Tethered shooting with Nikon D5000

[Kris V]

I want to try to set up my camera and laptop for tethered shooting during our Christmas party at work.
Since I've never done this before, I tried it at home. Technically, it works, but as soon as I plug in the USB cable, I loose the Live View - actually, I loose the LCD completely.
I took some test pictures at home, using the shutter release inside LR with the camera on a tripod. Al pics came out fine, but I was hoping to use the LCD for focusing, rather than the view finder.
Am I doing something wrong, or is that the way tethered shooting works?

[Dave Humphries]

I want to try to set up my camera and laptop for tethered shooting during our Christmas party at work.
Since I've never done this before, I tried it at home. Technically, it works, but as soon as I plug in the USB cable, I loose the Live View - actually, I loose the LCD completely.
I took some test pictures at home, using the shutter release inside LR with the camera on a tripod. Al pics came out fine, but I was hoping to use the LCD for focusing, rather than the view finder.
Am I doing something wrong, or is that the way tethered shooting works?

Hi Kris,

I have not tried this, but I had the manual to hand for my D5000;

On p132 while using the AV connector; "images will be displayed both in the camera monitor and on the TV"
On p133 while using HDMI; "the camera monitor will remain off"

Both the above are mentioned in relation to the Playback of images, not tethered shooting.

I wonder what a D7000 does? this could be a reason to upgrade

Cheers,

[Kris V]

Hi Dave,
I did RTFM, looked it up on Google, watched video clips on YouTube, but I can't find anything that's really helpful.
Since the setup actually works, I'll just use the view finder to focus.
Upgrading right now is not really an option - The price of a D7000 is just a little more than I'm willing to spend.
Santa promised me a Speedlight if I'm good....

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Dave,
I did RTFM, looked it up on Google, watched video clips on YouTube, but I can't find anything that's really helpful.
Since the setup actually works, I'll just use the view finder to focus.
Upgrading right now is not really an option - The price of a D7000 is just a little more than I'm willing to spend.
Santa promised me a Speedlight if I'm good....

Nah, that's what I meant, there really wasn't much in there!

Does your Santa do massage if you get a bad back peering through the V/F?
Mind you, the D7000 doesn't have the angleable screen of the D5000/5100 for ease of tripod use, given how much I use mine, that's what I'd miss - if like you, I ever upgraded.

Perhaps the D7100 will have one and be cheaper

[Andrew76]

Hey Kris, this may not be of much use to you, but I did the exact same thing at a Christmas party up in the Muskoka's two weeks ago, I however was using a Canon 60D when I switched into live-view I lost the LCD as well. This happened both with LR3, and the Canon Software that comes with the camera, specifically for tethered shooting.

I found I was fine with an assistant manning the laptop, and me on the camera - viewfinder only.

[Kris V]

Hey Kris, this may not be of much use to you, but I did the exact same thing at a Christmas party up in the Muskoka's two weeks ago, I however was using a Canon 60D when I switched into live-view I lost the LCD as well. This happened both with LR3, and the Canon Software that comes with the camera, specifically for tethered shooting.

I found I was fine with an assistant manning the laptop, and me on the camera - viewfinder only.

Good, at least I know there's nothing wrong with my camera. Thanks for the feedback.

[Kris V]

Does your Santa do massage if you get a bad back peering through the V/F?

I get the massages, regardless. After 48 years, Santa has been trained VERY well

[IanCD]

Hi, I wanted to do the same thing (D7000). I have tethered shooting in Lightroom, but it doesn't give LiveView output on PC.
Found NK Remote from BreezeSys last weekend: http://www.breezesys.com/NKRemote/index.htm
From quick look so far, seems to be just what I wanted
Ian

[Kris V]

Hi, I wanted to do the same thing (D7000). I have tethered shooting in Lightroom, but it doesn't give LiveView output on PC.
Found NK Remote from BreezeSys last weekend: http://www.breezesys.com/NKRemote/index.htm
From quick look so far, seems to be just what I wanted
Ian

Thank you! Never heard about this, but I'm considering getting it.
Seems just what the doctor ordered!

[Myk]

You could also look into an Eye-fi SD card, and lose the wires at the cost of some transfer speed.

[Kris V]

You could also look into an Eye-fi SD card, and lose the wires at the cost of some transfer speed.

I never even thought about that! Thanks for the reminder. It is indeed an option to consider.

[IanCD]

Is it possible to view LiveView output from an SD Eye-Fi card on PC? What app.would you use to view the output?
Ian

[Kris V]

Is it possible to view LiveView output from an SD Eye-Fi card on PC? What app.would you use to view the output?
Ian

I don't have an Eye-Fi card (yet), so I wouldn't know. For tethered shooting: I read how to set it up in LR, so that's what I'm using. Except that I need to use the view finder, it seems to work fine.

[PhotomanJohn]

For you Apple users I would recommend you try Sofortbild which is a great freeware app that I use with my D7000. Should work the same on the D5000 which also has a USB port.

John

[shreds]

Thanks John, it was my next question...Apple/Nikon combo. Will take a look.

[JSheppard]

There is a really helpful post listing all the available tethering softwares. They break down the options of what camera and computer platform you are using. You can find the info here: http://www.tethertools.com/plugging-in/software/

[Kris V]

There is a really helpful post listing all the available tethering softwares. They break down the options of what camera and computer platform you are using. You can find the info here: http://www.tethertools.com/plugging-in/software/

Thanks - Looking into this as well!

[cichlid]

For you Apple users I would recommend you try Sofortbild which is a great freeware app that I use with my D7000. Should work the same on the D5000 which also has a USB port.

John

Hi Kris,
I have the same setup at John (above). I have a suspicion that the LCD turns off because it is not a Nikon program. Nikon does have a program for tethered worked, or maybe you can find a windows program dedicated to tethered setups.

Good luck,

Erik

[Kris V]

Hi Kris,
I have the same setup at John (above). I have a suspicion that the LCD turns off because it is not a Nikon program. Nikon does have a program for tethered worked, or maybe you can find a windows program dedicated to tethered setups.

Good luck,

Erik

I have Capture NX2, but tethered shooting requires Camera Control Pro - to the tune of $ 180.00. I may just pass on that

[bobcom]

Couple of months ago I stumbled upon a prog called "Control my Nikon"
which I downloaded and immediately registered. Works like a charm and at $9.95 it is significantly cheaper than Camera Control Pro. Besides, it offers a huge amount of options - like interval shooting, bracketing, remote control through TCP/IP etc. Fits most Nikon DSLR's including the D5000