Can anyone help get me going to shoot tethered to a computer using the Canon 40D?
Thanks in advance
Lamar
The EOS Utility is the correct remote software to use. It's Preferences menu, under Linked Software, lists three selections for software to open and view images; DPP, Zoom Browser, and None. Therefore, you'll need DPP and/or Zoom Browser installed to get the image to pop up after you have taken it.
My procedure is to have the capture folder open on the desktop, and when the image appears in the folder, I can drag it to the viewer I want to use, such as LightRoom. I think you can also set LR to monitor the download folder and open the image automatically, but I haven't done that yet. Maybe next time I tether I'll try it.
But, if you want it to pop up automatically with a minimum of fuss, you can use Zoom Browser or DPP which will work automatically with EOS Utility.
__________________ Dennis
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I'm not sure that I can help you a whole lot Lamar. I've got a 40D but I'm not a 'tethered' type of shooter. I was following the thread on a wireless SD card with a CD/SD adapter that will allow the camera to send info to the computer. I was trying to find that thread and can't find it to link to, maybe someone else remembers.
Anyway, my only experience with tethered was on a Canon 2 years ago shooting grad photos at a school. We had a lot of problems the first day with time-outs and we had to re-establish the link and also re-set the new image number each time. A real PIA. We solved it by making sure we did not allow the camera to go to sleep.
If I was doing it now, I would take Kevin's suggestion and get Breeze Remote Pro. I own Downloader Pro and BB Pro and am very happy with them. For the extra few bucks, it's worth it to avoid the problems with Canon software. I have always disliked Canon software for cameras, wide format printers and copiers, just too backwards for me, not that Nikon is any better.
If you are using this simply to see & show images during the shoot, I plug into a cheapie 13" color TV via the video out on the camera. Image is there instantly. Problem I've had is that the video in circuit on the TVs seems to last a year & then cooks. We've gone through at least 6 TV's and I posted on this over a year ago. We just blew another last week. Solution for us is to use a $20. RF converter and switch from video-in to channel 3. I will check out Breeze again and see if it may be better for us, but a cheapie TV works for now. After the shoot, it takes a minute or two to download the files to the computer, but during that time, the customer is usually busy talking about portrait sizes, etc. so I'm not sure tethered is an advantage for me, even though I own Express Digital which likes to work tethered. Same problem though, I just want to shoot and not be encumbered by computers. I guess that last line is my whole problem (or advantage, the way I look at it)
Sorry that I can't help more.
Doug
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
It's Preferences menu, under Linked Software, lists three selections for software to open and view images; DPP, Zoom Browser, and None. Therefore, you'll need DPP and/or Zoom Browser installed to get the image to pop up after you have taken it.
On the latest version (I'm familiar with the Mac side) you can point it to any program you want, but it's not real obvious how to do this. Next to that popup menu for Linked Software, there's a button labeled "settings". Hit that and browse to any viewing program you want and select it. After an image is transferred to the computer it will open in that program. It takes about 5 seconds for an image from my 5D to get to the computer and display in Bridge. I keep Bridge in a contact sheet mode with a large preview window section available. Each new shot will become the "current" image in Bridge and show in the preview window.
One more important detail. You have to make the setting described above while the camera is connected to the computer. The settings are unique to that camera and won't "stick" if you make them without the camera attached.
To use Lightroom you don't have to link EOS Utility at all. Choose "none" under the Linked Software choice. Then point EOS Utility to write the images into a folder that's also designated as a watched folder in LightRooom. As EOS Utility places images into that folder they'll be imported and displayed in LightRoom. It takes a couple of seconds longer than other options because after the image is written to disk, Lightroom moves it as it's importing it. Still probably less than 10 seconds to display a raw file from my 5D. I shoot to a local laptop that then writes the files to a network server. It's fast but probably slightly slower than you'd get with fast local drives. Also, Mac USB drivers are lacking compared to Windows... and thus probably slow the process down a bit.
The EOS Utility is the correct remote software to use. It's Preferences menu, under Linked Software, lists three selections for software to open and view images; DPP, Zoom Browser, and None. Therefore, you'll need DPP and/or Zoom Browser installed to get the image to pop up after you have taken it.
My procedure is to have the capture folder open on the desktop, and when the image appears in the folder, I can drag it to the viewer I want to use, such as LightRoom. I think you can also set LR to monitor the download folder and open the image automatically, but I haven't done that yet. Maybe next time I tether I'll try it.
But, if you want it to pop up automatically with a minimum of fuss, you can use Zoom Browser or DPP which will work automatically with EOS Utility.
You are right Dennis, I was thinking about the Canon G9 that uses the Remote Capture DC software. It actually gives you a live window on your display and provides better camera control.
I have tried the EOS utility with my 1Ds on the Mac and it takes about 3 seconds for the image to appear in the Five Viewer Utility. It is a Firewire connection, although I have not experienced any of the Mac USB slowdown that has been described here. The Canon G9 connects with USB. Maybe it is a problem with the older models? I'm on a MacPro with two Xeon processors and a 1600Mhz front side bus.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Guys, I REALLY appreciate all the help. I've tried to do as some of you have suggested....use EOS Utility and point it to Zoom Browser.....make changes to EOS Utility while the camera is attached and open ZB. I can see one file I have in the Destination Folder, but no matter what I try, the camera blinks "busy" and won't let me make any images while it's attached! Any suggestions?
Is it possible to just use Photoshop CS3 to view the pictures as I shoot them? It seems I tried that some years back with another camera and another version of PS and got it to work (maybe using the WIA function) but I can't remember what I did.
My immediate goal for this setup is for sharing images with a small group of people while holding a class for people who are fairly new to DSLR cameras.....mostly a group from my church. I thought it would be neat to be able to try different setups and let them see the differences I'm trying to get across as I shoot them.
Any more ideas....I've obviously just got something set up wrong. What should I have checked on the "Destination Folder" of Preferences of th EOS Utility Program...where it says "Download Images", "REmote Shooting", or "Monitor Folder" ?
Thanks again
LM
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Guys, I REALLY appreciate all this help. I'm trying to get ready for a small class at church in about a week where I'm trying to help 8 or 10 people fairly new to DSLR shooting with basic exposure stuff, etc. Thought it would be nice to be able to shoot certain things to demonstrate and have them pop up onscreen as we talked.
I've tried the things you suggest using EOS Utility and pointing it to Zoom B, but the camera just blinks "busy" while I have it connected via the USB port to the computer. EOS U pops up, I open Zoom B, but I can't get the camera to make a picture!
Any suggestions!
L
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I've tried the things you suggest using EOS Utility and pointing it to Zoom B, but the camera just blinks "busy" while I have it connected via the USB port to the computer.
I've seen that before. In each instance it's been because of camera/system/driver incompatibilities. It usually takes a few OS updates before the latest cameras are fully supported. I have some solvable glitches with my 5D on Leopard, latest Mac OS. The 40D is such a new camera that I can understand where that might be a problem. Not sure how to tell you to correct it on a Windows box but I'd make sure your USB drivers are the latest available. Also, try a different cable... different connector on the computer... hook up directly and not through any sort of hub... at least for testing purposes temporarily get rid of any other USB items on the computer.
Also, make sure that the LCD screen on the camera is off. If its displaying anything you'll see the "busy" display.
Linear Mode
