HTTP API Quickstart

Control a Sony camera with curl in under 5 minutes

1. Install and start the server

Install the package (which includes the native binary and the CLI):

npm install camera-remote-web-api

Start the camera server in the background:

npx camera-server start

The server runs detached on port 8080 and discovers cameras connected via USB or network automatically. It survives after your terminal closes, so you only need to start it once.

To check it’s running:

npx camera-server status

To stop it later:

npx camera-server stop

2. Discover Cameras

curl http://localhost:8080/api/cameras

Note the camera id from the response — you’ll use it in all subsequent calls.

3. Connect

curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/cameras/{id}/connection \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"mode": "remote"}'

4. Take Control

curl -X PUT http://localhost:8080/api/cameras/{id}/priority-key \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"setting": "pc-remote"}'

Priority key must be set to pc-remote before the camera accepts remote commands.

5. Shoot

curl -X POST http://localhost:8080/api/cameras/{id}/actions/af-shutter

6. Disconnect

curl -X DELETE http://localhost:8080/api/cameras/{id}/connection

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Next Steps

API Reference

Full endpoint documentation with response formats

Connection Modes

remote, remote-transfer, and contents-transfer modes

Properties

Read and set ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and more

Live View

Stream real-time camera preview over HTTP