shooting tethered..

proberok · Jan 11, 2015

Any one know of a good heavy duty colored usb cable? I'm starting to shoot more in my apt and I love shooting straight into my computer, however my cable isn't long enough to walk around. Any suggestions?

Light Guru · Jan 11, 2015

I have no specific cable recommendations, but I definitely recommend getting one of these.
Amazon.com : Tether Tools JerkStopper Tethering Camera Support : Camera And Photography Products : Camera & Photo

It will save strain on the USB port on the camera from the wait of the cable and it will prevent accidental cable disconnects.

TCampbell · Jan 11, 2015

Does it have to be colored?

For astrophotography we have some members that use these extension cables: http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Meter-Active-Extension-Female/dp/B004AGX4YO/

It's just a USB extension... you plug it into your computer and you get 16' (or they have a 32' version), but you still plug in your normal camera cable on the far end. The cable itself consumes some of the USB power because it acts as a repeater -- but that doesn't matter to the camera because it only uses the data pins (the camera doesn't use the USB power pins.)

Some of our astro-imagers will put their laptop on a table and connect to the telescope which might be 10-15' away so they can remotely control the capture session throughout the night.

I don't know of a non-powered long USB cable -- and suspect it wouldn't work. There are limits as to how far you can push data over a long cable before you start running into trouble (which is why these long cables I linked are actually powered repeaters.)

The OTHER option is to use a CamRanger CamRanger | Wireless DSLR Remote Control | iPad Mac Android PC

The CamRanger supports remote tethered shooting (through it's own app) and does this over WiFi or Ethernet cable (so length really is a non-issue when you get to that point.)

Light Guru · Jan 11, 2015

TCampbell said:
Does it have to be colored?

For astrophotography we have some members that use these extension cables: http://www.amazon.com/Plugable-Meter-Active-Extension-Female/dp/B004AGX4YO/

It's just a USB extension... you plug it into your computer and you get 16' (or they have a 32' version), but you still plug in your normal camera cable on the far end. The cable itself consumes some of the USB power because it acts as a repeater -- but that doesn't matter to the camera because it only uses the data pins (the camera doesn't use the USB power pins.)

Some of our astro-imagers will put their laptop on a table and connect to the telescope which might be 10-15' away so they can remotely control the capture session throughout the night.

I don't know of a non-powered long USB cable -- and suspect it wouldn't work. There are limits as to how far you can push data over a long cable before you start running into trouble (which is why these long cables I linked are actually powered repeaters.)

The OTHER option is to use a CamRanger CamRanger | Wireless DSLR Remote Control | iPad Mac Android PC

The CamRanger supports remote tethered shooting (through it's own app) and does this over WiFi or Ethernet cable (so length really is a non-issue when you get to that point.)

The OP said he is shooting tethered in an apartment so I doubt he is shooting far enough away to need a cable with a repeater.

With that said the OP sould tell us how long of a cable he is needing.

proberok · Jan 11, 2015

thanks guys. looking through the amazon link i've found this. id like it to be colored to avoid accidents. my kids are the clumsiest ever. http://www.amazon.com/Tether-Tools-...-Visibility/dp/B00827MK3S/ref=pd_bxgy_p_img_y

greybeard · Jan 12, 2015

proberok said:
thanks guys. looking through the amazon link i've found this. id like it to be colored to avoid accidents. my kids are the clumsiest ever. Amazon.com: Tether Tools TetherPro 15' USB 2.0 A Male to Mini-B 5 Pin Gold Plated Cable, High-Visibility Orange: Computers & Accessories

If Amazon don't have it, you don't need it