Nikon USB 2.0 USB-C Cameras User Guide
- August 31, 2024
- Nikon
Table of Contents
Nikon USB 2.0 USB-C Cameras
Specifications:
- Compatibility: USB 2.0, 3.0, USB-C cameras
- Power Source: Computer USB port
Product Usage Instructions
Establishing Connection:
- Turn on your computer and log in, keeping the camera powered off.
- Ensure no background software is running.
- Open the tethering software on your computer.
- Start the tethered capture session in the software.
- Turn on the camera; the software should detect the connected camera.
- Start shooting to see images appear in the software.
Connection Issues Troubleshooting:
- Turn off the camera.
- Avoid using adapters, hubs, or extensions unless recommended for your camera or computer.
- Ensure the cable is securely connected.
- Disconnect the camera from the computer.
- Close all software and reopen the tethering software.
- Reconnect the camera and try tethered shooting again.
- If issues persist, restart the computer and repeat the connection steps.
Best Practices When Shooting Tethered:
- Ensure camera’s sleep mode is turned off to maintain continuous recognition by the computer.
- Check battery charge to avoid frequent connection drops; use a freshly charged battery or a power system for uninterrupted power.
- For Canon R series cameras, use recommended cable combinations to prevent data and power conflicts.
- Check camera settings that may affect recognition by tethering software, especially for Sony, FujiFilm, and Nikon cameras.
USB-A 3.0 Connections:
Dropped connections or no connection with USB 3.0 cameras may occur due to
power issues with USB-A ports on computers. This can affect popular camera
models from Nikon, Canon, Sony, Phase One, and others.
FAQ:
-
Q: What should I do if my tethered connection drops during a shoot?
A: Follow the connection issue troubleshooting steps provided in the user manual. If problems persist, restart your computer and repeat the connection process. -
Q: How can I avoid data and power conflicts with Canon R series cameras?
A: Use the recommended cable combinations to ensure optimal data transfer and connectivity for Canon R series cameras.
Connectivity Best Practices and Trouble Shooting Guide
FOR USB 2.0, 3.0, USB-C CAMERAS
Nothing is more frustrating than being ready to shoot, but getting stopped
dead in your tracks when a tethered capture session is not cooperating.
Getting started
First, make sure that your software supports your camera make and model for
tethered shooting.
- Confirm software and operating system support for your camera »
Download the most recent version of your software
Software doesn’t always auto-update so make sure your software is installed
correctly and all current updates have been made. Software offers RAW file
support and tethering support separately for camera models.
Be sure your camera is supported by checking here:
www.tethertools.com/software
- SmartShooter updates »
- Lightroom for Mac OS / Windows updates »
- Capture One Pro for Mac OS / Windows updates »
- DarkRoom updates »
Ensure your camera’s firmware is up-to-date
If you are not familiar with updating your camera firmware, please view
these links for the latest firmware updates:
- Canon »
- Nikon »
- Sony »
- Panasonic »
- Phase One »
- Hasselblad »
- Fujifilm »
Establish your connection
- Turn on your computer and login. Keep camera powered off.
- Ensure no software is running in the background, either as an application in the Tool Bar / Dock or in the System Tray / Menu Bar.
- Open tethering software you will use to receive images.
- Start tethered capture session in software.
- Turn on the camera. Software should detect connected camera.
- Begin shooting to see images appear in software.
Connection issues
If your connection was working during a tethered capture shoot but has dropped, here are steps to recover from a dropped connection:
- Turn off the camera.
- Avoid using adapters, hubs or extensions during troubleshooting unless one is recommended for your particular camera or computer.
- Ensure your cable is snug in the port and secured with cable management device.
- Disconnect the camera from the computer.
- Close software and ensure that no other software is running in the background.
- Open tethering software.
- Reconnect the camera.
- Turn on the camera and try tethered shooting.
If this sequence does not work, please restart the computer and repeat the Getting Started process from above.
BEST PRACTICES WHEN SHOOTING TETHERED
Ensure your camera’s sleep mode is turned off
The computer needs to recognize the camera at all times during a tethered
shoot. If your camera goes into sleep mode, the computer may not recognize the
connected camera and cause the tethered connection to drop.
Nikon users: remove the memory card out of your camera
When shooting tethered with Nikon cameras, and many software programs, the
images are not written to the memory card in the camera; they bypass the card
and are written to the computer’s hard drive in the folder you designate your
images to be saved. If you have a card full of data, or a card in your camera
at all, it could interfere with the data transfer. It’s best to simply remove
it. (This is not applicable to those shooting with Smart Shooter, as the
images can be saved to both the card and computer file simultaneously.)
Check battery charge
If your camera battery charge is low, you may find that tethering connections
drop frequently. To ensure a solid connection, replace with a freshly charged
battery or utilize Tether Tools ONsite Relay Camera Power System for
uninterrupted power.
Canon R series cameras
The Canon R’s and other select cameras do not allow turning off Power via
USB-C. This can cause data and power to go through your cable at the same
time, potentially damaging your cable and interrupting your tethered
connections. For these cameras, we recommend using these cable combinations to
ensure optimal data transfer and improved connectivity:
- TetherPro USB 3.0 (A) to C Cable plus an adapter like this one, OR
- TetherPro Right Angle Adapter Cable 20″ + TetherBoost Pro USB Core Controller ( USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connection).
For more information, See Here
CAMERA SETTINGS
USB-C power delivery setting
Many current camera models utilize a USB-C connection. These connections can
provide the camera with the ability to charge the battery over USB-C and/or to
power the camera via USB-C, when connected. While these features can be
beneficial in some situations, USB-C Power Delivery/Power Supply can also
cause problems with tethering. Therefore, we always recommend turning these
settings OFF when connecting for tethering.
Note: Not all USB-C cameras provide a setting to turn this feature off.
Tethering settings
Some camera manufacturers, including Sony, FujiFilm, and Nikon have camera
settings that affect how the camera behaves when connected via USB. In some
cases, these settings can prevent the camera from being recognized properly by
tethering software. Please be sure to consult the manual for information about
what camera settings, if any, are required for a tethered connection.
USB-A 3.0 CONNECTIONS
Dropped connections or no connection at all with a USB 3.0 camera
Cameras that utilize USB 3.0, or higher connections can sometimes have
difficulty connecting to computers when using USB-A style ports. The core
issue is that computer manufacturers, mostly to be as efficient with power as
possible, either under-power or dynamically-power their USB 3.0 ports. This
issue can affect many of the most popular camera models from Nikon, Canon,
Sony, Phase One and others.
As a solution, we recommend the TetherBoost Pro which conditions the line and
regulates the power from camera to the computer, eliminating these limitations
and allowing your tethered connection to operate up to full USB 3.0 speeds for
tethering connections from 15′ to 65′ (4.6-20m) without any loss in signal.
More informaiton on this below.
TETHERING LONG DISTANCE
USB-spec suggests that the longest base cable that should be used for tethered photography is 16ft (5m). Every additional 16ft (5m) you will want to have a Core Controller, Active Extension cable or TetherBoost Pro Extension in the line.
USB-C proper distance connections
For USB-C, whether using a Pigtail (20″) adapter cable, or up to a 15′ (4.6m)
cable, simply daisy-chain 16′ TetherBoost Pro Units together until you reach
the max recommended distance of 65′ (20m).
Connection setup
*Always connect TetherBoost Pro to your computer, not your camera end of the connection.
USB 3.0 proper distance connections
- 16′ (5m) SETUP: USB 3.0 Cable TetherBoost Pro
- 32′ (10m) SETUP: USB 3.0 Cable TetherBoost Pro Active Extension
- 48′ (15m) SETUP: USB 3.0 Cable TetherBoost Pro Active Extension Active Extension
- 65′ (20m) SETUP: USB 3.0 Cable TetherBoost Pro Active Extension Active Extension TetherBoost Pro Active Extension