Libgphoto2

Summary

This article documents the configuration of libgphoto2 to access digital cameras. Some digital cameras will mount as normal USB Storage Devices and may not require the use of libgphoto2.

Note: As of libgphoto2 version 2.14.13, users do not need to be part of the camera group.

Libgphoto2

Libgphoto2 is the core library designed to allow access to digital cameras by external (front end) programs, such as Digikam and gphoto2. The current 'officially' supported cameras are here (though more may work).

Installation and Configuration

Core library:

# pacman -S libgphoto2

(Optional) gvfs (for Nautilus integration):

# pacman -S gvfs-gphoto2

(Optional) Command line interface:

# pacman -S gphoto2

Permission issues

If you receive permission issues type this in as well, still as root:

# /usr/lib/libgphoto2/print-camera-list udev-rules mode 0660 version 0.98 group camera > /etc/udev/rules.d/90-libgphoto2.rules

If after following all of these steps you still have access issues, try editing /etc/udev/rules.d/90-libgphoto2.rules and change the PROGRAM= line near the bottom to the following:

PROGRAM="/lib/udev/check-ptp-camera", MODE="0660", GROUP="camera"

If your camera is not present in any udev rule, you can check vendor and product id and add it. To check it just run:

# lsusb
...
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 04a9:318e Canon, Inc.
...

I prefer to put any local udev rules to /etc/udev/rules.d/90-local.rules to make sure it would not be overwritten by new packages.

90-local.rules

PROGRAM="/lib/udev/check-ptp-camera", MODE="0660", GROUP="camera"
ATTRS{idVendor}=="04a9", ATTRS{idProduct}=="318e", MODE="0660",  GROUP="camera"

To changes take effect you need to restart udevd

# killall udevd && udevd -d

Now after plugin your camera you can check if permission looks okay by running:

# ls -lR /dev/bus/usb

Tip: It may be easier to reboot.

GPhoto2 Usage

GPhoto2 is a command line client for libgphoto2. GPhoto2 allows access to the libgpohoto2 library from a terminal or from a script shell to perform any camera operation that can be done. This is the main user interface.

GPhoto2 also provides convenient debugging features for camera driver developers.

Quick Commands

• gphoto2 --list-ports
• gphoto2 --auto-detect
• gphoto2 --summary
• gphoto2 --list-files
• gphoto2 --get-all-files

For advanced file manipulation, use

• gphoto2 --shell

Frontend (external) Applications for GPhoto2

• gphotofs - allow using your camera with any tool able to read from a mounted filesystem.
• RawTherapee
• darktable
• Digikam
• F-Spot
• Gthumb
• GTKam

Miscellaneous Troubleshooting

Groups

You should make sure the user to which you would like to grant access to the camera is part of the storage group.

Wiki Articles Relating to Photo/Cameras

• Jalbum - Freeware for creating professional albums/galleries.
• HCL/Digital Cameras - Partial list of supported cameras for gphoto2