Tethered shooting with a Canon camera

Posted by René | Filed under DPP, General, LightRoom, software, tether

Why should you?

If you are shooting portraits or architecture, it can be very useful to be able to view the images on a larger screen then that on the back of your camera: You can better judge focus, expression, exposure and composition for instance. Not only because the screen is bigger and of better quality (not to mention calibrated!), but also because the software you use might have some visual aids (clipping warning, grid, 100% view, stuff like that)

What do you need

Obviously a camera and the proper cable: USB for most consumer models and the Eos 1D(s)3, Firewire for the Canon 1D(2) and 1D(s)Mk2(n).
Apart from that, you’ll need some software to connect the camera to the computer and some kind of viewer or raw converter.

The software

There are a few options: Capture One Pro is highly regarded, and does all in one package, but the price is fairly steep.
Then there’s Bibble Pro. Quite a bit cheaper and supports more (older) cameras then C1Pro. Both of these support Nikon and Canon. Bibble also supports other brands. Both are available for Windows and OSX, Bibble also for Linux. Neither allow remote control of the camera, but Capture one allows you to fire the shutter remotely.

Free

Lucky for us that Canon also offers a free solution: Eos Utility. It came on the disk with your camera. If it didn’t, or you lost the disk, you can download it, following the instructions here.
Once installed, you’ll also need a viewer. I prefer to use DPP on my laptop, since that’s ~~a dinosaur~~ an old Powerbook G4 with a 12″ screen. Others prefer to use Lightroom. I’ll explain how to use both:

Step by step

First, start Eos Utility and go to the preferences: (Do this before connecting the camera. On my Mac (OSX 10.4.11) at least, it won’t complete start up, and needs to be force-quit otherwise)
Since I use DPP mostly for tethered shooting, I set up my Folder and filenames to be meaningful here. If you use Lightroom, you can skip this name customization.

The name is pretty self-explanatory I think. I use 3 lines for Year/Month/Date, since the preset “Shooting day” will add a few underscores I don’t want.

Again, pretty obvious naming scheme: My initials, the date and a short description.

Then set DPP as Linked Software.

Now for the shooting

Exit the prefs. That get’s you back to the main window. Choose “Camera Settings / Remote Shooting”

You get this: Note that, unlike other tethering software, Eos Utility gives you complete control over the camera. Very, very nice if the camera is at a position where you can hardly reach it (high on a tripod for instance).

Take a shot. If the “quick preview” window opens, click it away, since you won’t be needing that. It will stay gone as long as you don’t restart Eos Utility.
The image will now automatically open in DPP, in thumbnail view.

That’s not my preferred way of working. So I hit Cmd+A (select all) and Cmd+right arrow (open in edit image window; no shortcut for it on PC). That gives me this:

Cmd+T gets rid of the tools. All consecutive images will open in the edit image window now. At whatever zoom factor you choose.
You’re all set. So shoot away.

Lightroom

In Lightroom it’s a bit ~~more complicated~~ different.
Set everything the same in Eos Utility, except of course the linked software. As said, you also don’t need to worry about folder naming, because that is taken care of in Lightroom:

Then open Lightroom. It will open with the images you last edited / imported. Enable Auto Import, and set up a watched folder like this, in the very logically named “Auto Import Settings”:

Note that your images will get moved (not copied) by LightRoom into the folder you specify here. No way around it, so the whole naming scheme for folders in Eos Utility is kinda redundant in this case. I’d strongly recommend using a meaningful foldername. You can use either LR or Eos Utility to manage the filenames, depending on what you prefer.

Take a shot:

Note the image in the background is still the old image. If after the shot you get “No Photo Selected”, click a thumbnail in LR.
That’s it. Lightroom will now keep an eye on that folder, and import every image that lands in there. A bit slower on my laptop then DPP, but it works okay.

The drawbacks

Tethered shooting causes the battery of your camera to drain faster. With some cameras (the 1D comes to mind) that’s not something you desire…
Obviously, you also need to lug a laptop with you, but IMO that’s well worth it.
Lastly: Eos Utility does not like it when the camera goes to sleep, or is disconnected: It’ll crash. No idea why it’s buggy that way, probably because it’s free.

Tags: Canon, DPP, LightRoom, software

Permalink | September 14th, 2009

13 Responses to “Tethered shooting with a Canon camera”

John Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 17:06
Hi,
I want to buy a camera for a scientific purpose. Do you know which of canon cameras have “tethered shooting” property?
thanks.
René Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 17:23
Hi John!
Just about all of the Canon DSLRs do tethered shooting, depending on the software you use. You will probably need the proper drivers on Windows. This might be problematic if you’re running a 64bit windows OS as far as I know…
Here’s a list of cameras supported by Bibble pro.
I’m on a Mac, and I have shot tethered with my 1D using the Canon software..
John Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 18:05
Hi René,

sorry but i’m just a beginner in this field so i’m not clear yet.i need to control camera shooting from computer, for example i clik on a button and 100 sequential images will be taken by a predetermined time step.i don’t need very high resolutions.and a very good macro mode is essential.and the most important is the camera price!the lowest possible camera price!
So i need to know which camera model is the best choice for me?
John Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 18:08
and thank you for your help.thank you very much.
René Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 18:24
Don’t know about the “100 sequential images”. Might be some software does just that, might be you need additional software or something like the Canon remote with timer. (Canon TC80N3) (not sure if it will fit the camera: You might need a different connector, depending on camera).
As for “what camera?” A Canon 500D or 1000D with a good Macro lens (like the EF-s 60mm Macro) will do fine. The lens will probably cost more then the camera.
If you are looking for info on Canon cameras, have a look at POTN.
John Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 18:45
thanks.
POTN link doesn’t work!It says “Not Found”.
René Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 18:52
Ooops. My bad. Works now.
john Says:
January 30th, 2010 at 16:29
Anyone know if it is possible to shoot tethered with two cameras in EOS Utility and auto upload in LR?

thanks!
René Says:
January 30th, 2010 at 20:33
Not tethered as far as I know.
However, you might be able to pull it off using a WiFi transmitter using ftp.

Link 1
Link 2
ImagEsky (Ed Siu) Says:
March 17th, 2010 at 08:58
Shoot tethered in lightroom: http://www.getcolormanaged.com/general/tether/
Austin's Imaging Blog » SLR cameras for Microscopy Says:
July 16th, 2010 at 19:14
[...] Control Software for your camera (Nikon uses software that you have to buy separately, canon software is included with the camera). [...]
Alexander Says:
August 7th, 2010 at 06:55
Hello Rene, John and friends,

If you are a beginner or new to Tethered or on a budget, I suggests Canon T2i (Rebel Xsi10D/20D/30D/40D-used). The T2i also has Live-View (7D/5D 2/1D Mark IV-new) and video.

I have made & sold many of my invention to all photographers. And all are very pleased.
It’s called: ATG AK1 UN-TETHERED with BUILT-IN WIRELESS RADIO REMOTE FLASH SYSTEMS.

1. What this means is you can shoot wirelessly and transfer your image right into your computer.
2. View it on a larger screen than the 3 inch lcd.
3. If your camera has Live-Views, you can see it in RTS from your computer.
4. Make & remote control all modes from your computer.
5. Saving you money & time by loading into computer with 250G or higher! You have choices: Camera or Camera and Computer.
6. Made & designed & very adfordable to all photographers.
7. Getting just one ATG AK-1 Un-Tethered w/wireless radio remote flash is needed. And you can use it on 1DSeries/5Series/7D/50D/40D/30/20D/10D and Rebel.
If you have Nikon and Sony, the microchips know & read & work -all wirelessly.

It’s the World’s First that can do 2 in 1: Wireless Image/Live View and Wireless Radio Flash Systems.

Canon/Nikon sell wft but only limited to advanced models. Some run over $1,000.00. But can’t be use on Canon or Nikon or Sony. So I made one just for you, for much less and getting much more.

“Anyone know if it is possible to shoot tethered with two cameras in EOS Utility and auto upload in LR?”

My answer is Yes, it’s possible. But you must purchase 2 of my products.
You can set for examples:
1. Canon EOS-1D Mark IV and Canon Rebel T2i
2. Nikon D3s and Nikon D50 (5000S has live-view)
3. Canon Rebel T2i and Sony A900

“i need to control camera shooting from computer, for example i clik on a button and 100 sequential images will be taken by a predetermined time step.i don’t need very high resolutions.and a very good macro mode is essential.and the most important is the camera price!the lowest possible camera price!”

Yes, again. You can remote control and do all settings from your computer & have interval timer set. It’s wonderful playing (viewing images) back using the Slide Shows.
Yes, software that I helped is wonderful on macro, much better than the eye can focus.
Yes, images are in fine res & raw.

I am the only one that is teaching on how to shoot Tethered & Un-Tethered to working professionals.

The sofware that I’ve designed is great for macro photography.
If you have Nikon, you will need buy Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.
Canon and Sony drivers are free.

It’s strange when I see photographers shooting wireless flash, but instructors & professionals are teaching & shooting with a cord (TETHERED) connected to the computer. The when they see my products…..

If you have any questions, please send me an Email.

Now, shoot Un-Tethered with Canon, Nikon and Sony from
ATG AK-1 UN-TETHERED w/BUILT-IN WIRELESS RADIO FLASH SYSTEMS.

I hope they are helpful.

Truly,
Alexander
a.l9609@gmail.com
René Says:
August 27th, 2010 at 11:05
Hi Alexander!

Wireless might be nice in some cases, but I like the K.I.S.S. principle… So if I don’t need wireless, I prefer to use a wire.
For one thing it’s cheaper. For another it’s one less thing to setup that could go wrong.

Took me a while to approve your comment, since it came across quite spammy.
However Google didn’t link you to a website or so, nor a bunch of forum posts, so I approved it.

Hope I’m right

Grtx,

René

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