Negative Space Be Gone ~ Macro Abalone Shell

[JBW]

Might I be so bold as to suggest light box and step back just a step or two

The a68 gets me into tethered live view using Sony software. This morning I spent some time getting acquainted with the concept. This is a genre that is fascinating

ISO 100 ~ Shutter Speed Thirty seconds ~ F/16 ~ Natural Light

[billtils]

Now that I like a lot Brian. And absolutely, tethering is a worthwhile addition to the macro/studio toolkit.

[JBW]

Now that I like a lot Brian. And absolutely, tethering is a worthwhile addition to the macro/studio toolkit.

Tethering Tools make a beginners kit with a 15 foot cable and anti tug clips and a few other bits and bobs for @US $90.00. throw in two Raynox snap on extreme macro lenses and I'll be moving into new realms of photographic beauty.

[mugge]

That is a bit different from you Brian. I like it. Maybe boost the colours a bit more to give it extra pop. That is only my opinion.
Cheers Ole

[JBW]

That is a bit different from you Brian. I like it. Maybe boost the colours a bit more to give it extra pop. That is only my opinion.
Cheers Ole

I'm pretty sure that I'll be doing more of this and I'll get intentional about the pop

[Shadowman]

What negative space? Nicely captured and composed.

[JBW]

What negative space? Nicely captured and composed.

I just might have another go tomorrow. There's lots of interesting areas on the shell

[Manfred M]

Tethering Tools make a beginners kit with a 15 foot cable and anti tug clips and a few other bits and bobs for @US $90.00. throw in two Raynox snap on extreme macro lenses and I'll be moving into new realms of photographic beauty.

I use TetherTools as well. Highly recommended; BUT a few words of caution.

1. Use of a strain relief (something they call the "jerk stopper") is absolutely critical for both the camera and computer side of things. The cable is all too easy to trip over and neither the camera nor the laptop / computer USB ports are made to withstand the force of a cable being yanked out. The camera is especially critical as it has to go back for a very expensive repair.

I find that for my workflow, my OEM Nikon USB 3 cable connected to the Tethertools extension cable is a more robust setup than the Tethertools connector that goes into the camera. I only use the Tethertools one when working alone in a large studio (my two Tethertools cables are 25 ft long ones), so when I use the Nikon cable (around 1 m long), I am restricted to around 28 ft of cable in total. I use gaffer's tape to strengthen the connection between the two USB cables.

2. The computer (especially if you are using a laptop) has to be tied down in case something goes wrong. The strain reliefs may protect the ports, but pulling a computer over is not great either.

I'm surprised that you are looking at the Sony software. Capture One was originally designed primarily to tether to cameras. The rest of the functionality are later additions. Is the Sony specific C1 "crippled" so you can't tether?

[JBW]

I use TetherTools as well. Highly recommended; BUT a few words of caution.

1. Use of a strain relief (something they call the "jerk stopper") is absolutely critical for both the camera and computer side of things. The cable is all too easy to trip over and neither the camera nor the laptop / computer USB ports are made to withstand the force of a cable being yanked out. The camera is especially critical as it has to go back for a very expensive repair.

I find that for my workflow, my OEM Nikon USB 3 cable connected to the Tethertools extension cable is a more robust setup than the Tethertools connector that goes into the camera. I only use the Tethertools one when working alone in a large studio (my two Tethertools cables are 25 ft long ones), so when I use the Nikon cable (around 1 m long), I am restricted to around 28 ft of cable in total. I use gaffer's tape to strengthen the connection between the two USB cables.

2. The computer (especially if you are using a laptop) has to be tied down in case something goes wrong. The strain reliefs may protect the ports, but pulling a computer over is not great either.

I'm surprised that you are looking at the Sony software. Capture One was originally designed primarily to tether to cameras. The rest of the functionality are later additions. Is the Sony specific C1 "crippled" so you can't tether?

I can tether and I'm even apparently yo able to use live view. But the software came with the camera so I thought I'd give it a try. It gives a nice live view and exports in Raw so I'm not loosing anything.

I'm only going to need about 6 feet of cable. Any suggestions? I will be attaching to a heavy desktop so pulling over is not so easy. Tether tools puts out a beginners (that's me) kit with a 15 foot cable, jerk stops and cord wraps for 89 US$. B&H ships it. That plus some Raynox snap on macro lenses and I should be all set for some fun. I almost forgot a four way focus rail will hopefully allow me to focus stack

[Manfred M]

I can tether and I'm even apparently yo able to use live view. But the software came with the camera so I thought I'd give it a try. It gives a nice live view and exports in Raw so I'm not loosing anything.

I'm only going to need about 6 feet of cable. Any suggestions? I will be attaching to a heavy desktop so pulling over is not so easy. Tether tools puts out a beginners (that's me) kit with a 15 foot cable, jerk stops and cord wraps for 89 US$. B&H ships it. That plus some Raynox snap on macro lenses and I should be all set for some fun. I almost forgot a four way focus rail will hopefully allow me to focus stack

Sounds good.

The issue I ran into with the Tether Tools male end (i.e. the part that plugs into the camera) is that the plastic end is quite thick and not compatible with the excellent strain relief Nikon ships with their cameras, so I cannot use the two together. The jerk-stopper is fine for taking the shocks off the camera's USB port, but not the smaller side-to-side and up and down forces that occur when moving the camera around.

The other thing for you to consider is shooting tethered in your garden. If your cable is long enough you can set up your camera on a tripod, head back inside and use the remote controls with the software to fine tune your focus. Will 15 ft of cable be enough?

[JBW]

Sounds good.

The issue I ran into with the Tether Tools male end (i.e. the part that plugs into the camera) is that the plastic end is quite thick and not compatible with the excellent strain relief Nikon ships with their cameras, so I cannot use the two together. The jerk-stopper is fine for taking the shocks off the camera's USB port, but not the smaller side-to-side and up and down forces that occur when moving the camera around.

The other thing for you to consider is shooting tethered in your garden. If your cable is long enough you can set up your camera on a tripod, head back inside and use the remote controls with the software to fine tune your focus. Will 15 ft of cable be enough?

Our garden is about 2000 sq meters. About 300 feet on the long side. Outdoor tethered nor really an option.

[Manfred M]

Our garden is about 2000 sq meters. About 300 feet on the long side. Outdoor tethered nor really an option.

That's where RF tethering comes in. I use my CamRanger for most of my tethering work these days.

It's a tad touchier to use than traditional tethering and has all the functionality without any cables to trip over. I did a time blend shoot where I was situated about 100m / 330ft from the camera.

[JBW]

That's where RF tethering comes in. I use my CamRanger for most of my tethering work these days.

It's a tad touchier to use than traditional tethering and has all the functionality without any cables to trip over. I did a time blend shoot where I was situated about 100m / 330ft from the camera.

wireless doesn't work with Capture 1. But it might work with the Sony software. I'll have to ask B&H.

[Manfred M]

wireless doesn't work with Capture 1. But it might work with the Sony software. I'll have to ask B&H.

The wireless tethering device will ship with its own capture software, so no issues from that standpoint.

[JBW]

The wireless tethering device will ship with its own capture software, so no issues from that standpoint.

now if they just don't have those lithium batteries

[JBW]

it does have lithium batteries so B&H won't ship it.

[Manfred M]

it does have lithium batteries so B&H won't ship it.

There are other companies too. I buy from Adorama as well (who are about a 20 minute walk from the B&H store). I buy from Amazon and eBay as well.

The issue is really about where the restriction comes from as the store policies often reflect their shipper's policies.

Unfortunately, Li-On batteries are used in pretty well any rechargable device these days.

The other issue would be Sony compatibility. CamRanger is Canon and Nikon only. I haven't done any research as to which devices support Sony. My Panasonic camera has this functionality built-in and does not need an external unit. Not sure about CamFi and I strongly suspect there are others.

[JBW]

There are other companies too. I buy from Adorama as well (who are about a 20 minute walk from the B&H store). I buy from Amazon and eBay as well.

The issue is really about where the restriction comes from as the store policies often reflect their shipper's policies.

Unfortunately, Li-On batteries are used in pretty well any rechargable device these days.

The other issue would be Sony compatibility. CamRanger is Canon and Nikon only. I haven't done any research as to which devices support Sony. My Panasonic camera has this functionality built-in and does not need an external unit. Not sure about CamFi and I strongly suspect there are others.

Vello makes a compatible wireless. But getting it shipped here is not going to happen. Not a big deal. I want the live tethered for studio not garden.And as I have a minuscule studio (I'm currently using a 22 inch cable) the 15' cable in the beginners kit will more than suffice.