Software Options for Shooting Tethered

One of the first questions a photographer needs to consider when shooting tethered is which tethering software option is right for them. In the Ultimate Tether Guide, a FREE educational guide from Tether Tools and the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), we highlight software solutions, current supported cameras, and instructional setup guide as well as bonus information to improve your tethering experience. There’s lots of software options out there and below we’ll cover a few.

ADOBE LIGHTROOM

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is a comprehensive RAW processing and photo management application that includes tethering functionality for select Canon, Nikon and Leica digital cameras. Lightroom offers only limited access to camera settings directly from a computer but fully supports instant viewing, zooming, rating and tagging of shots. You can even set it up to import photos into a specific Lightroom catalog as they are taken. Like all other tethering software, Lightroom displays your high resolution files on the tethered screen as you capture them, so you can easily check focus, lighting and composition in great detail. Lightroom is available for both Windows and Mac. 

CAPTURE ONE PRO 

Phase One’s Capture One Pro is a professional RAW converter and image editing software that also includes extensive tethering features. It enables you to capture, organize, edit, share and print images in a flexible and efficient cabled tethering workflow. Phase One also offers a tool/app that connects Capture One Pro to an iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone so users can present, rate, zoom and even trigger the camera wirelessly using compatible mobile devices. More on Capture Pilot can be found in the wireless tethering section in the Ultimate Tether Guide.

CANON EOS UTILITY 

Canon EOS Utility software is available free with Canon cameras and includes many of the features found in purchased software packages such as transferring and viewing RAW images or JPEG previews, rating and tagging images, remotely controlling the camera, displaying live view (if camera supports it) and other tethering functions. Available for both Windows and Mac, the initial EOS Utility installation requires the original software disk that came with the camera. Once installed, updates can be downloaded directly from Canon.

NIKON CAMERA CONTROL PRO 

Nikon Camera Control does not come with Nikon cameras, but is sold separately and is a full-feature tethering software package that allows full control of all compatible cameras’ settings. Available for Windows or Mac, Nikon Camera Control Pro software remotely controls most functions of Nikon digital SLRs from a computer that is connected via USB cable or wireless transmitter. Advanced functions including camera controls, live view function, and presets are also supported through the Picture Control System. It also offers the optional workflow of using Nikon’s exclusive processing and editing applications, Capture NX and View NX.

SMART SHOOTER

At just $49.95, Smart Shooter has a sweet price point, and a few features that pack a punch. Smart Shooter is a digital photography workflow application for tethered shooting, remote capture and advance camera control that works with all recent Canon EOS DSLR and Nikon DSLR cameras. Smart Shooter allows you to fully control your camera from your computer, giving you freedom to explore and experiment to help take the perfect picture. Automatic download and display means you can fully evaluate your photos in seconds, and real time live view output will help you focus and compose the scene. Scripting language lets you control your camera, allowing you to take multiple photos with varying settings just by clicking a single button. Aimed for both professional and amateur photographers, Smart Shooter features some key components that will help with workflow

THE ULTIMATE TETHER GUIDE

Tether Tools and the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) have come together to create The Ultimate Photo Tethering Guide out of a shared commitment to providing the creative community with the most valuable and useful resources that support the practice of still and motion photography. The Ultimate Photo Tethering Guide from Tether Tools and ASMP is perfect for those who’ve never tried tethering and experienced tethered photographers looking to streamline their workflows. Completely FREE to download, this guide details the benefits of tethering as well as the best gear and software to use to maximize your results.