Integration

Nikon SnapBridge Version 2.0 has a dedicated tab that makes it easier than ever to use NIKON IMAGE SPACE. With SnapBridge 2.0 and a NIKON IMAGE SPACE account a user can automatically upload an unlimited number 2MB images ideal for sharing on the go. In addition, photos taken using remote photography can now be uploaded to NIKON IMAGE SPACE automatically.

Nikon will continue to enhance the app's usability and strengthen its functions to provide users with ever increasingly rich imaging experiences well into the future.

For more information about Nikon SnapBridge and the latest Nikon cameras and other products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

*Functions available with the SnapBridge and SnapBridge 360/170 apps differ.

iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch®, and Android™ devices to which the SnapBridge app has been installed can be used. The SnapBridge app can be downloaded free of charge from the App Store® and Google Play™. See Nikon's website for further information.

I had the same problem with my D850 and Iphone7 until I trashed the D850 from my existing Bluetooth connections. After reconnecting my D850 I got a connection at once and since then it is working perfect. I hope this will help you too.

Snapbridge's BT works fine with my D500 and Nexus 5 and I find it useful for adding GPS data to the image's EXIF data when needed.

WiFi is a different story. I couldn't get a WiFi connection between the smartphone and the camera with the previous version of Snapbridge and it doesn't work with this new version either. It's a really poor app in this regard. However, for remote control, I have the extremely comprehensive dqslrDashboard and that works perfectly with a USB cable connection.

With this version Nikon have written a code that stops us from using any third party app.

The original version was terrible and dropped out all the time but with a LOT of effort you could connect. Once connected you could leave the Snapbridge app running in the background then open any other third party app to control the camera.

In version 2 there is no way to leave the Snapbridge/wifi connection running whilst going into another app. As soon as you try to open another app the connection cuts out.

IMO this is Nikon's way of forcing us to ONLY use their app to "control" the Camera. The problem is:

1. Nikon sold a product at a given point in time with full functionality. People chose to buy that product based on those features. Then AFTER purchase, Nikon have disabled that functionality via firmware upgrades.

2. Their app is a joke with very limited functionality. They don't even offer bracketing FFS! Third party apps offer comprehensive control of the camera.

I like using SnapBridge to occasionally attach GPS data to the images in my D500. It works OK, sometimes. I read that there was an update here, and so put on my Tablet to get the update. No notification appears. Mmm, so go to the Play Store and it seems my Tablet is not compatible with this update. Android 5 and above apparently. :-(

I hope it is a major improvement, but I won't be using it until the tablet goes pop! Maybe by then it may be v.3 or v.4 and be working not only as people expect, but maybe even beyond those expectations.

Well, given the remote camera functionality on V.201, I finally got around to trying Snapbridge on my D850. So far so good. It connected faultlessly and I took a couple of shots to test it out on my phone. Worked a treat. No need for the self timer or a remote when taking landscapes or whatever in live view.

"I am so frustrated with the Nikon WMU WiFi app. It is so incredibly poorly designed and executed! For the love of God, Nikon, put some money into this app and FIX IT!!! I haven't felt this frustrated in ages! This is not what I expect from a Japanese company that prides itself on bringing us quality products. Usually the Japanese are ahead of us in technology, but they can't design a proper WiFi app in the year 2016????

I'm using a Samsung S5 and the WiFi is constantly connecting and disconnecting to the D750. I've been trying to download photos onto my phone and 10 photos in, the app disconnects, then reconnects and I have to once again download all the thumbnails, select the photos I want downloaded and watch that ******* app disconnect again. It is maddening and unacceptable! "https://www.flickr.com/groups/393420@N25/discuss/72157666498772760/

"Nikon Wifi sucks - D750Nikon, please read this, and know you have another ticked off customer. Hire someone other than a 12 year old to write your software, or make your protocol public so third parties can write an app to trigger features on your cameras, because this app is a joke."

AFAIK you cannot change camera settings with WMU, which kinda makes it just remote release, not remote control. I complained this to Nikon represntative earlierly and he said they have been pushing it to developers quite some time. Well, at least something happened, but I'd like to have this on all WiFi enabled cameras.

i use WMU now, and snapbridge both use Wifi. version 2 of snapbridge does not support the D750. im going to use magiclantern on my old rebel for focusstacking and i read that its possible to do focusstacking on the D750 using dslrdashboard. im dissapointed in Nikon. amazing camera's like the D500 D750 D850 but software is horrible and im missing lenses. and what about video in the d850, even canon does it better. for stills, D750/D850 but right now im not sure if im going to invest in the D850 or move to the Sony 7R3.

Well this may make me finally upgrade my D5300s to D5600. I like the idea of the touch screen although otherwise don’t see much upgrade and it downgrades by deleting GPS...which I don’t use anyway but apparantly snapbridge can fill in for.

Meanwhile will reaquaint myself with WMU.

An 850 is in my future but think I can wait till refurbs show up.

I hoped to try snapbridge but the dildos won’t let you past the bluetooth pairing. I agree Nikon must have requirements for App developers that they must have IQs below 50 or so.

Does anyone have any idea *why* it is so slow to download from the camera with SnapBridge? I don't understand how it can take less time for me to upload the NEF files from my PC to my cloud backup than it does to get the JPG previews from my camera to my phone. I haven't tried with 2.0 yet, but based on comments I doubt this has improved.

It takes hours to transfer a few minutes of shooting. It drains my battery to 5% then turns off the transfer early. If you're right, they aren't saving any battery with low radio transmission power. Why bother with wifi at all if the bandwidth is so limited?

That is strange. Cell phones can transfer gigabytes upon gigabytes of data over WiFi with hardly any impact to the battery. Maybe it's doing CPU computation on the data rather than just copying the bits?

i'd hate to be a Nikon user right now. completely abandoning all of their users if they don't have the "latest (not so) greatest" from them. good luck using a "P" series lens if you have anything older than a 3300. for example.. 7100,7200,5100,5300,5500,3000,3100,3200 (that's about twice as many models than the new App even supports, Just sayin.) .........I don't own any of these, but a couple of my friends do. Nikon is really sticking it to them lately. Not sure whats going on here.

The app needs Bluetooth and WiFi to work. Those older cameras don't have Bluetooth hardware in them, and some don't even have WiFi, so the app can't possibly work with them. This is not a case of "abandoning users".

P series lenses work with the D7100. And the AF-P lenses are few and far between, and mostly aimed at entry level bodies at this point. Also, people that need the P functionality will likely want a newer camera anyway, as it's a video-centric feature and older nikon bodies do not have great video specs (resolution, frame rate).

Didn't feel like digging through the list of compatible cameras, but it's not as many as people think. Either way, it's in very few lenses, and would only be an attractive option for video centric nikon shooters, which is no one using an older nikon body.

The idea is great, and a great execution is possible too. E.g., look at the camera widget on an AppleWatch: It is the approx. equivalent of SnapBridge and works like a charm, despite being limited to the resouces of a watch (it starts the camera, display its liveview (on the watch) and remote controls it (shutter)).

With this great example of the possible, how on earth could they mess it up for a 2.0 version?

I still want the real deal though: have a camera app behave as a responsive virtual camera, without having to touch the real and remote one at all.

This Snapbridge app is cr*p! Any other camera connects and reconnects flawlessly to its apps. Tried compacts and DSLRs, on android and on iphones. Some times it connects but usually it is stuck in "trying to connect" thing. WMU though was good. Both built in and on wu-1a/b. Why fix what isn't broke?

I work in a photography store and each time we sell a Nikon with snapbridge and the customer asks us to help him to connect the camera to his phone, we think "Oh, sh*t!" This is because he may get stuck in the store for another half an hour and even exchange the camera for another brand where the connection is easier.

Still can't get my D850 to connect, only D500 does. Might have to reinstall the app as user DarkShift hinted. But anyway those functions are still very limiting. If Nikon's engineers would just look at the functions that a external device like CamRanger offers. That would be an helpful advance.

Tried this with my D850 hoping that it would finally be much better. All I basically want is fluent preview of photos with reasonable quality, while shooting with the camera.

However was disappointed how slow and cumbersome this is compared to fe. Canon 5D mkIV with more freely configurable wi-fi.

Some observations:- Had to uninstall and reinstall the app completely, before it could find my D850. This happened with both iPad Air 2 and Galaxy S7.

- Downloading of images is still slow and cumbersome.- 2M previews are actually not with 2M resolution, but 1680x1020. Which look pixelated on my iPad's screen with native resolution of 2048x1536. I hope the downloaded resolution would match the viewing device better. Also, there should be option to download original image directly from the browsing view without going to "Download images" menu.

- Switching from bluetooth to wifi is really slow (both iOS and Android).

Also, there's seem to be no way of pushing selected images directly from the camera to smart device. If auto download is set to 'off', there's no way to refresh the browser view with any new images, that were set for transfer from the camera.

When auto download is set 'on' again, the app doesn't refresh the image browser until I shoot new images with the camera. I think it should check for new images instantly.

Liveview screen is very low res... with Canon's app one can zoom to selected focuspoint.

I use Shuttersnitch on an iPad for previews, via WiFi on a D7200 and with the WiFi adapter on my D610 and that works for me (and my clients, they like to see the images as they are taken sometimes). I know it isn't free but it does a much better job than just about any other utility app.

At first look it seems to be a huge improvement in both UI and function and I think I will now finally find it useful. Someone asked about video functions - at first look I can't find any at all. Not a problem for me, but it would be nice to have the option.

Well we know it has Wifi, but Snapbridge was made for newer cameras that have bluetooth.Usually, technology moves foward.For D750/D610, you have WMU. (which I like better to be honest) I wish the D850 and newer cameras were compatible with WMU.

My EM1 from 5 years ago had only wi-fi and it outperformed Snapbridge 10:1 fast live view ,movie control, full manual, even zoom with a power zoom lens ( I did not). I purchased the D500 but not for the wi-fi features. I did use it on my Olympus for casual stuff and astro work. Nikon and the D500, is comparatively useless. I had to re buy cables and RF triggers for those purposes. Honestly if they didn't advertise it and let it die a miserably slow death until they have a usable product feature there would be less angst. But they keep touting these features and improvements, when they are the least capable wi-fi I have ever used. In fact I despise my GoPro3 wi-fi, but it is more capable. I love my D500, and bought it knowing that it wasn't even iOS ready at release, and that the wi-fi feature set was pedestrian by modern standards, to market it as usable shows me the engineers or team at Nikon has not used a real system, or are willing to admit theirs is handicapped.

@just someone Have you tried other wi-fi systems for cameras? I feel that yes it is better than nothing, but having had wi-fi on my EM-5 from 4 years ago that gave me total control of all manual functions, wi-fi "tethering" for video and still images, the Snapbridge app is way behind on the times. I am not intentionally bad mouthing, but Nikon needs to really evaluate the app and consider a serious overhaul.

The few full fledged Android cameras that were made were pretty locked down with little potential to customize or modify stock functionality... So they basically had all the baggage of a full fledged OS that was still maturing with fewer of the benefits besides apps.

I think Android *could* work well as a camera OS but it would require a lot more effort and a new approach that I doubt any of the big camera makers will commit to (specially after Samsung bowed out).

bad news is dpreview doesn't update own reviews when something corrected by manufacturers. For example, they many times gave low scores to Nikon camras just for this bad application, but now? whats now? is they will update their review of Nikon, they must give them 2 scores more...

right... also here is one another problem - prices... dpreview always look for prices which company asking in list, and not to real price which one is much more less sometimes... Because of it results here are not correct for most of cameras...

Nikons tend to still get very high ratings, despite the app, because they're still excellent cameras. Now in the future, new scores will reflect the app updates (though it still sounds like there's plenty of room for improvement).

I don't understand the concern about this. Makes me wonder if you are a PR person or Nikon employee.

Anybody buying a camera of that caliber will research it thoroughly.

Given how opinionated everyone is here, I doubt they will just blindly follow an old-ish review. Reviews are a source of critical information, not a school test that you try to haggle with the teacher for a higher score.

As a working photographer, it is important for some to be able to transfer images quickly to clients to post onto social media sites. Photographers with DSLR and this transfer capability have their worth over mobile phones cameras, if the imagery is better quality, particularly in difficult lighting, also DSLR have longer /wider lenses, etc giving more variety. It's just another selling point for photographers to clients. The stability and usability is essential! A must tool for event/sports photographers and those wanting to connect to social media.

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