When I shoot portraits indoors, I'd like the option to tether my Nikon D90 to a Windows computer with the USB cable, both to view the results and help adjust the lighting, but also to be making an instant backup of each shot.
Does anybody have a favorite solution to this?
If you're looking for a free program to let you shoot tethered with your Nikon, this post discusses a few of the options.
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From here: http://500px.com/photo/6330641
I asked him/her how did s/he photograph it? Holding the milk jug her/himself?
To which I got the reply:
camera mounted on a tripod and connected to a laptop. pour the milk and shake the button :)
In what way does camera connected to a laptop help?
By feeding the output of the camera to the laptop you can see what the camera is seeing in real time if you can't be behind the camera. You can position the laptop where you can see it's screen, then you can press the remote shutter release at exactly the right moment to capture the shot you are after.
Most useful, if, like the photographer in this case, you are working alone.
NOTE: You don't have to have software on the laptop to actually control the camera as you can use a remote for the camera.
How you view the image will depend on your camera. The term you need to search for is "tethering".
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I'll be processing many images of artwork and saving files with various info like title and size and media.
I understand there are tethering options. I'm hoping I can hook the camera up directly from a laptop and record this info with the images directly. If I could also operate the camera, or even focus it from the laptop, even better.
Does Canon provide this out of the box or do I need some special software or cable?
I spotted this but I think all this functionality will be too much and I'd prefer something that costs less($175): http://www.breezesys.com/DSLRRemotePro/features.htm
You should be able to use the Canon EOS Utility that comes with the camera in order to shoot tethered right outta the box. Once you've installed the Canon EOS Utility (on the CD that came with your camera), then a simple USB cable (should have also come with your camera in the box, but you might want to get a longer one if you want to get farther from your camera) will connect the two, and you're off and running...
The EOS Utility will give you complete control over the camera from your computer... Essentially if you can adjust it via the camera, you will be able to adjust it via your computer (shutter, ISO, aperture, white balance,timer, etc., etc., etc.). You can even engage 'Remote Live View' shooting so you can see what the camera is seeing, and remotely take pictures as well as video, should you desire...
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I want to switch to a system camera, preferably one from the Micro Four Thirds or Four Thirds systems. Since I also want to do experimental technical setups like time lapse or astrophotography, I have a set of requirements that are not easy to check for on the manufacturer's websites.
Can you recommend a camera with
flexible remote control software (I'd like to have at least a live preview and controls for shutter, focus, f-stop, sensitivity and shutter speed)
the ability to provide a video stream like a webcam (ok, that's more of a bonus item, no hard requirement)
good manual controls (preferably two separate control wheels for f-stop and shutter speed)
low sensor noise
overall good usability
I suppose that adapters for M42, which is the standard connector on telescopes, are generally available. If I'm wrong, this becomes another "hard" requirement.
The cost of the body should not exceed $750, but in order to keep the answers relevant for everyone, please also list models costing more.
MTIA for all hints!
I would take a look at the Canon 60D. It is not a micro four thirds camera, it is an APS-C sensor sized camera. The reasons I suggest this include:
It does not sound like you have a hard requirement for micro four thirds, only for cost, remote control software, noise performance, and usability. I think you will find all of this and more in the canon 60D for right around $750. The 50D would also be an option to save a bit of money.
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I hooked up the 50D to my MacBook Pro the other day at home and found it great to see exactly how a photo is going to turn out on the big screen before taking it and was wondering when such a setup might be used and how frequently it is used, considering it's not exactly something you can roam about with.
I guess the obvious ones such as long exposure (astronomy, landscape) etc, but are there other uses? Model photo shoots?
Is it better to simply use a remote instead of hooking it right up to a computer?
It's called tethered shooting, and is mostly used in studios; as you say, it's not exactly a portable setup. It has the advantage of letting you write photos direct to disk, bypassing the memory card, and as you said, you can see a photo preview large and on-screen before shooting, like a high-res version of live view.
Press photographers at football matches and other events can use wireless tethering, with a laptop connected to the internet, so that picture editors back in the office can access the photos directly almost as soon as they are taken.
If there's no overriding need to get your photos on disk immediately, however, then using a remote will do in most situations.
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What's the maximum reliable length of USB cable that you can use when shooting tethered?
Does it depend on the camera?
There's lots of conflicting information out on the web; I'm hoping Photo-SE can provide some reliable info.
USB 1.1/2.0 specifies a maximum cable length of 5 meters (~16 feet) as a function of a minimum required transmission speeds. That's pushing the limit, to some degree, and will be highly dependent on how well the cable is made, shielding, etc. If you're worried about reliability, I would go under that, probably no more than 3 meters (~10 feet).
USB 3.0 doesn't actually specify a maximum length, but we're still talking copper here generally, and so the maximum practical length is probably around 3 meters to meet the speed requirements, so on USB 3.0, I'd go less than that again, maybe 2 meters (~6.5 feet).
My source for this is Wikipedia which is usually pretty good at explaining standards items. In this regards, I'd probably trust them. In any case, 10 feet is a pretty decent cable length, but if you need much longer, you can also get USB repeaters, bearing in mind that you often get what you pay for with these.
So, in general, I think the limiter is most likely associated with cable quality as opposed to the camera. If the camera is truly specified to the USB 2.0 standard, going with a good cable smaller than the maximum, should be more than fine and use of a good repeater can help in extending that length as you need.
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I am trying to find out how to use manual zoom. Can I connect the camera to my laptop and see the images on PC as I shoot them? I have a Canon 550D Rebel 2Ti.
Do I need any special cables for this?
The EOS Utility, via its Camera Settings/Remote Shooting module will let you Live View your pictures as you shoot them. It will also set you change the image settings (speed, aperture, ISO, etc.) via the PC. No special cable is required, just a regular mini-USB cable, which was supplied with your camera.
Note that for focusing purposes you don't really need this software, as live-view mode on the camera, together with maximum magnification of the live-view image should let you see your image at the pixel level (or close to that) so you can actually critically focus using your back LCD.
UPDATE: Just noticed you asked about manual zoom and not manual focus. In the EOS line, the lens zoom is always manual, and it has no relation to the EOS Utility. You can still use Live View mode on the camera to frame the photos if you find doing so via the viewfinder is hard.
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Is there any way for me to connect my Sony Alpha 550 Digital SLR to my computer so that I can, for example, view live view images on the computer screen, control the settings using the computer, or even set up timed photos?
No, except for the Live-View part.
For that you would need a HDMI capture device with monitoring function.
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