Problem shooting tetherd with 1D Mark II N and laptop

Ron Metz · #1 06-22-2009, 03:07 PM

I just started shooting tethered with my 1D Mark II N and laptop. After about fifteen minutes all action stops because of a low camera battery. This has happened to me three times and each time the battery has been fully charged. I have two Canon batteries and both were bought new about two months ago. The connection from camera to laptop is a 15 foot firewire cable (this long length may be my problem). The laptop battery is functioning fine. Any suggestions on what may be causing the rapid battery drain? Thanks.

Ron

DougAxford · #2 06-22-2009, 03:35 PM

The 15' firewire should not be a problem. I rarely shoot tethered anymore due to problems I had years ago with it.

I assume you are not using 'live view' and that you aren't shooting many hundreds in 15 minutes. You can also set for saving image both on your CF card plus the laptop but that should not make enough of a difference.

Sorry I can't add anything else.

Ron Metz · #3 06-22-2009, 04:10 PM

Doug,

I am only shooting about 30-40 shots in 15 minutes - not live view. I just switched to the original Canon 6' firewire cord that comes with the camera and now the battery is showing fully charged and is working fine. This leads me to believe that the cord length may be an issue. Thanks.

Ron

Dennis_Vied · #4 06-24-2009, 01:43 PM

Just a thought. If you need the longer length cord, and you happen to have the AC power adapter for the camera, you might give it a try to see if it helps. I had a similar issue when I used to shoot tethered with the original Nikon D1. I presently shoot tethered with the Canon 1Ds and and it seems to work ok, but if I need to spend a significant amount of time at it, I always use the AC adapter. I just don't fully trust the Ni-MH batteries. A hangover from the old Nikon days, I guess.

My firewire cord does not exceed 6 feet, so you could be onto something about the cord length.

Duncan_Harris · #5 06-24-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Metz

Doug,

I just switched to the original Canon 6' firewire cord that comes with the camera and now the battery is showing fully charged and is working fine. This leads me to believe that the cord length may be an issue. Thanks.

Ron

I shoot tethered with 1Dmk2n and laptop all night on same battery using 2 x 4.5m firewire cables joined with a firewire hub/repeater (with it's own power source) with no problems. I haven't every used it without repeater so can't say if it will cure your problem but it works for me.

Ron Metz · #6 06-24-2009, 11:04 PM

Thanks to all for your responses. I was out shooting most of the afternoon today - tethered - in the field (no AC power source available) and I had no battery problems. I was using the Canon original 6' firewire cord. I shot a little over a 100 exposures. When I returned home, I tried using the 15' cord and within five shots the camera and laptop locked up - low battery. I then connected the 6' cord again and I was back firing away and the camera went back to showing a full charge. My guess is the need for a repeater when using the longer cord. I can live with using the 6' cord.

Ron