D2H tether

redtippmann · Jul 21, 2009

Hi I was wondering if anyone knew how to tether a Nikon D2H to my laptop.

EDIT: preferably the less expensive way

Garbz · Jul 21, 2009

What is the less expensive way?

Nikon Camera Control Pro, is the way to do it properly.

JerryPH · Jul 21, 2009

Nikon Camera Control Pro.

redtippmann · Jul 21, 2009

oh I didnt know there was only one way. thanks!

well I can get the program but anyone know a site where they have a cable for sale thats more than 5 feet?

redtippmann · Jul 21, 2009

ok well i got Nikon control pro 2 and it cant detect my camera. I'm connecting it via a usb that i use for my cf reader. Is there certain usb's that I would need?

JerryPH · Jul 21, 2009

nope, all USB cables will work.
When shooting tethered, I find it best to also have the camera on a tripod... that way I don't pull the laptop off the table to go crashing into the ground, but in the end, shooting tethered is again, one of those things you do a couple times... then just move on with... at least for me. I don't want to limit myself to one location while shooting... I am dynamic, changing my positions and angle and moving at near 100 miles an hour in my mind and enjoying it.

BTW, there are now some wireless USB solutions that would let you go wireless tethered... but distances are very limited (10-20 feet at best, and transfer times are still pretty slow). You are no further than a google search away for more detailed info.

table1349 · Jul 21, 2009

This is pretty much the only common sense way to shoot tethered, at least in a studio application and not risk either the camera or the laptop. Something along these lines.

9' Monopro Camera Stand With Accessory Tray - Calumet : Studio Stands & Grip

Garbz · Jul 23, 2009

If the D2H is anything like the D200 then you need to switch it from USB Mass storage to USB Point to Point device. If your camera comes up in windows as a removable drive rather than an actual camera then it's setup incorrectly.

Your camera manual should be able to show you the way for that one

redtippmann · Jul 23, 2009

yea switched it to PTP but windows cannot install drivers for that. Any one know the solution? Like where I can download drivers?

JerryPH · Jul 23, 2009

redtippmann said:
yea switched it to PTP but windows cannot install drivers for that. Any one know the solution? Like where I can download drivers?

You're not catching on... windows doesn't need to see it. If it is setup properly and you have Camera Control Pro... *it* will see the D2h. That is all you need.

Garbz · Jul 23, 2009

Actually from what I remember I had problems doing this under Vista. The D200 would also ask for drivers and would not recognise in Camera Control Pro.

My resolution was something from the Nikon Support site. I can't remember if it was a driver or a patch or something for Camera Control Pro. But once we ran it everything fell into place.

Jerry the nature of windows is that nothing talks to the hardware. Nothing at all. That's the reason why those dos games don't work anymore. Everything uses some operating system API so if you don't have a driver installed for your hardware there's no way to talk to it without some very very very nasty often bluescreen causing hacks.
Actually a funny story, our students at uni had to design and build a hardware colorimeter that should measure a laptop screen. Well they were trying to figure out how to best get the analogue data from the three photo diodes to the computer to process. I giggled every time I plugged a groups project in to see windows say "A new USB Joystick has been found". Slack software engineers couldn't write their own USB drivers

JerryPH · Jul 24, 2009

Camera Control Pro ver. 2.1.0 update - Windows

It is supposed to have the drivers for all supported cameras with the software. What is likely missing on the OP's PC are the basic USB drivers, which are not needed (CCP has it's own).

If one is using Vista, you need this latest version.

I would think that international or US Nikon websites would have the equivalent info.

BTW, I know that I never mentioned it, but concerning Microsoft, I am pretty comfortable with their software. I hold a few if their certifications:

Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft Certified IT Professional
Enterprise Support Technician
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in 6 products
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (Vista,XP and soon Windows 7)

In all versions of Windows server between V.3.51 and 2008:
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
Microsoft Certified Trainer

I also hold several CompTIA (A+, Network+, Security+, CTT+) and CISCO (CCIE et al) certifications.

It's fair to say that I've kinda been around computers a couple of decades... lol

redtippmann · Jul 24, 2009

thanks ill install the update later today when im home. Im at a boot camp and a guy is letting us use his d3's with 70-200 f/2.8!

Garbz · Jul 24, 2009

hahah Righto

But windows still needs to see it in some form of another. You can't talk to a usb device that doesn't appear in the Device Manager, so if some driver is missing or failed to install then CCP will just say there's no camera.