I hope to buy my first high-quality digital camera (and highest-quality lens) by late spring or early summer this year. For what I will be shooting, I don't require a full-frame DSLR...or even a DSLR for that matter...but I want to be able to tether the camera to a computer so images can be enlarged and displayed on a high-quality monitor during the shoot.

I know this is possible with a number of high-quality cameras today, but is there any resource that can help me narrow my search to only those cameras for which there is available an effective, reliable and high-quality tethering system (including software, of course)?

I want to keep this short, so if you want to know WHY I need this feature and HOW I'm going to use it, just ask.

WHY? and HOW? :)

For Nikon cameras, check the "Compatible with" tab of http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Product/Imaging-Software/25366/Camera-Control-Pro-2.html

http://www.apple.com/aperture/tutorials/#organizeimport-tethering

I have used my Nikon D80 with Aperture on the Mac to great effect. I assume it will work with most DSLRs these days and Hans link will probably tell you this. A fast SD card makes the transfer very quick.

The Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 looks great and I see that I can use all of its features with both the D90 and the D700...both of which I'm considering, although the D90 would more than meet my needs. Thanks, Alexandre!


The Apple Aperture site isn't responding, but it doesn't look like it suggests compatible camera makes. Thanks, Hans.


I knew you'd ask.

I'm building a flash-augmented, natural light studio in my back yard in which I hope to be able to photograph dancers and other models year round. I have built what I call a "garden room" with many windows and French doors opening onto the natural light studio. The air-conditioned and heated garden room will be a retreat from the fierce summer heat and the brief Dallas winters where participants who don't need to be on the set all of the time (makeup artists, stylists, choreographers, teachers, parents) can observe the shoot in comfort. This will also reduce kibbitzing (offering unwanted comments, suggestions, directions) and will give me a way to discuss poses, lighting, etc. with my models and other interested parties without having them chimp the LCD on the back of the camera.

The digital camera will be used to refine the image (pose, lighting, timing) and, compared to a film shoot, allow me to experiment quickly and inexpensively. However, I will also be shooting 4x5, 5x7 or 8x10 film images (both color and b/w) on a view camera set up immediately next to the DSLR in cases where I will want to make very large prints.

It's an ambitious project of which I've told you only part, but I think I have the vision, the experience and the will to make a success of it, although having a few investors would speed things up nicely.

As I said earlier, I haven't been able to explore the Aperture site. I don't want to remove the SD card, if that's what you are suggesting. I'm also a PC user (let's not argue) so the Nikon solution looks like the path of least resistance. Thanks, Ian.

King,

The reference to SD card was for the speed of transfer from camera to computer the card stays in the camera. SD cards have a data transfer rate and for tethered work the higher the better otherwise you can wait around a bit for the file to transfer. Sorry to here about your PC affliction..... I am sure most of the photo processing software like lightroom will do the trick with all modern DSLRs.

...I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean that Lightroom can be used as tethering software?

Well done,King of Photography!!

Hi King,

there is also a wireless solution, see

http://www.eye.fi/

Good luck for your project.

Frank

This application used in conjunction with (for instance) the D90 allows bystanders to see same "live view" image that the photographer is looking at.

http://www.phaseone.com/

Capture One 5 will support most DSLR´s and lets you shoot techered directly into it.
It´s a great software and IMHO opinion one of the best Raw converters I have tried.

Their camera systems are high quality, but so is the price ;-)
But all these DSLR cameras and digital backs are supported by Capture One 5 / 5 PRO (so you have a wide range of choice regarding choice of camera)

* Canon: 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III, 1D Mark II N, 1Ds Mark II, 1D Mark II, 1Ds, 1D, 7D, 5D Mark II, 5D, 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 10D, 500D/Rebel T1i, 450D/Rebel XSi, 400D/Rebel XTi, 350D/Rebel XT, 300D/Rebel, 1000D, D60, D30, Pro 1, G11, G10, G9, G6, G5, G3, G2, S90
* Epson: R-D1s, R-D1
* Fuji: S5 Pro, S3 Pro, S2 Pro
* Konica Minolta: Alpha 5 D / Maxxum 5 D / Dynax 5 D, Alpha 7 D / Maxxum 7 D / Dynax 7 D, A1, A2
* Leaf: Aptus II 5, Aptus II 6, Aptus II 7, Aptus II 10, Afi II 6, Afi II 7, Afi II 10
* Leica: M9, M8, D-LUX 4, Digilux 3, Digital Module R for R8 and R9 cameras
* Mamiya: M31, M22, M18, DM22, DM28, DM33, DM56, MZD, ZD Back
* Nikon: D3X, D3, D2Xs, D2X, D2Hs, D2H, D1X, D1H, D700, D300s, D300, D200, D100, D90, D80, D70s, D70, D60, D50, D40X, D40, D5000, D3000, P6000
* Olympus: E-620, E-3, E-520, E-510, E-450, E-P1, E-420, E-410, E-500, E-1, E-10, E-20, E-30, E-330, E-300, E-400, C-7070, C-8080
* Pentax: K20D, K10D, K7, KX, K200D, K110D, K100D Super, K100D, K2000/K-m, *istDL2, *istDL, *istD, *istDS2, *istDS
* Phase One: P 65+, P 45+, P 40+, P 30+, P 25+, P 21+, P 20+, P 45, P 30, P 25, P 21, P 20, H 25, H 20, H 10, H 101, H 5, LightPhase
* Sony: DSLR-A900, DSLR-A850, DSLR-A700, DSLR-A380, DSLR-A350, DSLR-A330, DSLR-A300, DSLR-A230, DSLR-A200, DSLR-A100, DSC-R1
* Adobe: DNG (raw DNG support only). The DNG support is not optimized for specific cameras

Best regards
Jörg

Great, Jörg...just the information I'm looking for and PhaseOne looks like a great product, as well.

Nikon has a WiFi adapter that would allow you to DL images, during shoot, to a computer that you could then have a display hooked to it. I don't know if this is something that would work for you. I have even seen this adapter and a low (but good) 4mp camera D2H for a reasonable price on Craigslist.
http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Photography-Accessories/Wireless/25365/WT-4a%2520Wireless%2520Transmitter.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/pho/1529488855.html

A friend who is a pro used that system with a D700 and found it to be much slower and less reliable than a hard-wired system. My camera will be close enough to the computer to use a USB cable.

However, I do like wireless anything, so I will look into it.

Thanks, Jerry!

All Canons (I have the crappiest one) have remote control software and It is really good and easy to use. Free at all. You can also an iphone app to control it, simply magic...

Maybe something on this site may be of any use?

Very helpful...thanks Paul.

Phase one is fantastic at what I've used it for, raw converting. According to what I've heard it does just as good at tethering. I have no experience with it myself.
Just have to say .. I wish I had that studio!

Thanks. Sounds great. Best of luck for your project.

Btw are you still working for the Boston Ballet ? Just curious because I often pass on Washington Street in front of the Opera House (they currently perform "the Nutcracker" and my wife would like to see it)

Thanks very much, jacques.


I haven't worked professionally for many years and don't have any equipment to shoot on assignment if one were offered. The natural light studio I described, and my plans for buying a DSLR and tethering to a computer in my garden room, are simply part of a personal art project I have in mind.

Thanks, Lars. When the studio is complete, please feel free to come stay with us in Dallas and use the studio to your heart's content. I can have someone paint a frightening sea storm scene on the backdrop so you'll feel at home.

That would be fun!
I might print those storms and bring, there is one coming up now it seems. And my Epson is printing 44" prints just now.

Can you fit mountains into this studio you are building King, I'm getting a bit fed up waking at 4am only to trudge through rain storms to arrive at location with crap light.....

;-)))