Canon thethered shooting

bass_junkie83

bass_junkie83

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Just musing over something at the moment.

I am thinking tethered shooting is the way of the future for studio/portrait stuff as it will make it easier to see what is going on in my shots and then make appropriate changes.

Now an ipad would be lovely, but far too expensive.

A netbook would be a sensible option and is cheaper, but still a good couple of hundred.

Now i am not fussed about being able to change setting outside of the camera. Now do i need to save files out of the camera, continuing to write to a CF card is fine.

I have a 1d2 and a 5d, both i believe have an AV output to allow you to view images on a monitor. Does anyone know if simply connecting a screen up will allow the camera to keep shooting at all?
 
For tethered shooting I use the feature in CaptureOne. I believe Lightroom also has this feature enabled. Never tried a direct AV connection - sorry.
 
An iPad for many photographers would be ideal, but it's not possible to shoot tethered directly to the iPad.

Canon supply with the camera software that will enable you to shoot tethered via a computer. Also Lightroom lets you shoot tethered, but for both these you need a computer. Both these options save to the camera and the computer.

I don't think there is a cheaper option than a netbook. However you could look at a second hand laptop. I've used an Compaq running Windows XP and 1 Gb of memory to shoot tethered with the Canon software. The slowest part of the system is really transferring the data from the camera and that's down to the USB connection.

If you do go down this route you'll need a longer USB cable, for this I'd recommend getting a powered version.
 
Ahh i see. I recently sold my laptop thinking i wont need that again. Oops.

I was just looking at the cheap android tablets, but i assume like the ipad you wont be able to install the required software on it?
 
It's previewing of images i am interested in, not saving files outside of the camera.

Looks like a cheap/second hand netbook is going to be the best option.
 
I saw a youtube vid a while back of some american tog who uses one of those cheap mobile dvd screens via the AV output. David Tejada I think his name was.

If you want to use a netbook to do tethered shooting, watch out for the screen resolution as some of them won't let you install the Canon software due to the minimal resolution. You can get around this but its still a pain to use. Or you could plug an external monitor into the netbook but this kinda defeats the object as a netbook + monitor would a) be cumbersome and b) be more expensive than a cheaper laptop.
 
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i was hoping to try something similer but my sony dont do thethered shooting,
could you not buy a cheap / second hand tv and use the av through that.
my sony has hdmi and that is my next port of call, if not then i am going to have to shell out for the eyefi card
 
The downside to the canon system is that it uses live view and that eats batteries, not only that but in live view mode your metering options are limited to evaluative and whilst that can handle most things I tend to prefer centre weighted myself and also use spot or partial metering now and again as well.

I believe you can set up eyefi for instant review, so that the image displays after being downloaded, I have a feeling thats the way I will head eventually.
 
Ste,

an excellent demonstration of how it can be done effortlessly. Many thanks as I am just getting into this and this presentation by David was a great help.

Malcolm
 
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Chappers said:
If you do go down this route you'll need a longer USB cable, for this I'd recommend getting a powered version.
Click to expand...

Is your advice based on experience or guesswork?

I shoot tethered at pitchside with a rather long USB cable which is required for my movement.. Shoot and pic appears on screen faster than I can turn and look :)
 
KIPAX said:
Is your advice based on experience or guesswork?

I shoot tethered at pitchside with a rather long USB cable which is required for my movement.. Shoot and pic appears on screen faster than I can turn and look :)
Click to expand...


Experience. I've found that with some long USB cables ( 5M) you sometimes get connection problems and that drops the connection. You then have to re establish it. not a problem but annoying and you can loose an image going to the computer ( although it is saved on the card ). Using a powered cable I've not had any problems. Plus the powered ones aren't that much more expensive than the normal ones.
 
I've been using several USB extensions together, total length 7 mtrs. I use LR3 to tether, everything works perfectly. I never get connection problems.
Using several extentions sounds rubbish but they're quality ones, and if I trip or whatever there are multiple points where the cable comes apart so my laptop doesn't go flying. Works a treat.
 
I saw the YouTube vid about using a portable DVD as a screen and basically it didn`t work. No idea why.
 
Hi again Ste,

Do you happen to know what DVD was used by David in his demonstration?

I managed to get tethered this morning, having established that I could tether with my Windows 7 PC, I then downloaded the EOS disc and Elements 8 into my Dell Laptop with Windows XP Professional 2003.

I then linked to my 7D camera and sat on the sofa with laptop on my lap, camera on tripod pointed at me and took several shots. First few not focused well as I forgot to hit the camera focus part, but then all OK.. Now need to experiment a little more to see all the facilities available, but knowing it works is great.

Thanks again

Malcolm
 
Ste Manns said:
I've been using several USB extensions together, total length 7 mtrs. I use LR3 to tether, everything works perfectly. I never get connection problems.
Click to expand...

I tried using an extension lead - and had problems with the eos util crashing ...initially i thought it was something wrong with my laptop - but happens far less frequently if i don't use the extension lead - so i guess you need to have a decent usb lead not just a cheap one off the bay ...i might give it another try with a better one!
 
Afraid I don't know the make of the DVD player Malcolm, pretty standard one with an AV input as far as I know.

As for extension leads - I've just done a count and I have a 3 mtr, and four 1 mtr leads all connected together so I guess its just a matter of getting the right ones.
 
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