Example of mobile set for taking pictures of yourself using a BT remote control paired with Nokia 808 PureViewEver wanted to put the 808 Pureview on a tripod and take a picture of yourself while standing at some distance from the camera ? Now this can be done even more easily than with the built‑in self‑timer !

Notes:
This article refers to Symbian^3 based Nokia mobile phones, in particular 808 PureView and N8 models.
The solution provided here is most suitable when the mobile phone is used in conjunction with a tripod, not with a selfie stick.
The solution provided here is based on a third‑party application installed on phone, used in conjunction with a Bluetooth remote control originally designed to be used with Apple devices; other particular Bluetooth remote controls may work as well, in case they happen to use the same key codes. Feel free to experiment !


(i) Short version

  • Harald Meyer’s CameraPro Qt 3.x for Symbian^3 application, either the standard Qt version or the NET Edition, must be installed on the Nokia 808 PureView (or Nokia N8);
  • A camera tripod with a proper phone tripod holder must be installed at the desired place for the camera;
  • The Coco CC-PC101 Bluetooth remote control must be available (or other equivalent model; read the chapter (ii) below for technical details) and must be paired with the phone (this one pairs as ‘CC Remote’);

Note: I assume this remote control can be purchased either from a local store, or eBay, or Amazon, or something like that; I found mine on a local photo equipments store, marketed as “Micnova” brand (but still having the same “Coco” label on it); apparently, the same physical device model is marketed elsewhere under “Mantona” or “Caruba” brand names.

  • Enter CameraPro application, turn the remote ON (or vice versa, the order for application launch and remote start does not matter) and then use the following keys to control the camera:
    • Camera mode
      • ‘Volume up/Camera shutter’ -> Zoom in
      • ‘Volume down’ -> Zoom out
      • ‘Mute’ -> Focus (valid only in ‘Auto’ or ‘Macro’ mode)
      • ‘Play/Pause’ -> Capture photo
    • Video mode
      • ‘Volume up/Camera shutter’ -> Zoom in
      • ‘Volume down’ -> Zoom out
      • ‘Mute’ -> Focus (valid only in ‘Auto’ or ‘Macro’ mode)
      • ‘Play/Pause’ -> Start/Stop video recording
      • ‘Previous Track’ -> Start/Pause/Resume video recording
        (note: a bit faulty this one, a single keypress appears to be rendered multiple times, possibly ending with same command cancellation)
      • ‘Next track’ -> turn ON/OFF the LED light
        (note: a bit faulty this one, a single keypress appears to be rendered multiple times, possibly ending with same command cancellation)
  • That’s it !

(ii) Full story

My traditional (film based) camera had a simple mechanical self‑timer, which, with the camera mounted on a tripod, allowed me some 8-10 seconds to run in front of it and mimic a position as if someone else had taken the shot. Like in this example , which was taken by me when I was alone.

Now most of the cameras are equipped with all kinds of advanced electronic stuff. Why not benefit from them ?

The market already offers simple Bluetooth based remote control for taking photos with Android and iOS based mobile devices, mostly designed for “selfie” usage. One button for photo capture and that’s it. On the other hand, for some reasons I insist to continue to use a Symbian based mobile phone as my primary phone – the 808 PureView equipped with a high quality camera especially in terms of resolution, or sometimes even the older N8 whose camera get better colors than the 808 – with whom those simple “selfie” Bluetooth remote controls does not work.

However, by investigating the functioning of those remote controls, I found a working solution for my 808. Even a very good one !

Note: although I am convinced it does not matter for the purpose of this article, yet I mention that both of my N8 and 808 phones are still having the latest original Nokia firmware versions, which are ‘Belle Refresh’ (111.040.1511) on N8 and ‘Belle Feature Pack 2’ (113.010.1508) on 808.

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A simple “selfie” Bluetooth remote control proved to use a Human Interface Device (HID) profile. Simply put, it is just a simplified Bluetooth PC keyboard with only two keys. Pairing this one with my 808, the thing that worked was volume up by pressing the bigger ‘CAMERA 360 iOS’ button.

So I paired the remote control with my laptop and then I used Gary Darby’s Key Scan Codes utility to get the key codes generated by this “keyboard”.
The result were as follows:

  • the key labeled ‘CAMERA 360 iOS’ has key code 0xAF (175 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_VOLUME_UP
  • the key labeled ‘Android’ has key code 0x0D (13 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_RETURN

Note: more info on Microsoft Windows Virtual-Keys Codes can be read here .

According to the CameraPro Qt 3.x for Symbian^3 user manual, basic camera controls are available within the application by using an original Nokia wired headphone remote control, such as the Nokia AD‑54. The supported controls are zoom in, zoom out, focus, capture photo or start/stop/pause/resume video recording and turning on/off video light during video recording.

Fact is, the ‘CAMERA 360 iOS’ button on that “selfie” Bluetooth remote control indeed worked for zoom in within the CameraPro application on my 808, so there was only one conclusion: for full camera remote functionality I needed a Bluetooth remote control that includes the Bluetooth equivalent of same multimedia control functions as the wired remote control version.

After some research I have chosen the Coco CC-PC101 Bluetooth remote control model, by relying on several criteria: it looked like a traditional remote control without being painted in some fluorescent girlie color, it appeared to include the full set of audio controls presumably working the same across multiple operating systems and it happened to be available at a local photo equipments store at a reasonable price, sparing me from waiting times on eBay (or the like) delivery.

My assumption was correct: it simply works ! And it works the same with both CameraPro Qt 3.x version and CameraPro NET Edition (I have both, the standard Qt version on N8 an the NET version on 808); in terms of this article, there is no need for the specific NET Edition for this (or other equivalent) Bluetooth remote control to work.

The correspondence summary between the CameraPro functions and the remote physical keys are described in the chapter (i) above. I also found out most of the generated key codes by pairing the remote with my laptop and running again Key Scan Codes utility mentioned earlier.
These are as follows (the names of key icons are as per its user manual):

  • ‘Volume up/Camera shutter’ has key code 0xAF (175 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_VOLUME_UP
  • ‘Play/Pause’ has key code 0xB3 (179 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE
  • ‘Previous track/Rewind’ has key code 0xB1 (177 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_MEDIA_PREV_TRACK
  • ‘Next track/Fast’ forward has key code 0xB0 (176 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_MEDIA_NEXT_TRACK
  • ‘Volume down’ has key code 0xAE (174 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_VOLUME_DOWN
  • ‘Screen lock’ does not appear to generate any key code in Microsoft Windows (or at least Key Scan Code utility does not report anything)
  • ‘Dim screen’ has key code 0x70 (112 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_F1
  • ‘Bright screen’ has key code 0x71 (113 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_F2
  • ‘Keypad’ does not appear to generate any key code in Microsoft Windows (or at least Key Scan Code utility does not report anything)
  • ‘Home/Siri’ has key code 0xAC (172 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_BROWSER_HOME
  • ‘Mute’ has key code 0xAD (173 decimal);
    in Microsoft Windows this corresponds to VK_VOLUME_MUTE

A (somewhat) visual correspondence between remote control buttons and CameraPro basic controls is shown below (click on the image for a SVG version):

Note: the SVG may not be viewable with Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Coco CC-PC101 bluetooth remote control
Correspondence between remote physical keys and their function on CameraPro Qt 3.x for Symbian^3

In open space the maximum distance covered was around 10-12 meters away from phone, which is the usual range for class 2 Bluetooth devices.

To be noted that this Bluetooth remote control (or other equivalent) also works with the phone’s built-in media player, in the same way as the original Nokia wired headphone remote control works (this means the six multimedia control keys – ‘Play/Pause’, ‘Previous track/Fast forward’, ‘Next track/Rewind’, ‘Volume up’, ‘Volume down’ and ‘Stop’ (labeled ‘Mute’ here)); however, the ‘Call/Answer’ button/function is missing on this one.

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I’m sure there are other Bluetooth remote control models available on the market that happen to include – more or less – the same set of key codes, which in turn provide the corresponding functions.

Example of mobile set for taking pictures of yourself using a BT remote control paired with Nokia 808 PureViewWhether it’s about the application mentioned in this article or any other application that may use a Bluetooth remote control, test it ! Just make sure that the application’s particular needs for a keyboard key usage matches the key codes generated by the particular Bluetooth remote control used.

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