This relates to tethering a Nikon D200 to the PC and iPad2 as a monitor using the following
- Windows 7 64bit
- Nikon D200
- Capture One Pro 6.3.2 64bit
- Nikon Camera Control Pro 2.9.0
- Lightroom 3.5 64bit
- Apple iPad2
Abstract
- Alow the camera to be used by a photographer, the laptop/PC to preview any incoming files and an iPad to review any files via wireless as well.
Outline of the troubleshooting:
The camera worked fine in Windows and was recognized and was able to connect and transfer files.
When the camera is set to USB mode PTP you can take pictures but there is no screen preview. You can also go in the menus and change any settings except for USB mode.
If you set to 'mass transfer' mode then you cannot take any pictures with the camera when connected to a PC.
None of the installed software was able to recognize the camera.
Capture One Pro was reporting 'no camera attached' and Nikon Camera Control Pro was reporting 'no camera was detected'
There was some suspicion that a special USB cable is needed, this is not true. A regular shielded USB 2.0 cable is all that is needed.
Also had to update the D200 to firmware 2.01 however did this not make any difference.
An update was ran on the Nikon Camera Control 2 to the latest version. The installed version 2.0 was unable to recognize the camera. The updated version 2.8 and subsequent 2.9 was able to recognize and was able to control all aspects of the camera.
Capture One Pro was still unable to recognize the camera even after several restarts.
A fix was found at the phase one forums
An updated file is needed from the updated Nikon Camera Control 2 to be copied to the Capture One Pro folder
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Nikon\Camera Control Modules\D200_Mod.md3
copy and overwite to
C:\Program Files\Phase One\Capture One 6\CaptureProcess\CaptureCore\Nikon\MAID
I would do the same for any other cameras that you own such as D40 and D80 that are located in the Capture One 6 folder.
The working file
- filename: D200_Mod.md3
- size: 699,904 bytes
- date modified: Wednesday, June 09, 2010, 10:41:02 PM
The camera works in Capture One now, however there are limitations in regards to the Nikon software.
- There is no 'auto focus and capture' button, instead it is just 'capture'.
- Setting aperture and shutter speed works, and it's reflected when changed on camera.
- There are none of the settings to modify or calibrate the camera other than 'program', aperture, shutter speed and EV adj.
Capture Pilot
The biggest advantage of using Capture One Pro is the 'Capture Pilot' functionality. This is possible to utilize with either Nikon Camera Control Pro or Capture One Pro alone.
Select the folder you want to share with the built in server and use the iPad app called 'capture pilot' to connect and browse files as they are captured. There's a fee to upgrade which lets you control the camera from the iPad however the app itself is free.
You can use either the Nikon or PhaseOne software to control the camera: configure the folder where to download the files, then point Capture One browser to see the files automatically as they are captured as well as configure the Capture Pilot to host files from that same folder for the iPad connectivity.
This setup allows three separate stations:
- photographer views and takes photos via the viewfinder
- editor/designer/creative to monitor files on the laptop or other calibrated screens
- client and any other audience browse via one or many iPads from on or off location depending on the networking setup. Optionally you can configure iPad clients to permit or deny rating or adjusting of images.
Few notes worth mentioning
- Lightroom 3.5 does not support D200 tethering under Windows at all.
- You can run Capture One Pro together with Camera Control Pro and you can capture files from both interchangeably. They do not seem to block each other.
- You do not need a memory card when shooting tethered since all the files get copied to the capture location immediately. The camera buffer will take as many shots as it can while the files get transferred. Also no need to change any camera settings to allow to shoot without the memory card.
- There was no speed difference during capture; the limit is the USB connection and the cable shielding. Also do not go over the USB2.0 spec of max cable length 5m (16.4ft)
- Battery usage seems higher than average, however if not using tethered the LCD screen was used for at least 30sec per shot which was using the battery even more.
- The camera can be turned off and on while either software runs. They seem to recognize when the D200 is plugged in fairly well.
- The iPad2 screen used was not calibrated however the color accuracy was excellent. It's using a bright IPS panel which does not exhibit much color shift when viewed side to side.
- Total time taken from shutter to seeing image on iPad: 5-6 seconds.
- If you get an error "capture pilot cannot be started" this is because the bonjour application was uninstalled. Reinstall CaptureOne
Considerations
- A solution that allows any camera to upload the files it captures to a remote location using WiFi or some other form of wireless can be used with Capture One Pro and its Capture Pilot.
- For the Nikon D200 it's the WT-3a. Not sure for newer cameras or other vendors. Maybe they are built in now or the future models. D800?
- Scenario: provide iPads during a wedding photo shoot for people to watch incoming photos from anywhere. This also requires a LAN WiFi setup on location and possibly an assistant to edit photos as they come in. Would be quite a performance however would only require a small WiFi router and iPad(s).
- Events photos? Sports?
- Definitely useful in a studio controlled environment.
- The app also works with iPhones and there is most likely a good percentage of guests that would have those already. Would need to have them connect to the LAN WiFi hotspot or studio network first.
