Tethering to the iPad: An Overview
Tethering to the iPad is a hot topic. Currently, you can’t tether directly to the iPad with a cable, not even with Apple’s iPad Camera Connection Kit. You can, however, tether wirelessly and you can incorporate your iPad in many ways that will greatly improve your photo workflow while shooting tethered.

Tethering to your iPad allows you to do things like use the iPad as a remote control for your camera, incorporate live view tools, and share images. There are a lot of software tools and apps that help with these processes.

Below is our round up of solutions that make it easy to work with your iPad in photography and videography, too.  As new tools are introduced, we’ll update this post to reflect the latest options.

If you have an app suggestion or tool you’d like to share, send it to us at newsletter@tethertools.com.

How to Tether Wirelessly to iPad
Our favorite solution for shooting direct to the iPad is the Eye-Fi ProX2 Card. It enables wireless transfer of JPEG or RAW images directly from your camera. Once you purchase the card, all it takes is an app download (it’s free from Eye-Fi) and a quick setup process to get started.

The Eye-Fi card essentially creates a hotspot wireless connection, so transmission of images is quick. JPEG files transfer faster than RAW, but with the ProX2, you can shoot both file formats and choose to only transfer the JPEG’s wirelessly. This makes for faster viewing. Then, you can transfer the RAW files with a reader at a later time.

Some people have been hesitant to try the Eye-Fi card because it only comes in SD format. There is a CF compatible converter, though. It’s called the Extreme ESDCFII CF Type II Card Adapter and is a Type II memory adapter that is unsupported – meaning EyeFi won’t provide customer service on the adapter. But, it is a compatible SD to CF adapter for any Eye-Fi card.

iPad Apps for Tethered Photography
There are a lot of useful apps for photographers and many of them have great tethering and image sharing tools. iPad apps for tethering primarily focus on how to first tether to a laptop or computer and then push images to the iPad. Benefits to this process include the ability to view your images on a larger screen to check focus, composition and lighting. It also makes it easier to share images with other people who are critical in the process. Opening your workflow to some of the following tools can change the way you shoot!

onOne Software’s DSLR Camera Remote

onOne Software DSLR Remote

What it Does

• DSLR Remote works as a LiveView monitor and remote trigger tool when you are working in conjunction with the software on your laptop. When connected wirelessly to a computer running as the server, you’re able to remotely trigger the shutter on your supported Canon or Nikon DSLR camera by way of an iOS application that runs on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. This allows you the mobility to set-up shots and move to interact with photo subjects or clients. Other highlights include the ability to shoot time-lapse scenes; auto-bracketing for HDR images; and you can start, stop and monitor video on supported HDSLR cameras.

How it Works

• To get started, download the onOne DSLR Camera Remote Server application onto your iOS device from the iTunes App Store. You will also need to download the server app to your computer at www.ononesoftware.com. Connect your supported camera, either with a USB or wirelessly, to a computer that’s running the low-maintenance app. From there, open the remote application on your Apple device and use the remote trigger for the camera.

Capture Pilot

Capture Pilot

What it Does

• An app from Capture One, Capture Pilot is designed to enhance the experience of both photographer and client. It instantly uploads images from your camera to the iOS device by way of the Capture One software running on your computer. Images are displayed in high-resolution for better quality viewing.

How it Works

• While using Capture Pilot, both you and your subject have access to view, scan, zoom and scroll through RAW, JPEG or Tiff images. You also can remotely fire your camera and control the important capture parameters. Lastly, you, your client or your assistant, can rate and tag favorite shots for instant feedback – even mid-shoot.

Upgrade Features

• If you’re looking to remote control your camera, Capture Pilot offers an upgraded feature called Camera Control. Besides being able to remotely trigger your camera, the upgrade lets you control parameters like ISO sensitivity, exposure, shutter speed and more. You can also do cool things like mount the camera at heights beyond your physical reach, interact with subjects in new ways, or even use it to be part of the photo yourself.  Your camera must be connected to a Mac or Windows computer running Capture One Pro or DB, version 6.2 or later.

Other iPad Apps for Photographers
The following aren’t necessarily tethering apps, but they are great solutions for image reviewing, selection and editing with the iPad.

Filterstorm Pro

Filterstorm

Filterstorm has a first-class reputation as top-of-the-line editing software for the iPad. It was designed for photojournalists who are shooting on the go and need tools they can use to edit and upload images to FTPs, news readers, or websites in minutes. The release of Filterstorm Pro improved original editing capabilities. This version has a built-in library where you can rate, edit and even publish photos directly from the app. Filterstorm Pro includes expanded RAW file support, more FTP delivery points, and evolved image editing features including brushes, gradients, color replacement and vignette tools.

Photosmith for Lightroom 3
It’s a one-stop application to upload, edit, organize, and showcase your work. Photosmith for Lightroom 3 does it all: non-destructive, state-of-the-art editing; rating; assigning metadata; filtering; online uploading, and publishing images. PhotoSmith syncs images between your computer and iPad, letting you view full 1:1 zoom of up to 21 megapixel RAW images. It’s compatible with Photoshop and Adobe image products. This is a great video on Photosmith’s benefits.

Adobe Photoshop Express
The iPad-friendly companion to the desktop version of Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Express lets you store 2GB of videos or photos. You can use one-touch editing effects to crop, rotate, adjust color, or add filters, effects, borders and more. And you can undo and redo changes all you want, while your original file remains safe. Upgrade to the Adobe Camera Pack and you can also reduce noise, set a self-timer for taking images from your iOS device, auto review images, and even store and share images on the go.

Portfolio for iPad

Portfolio for iPad

The Portfolio app presents your images in a completely branded environment. Portfolio helps you organize photographs through an intuitive interface that is easy to organize, label and build slideshows for viewing directly on the iPad. Multiple galleries can be interchanged in the portfolio depending on what you’d like to show to your client. It can also be configured for transfer to a large-scale presentation if needed.

iPad Apps for Videography
Many of our customers are using the Wallee iPad Connect System to incorporate the iPad into their video work. Here are a few great apps we love for video.

Pro Prompter

ProPrompter on the Wallee Connect System

Using the iPad as a teleprompter is a convenient and portable way to keep production costs down while still creating professional videos. The ProPrompter App offers customizable settings for background colors, fonts and font sizes, scrolling speeds, mirroring, looping and more. You can also create and edit scripts in-app, which also includes foreign language editing features. And here’s a nice bonus: if you have two iOS devices, one can serve as a remote control for the other that’s working as the teleprompter.

Timer on Fire
Simple but necessary, Timer on Fire is a countdown app that helps prompt cast and crew for counting down to action, wrapping up time-sensitive clips, or simply tracking time on set.

Movie★Slate
This app is a convenient, all-in-one digital slate, clapper board, shot log, and shot notepad. Movie★Slate was designed for use in film and television. This app is the easy way to log footage and take notes as you shoot, saving valuable time later when capturing and editing footage. It has a time code and frames per second timer, and you can add data for movie scenes and set up varying cameras.  One of its key features is the ability to sync time codes with your camera through Bluetooth or cable. After each take, you can rate video and audio quality, and review all of your data between takes. There’s also the ability to share video and notes via email or export it to a Final Cut file for editing.

Q: We get asked all the time “When I’m shooting, how do I incorporate my iPad into the workflow?”  That can mean a lot of things to different photographers, so here we break it down into various answers:

A: Tethering to the iPad: The luxury of pushing images from your camera to a larger screen, usually on a laptop, has spoiled us. Typically this is done via a cable connection from the camera to the laptop. Now there are endless options for apps that integrate with tethering software, which sync images to your iPad so you can tag, rate and share your images efficiently with others.

If you’d prefer to go wireless, the Eye-Fi Pro X2 Card is a popular solution for tethered iPad photo shoots.    The Eye-Fi card is actually an SD memory card with a built-in wireless connection that allows you to tell the card where you want your images sent. You can program it to wirelessly transfer images, as you shoot, from your camera to your iPad (or your iPod, laptop, or other device). There are various cards available, but we recommend the ProX2 for serious shooters using SD format.

A: Mounting your iPad: Securing your iPad during your shoot is critical to ensuring you can access all the tools you need without breaking up your momentum. Tether Tools new Wallee iPad Connect helps you mount the iPad to a tripod, crossbar, arm or a studio stand for access to it during the shoot. Besides the Wallee iPad Connect, Tether Tools also is selling a selection of Wallee System accessories like the Pivot, which floats the iPad just above your desk for post-production needs. Its any-angle positioning makes it perfect for using Adobe’s NAV app for the Photoshop toolbar. The Pivot is also great for client presentations both during and after the shoot.  It’s flip and turn versatility is a really impressive way to present your portfolio.
 

A: Using Photo Apps: Deciding on an app for reviewing, editing, organizing and showcasing photos can be a daunting but fun task. This is such a huge category that we’ve provided a post on our blog about photo apps.

What is Tethered Photography?

Tethered photography is the process of connecting your digital camera to a computer with a cable, typically a Firewire or USB. You also can connect your digital camera and laptop wirelessly via an Eye-Fi Pro card. The computer device can be a desktop or laptop (PC or Mac) and an iPad or tablet.

Photo data bypasses the camera and a file saves directly to a folder that you’ve set up on the computer or external hard drive. The tethering software displays your image on the computer screen, where the photograph can be seen in detail. This is advantageous because:

• It allows you to easily spot any distracting elements, focus and exposure issues, or unwanted reflections and shadows
• You can readily identify depth of field
• It is easier to make needed changes, create another image and evaluate results
• You can instantaneously share images with clients, bettering client/photographer communication, feedback and shot discussion

Tethered photography is a shooting strategy that’s been around and utilized for years by advertising, fashion, and product photographers. Before the development of modern tethered technology, the process was cumbersome, expensive, and used primarily for studio work and high-end commercial photo shoots.

Fortunately, this technology is now more reliable, compact, and affordable. Practical developments in this type of photography means that countless professional, novice, and enthusiast photographers are now “shooting tethered.”

Our company, Tether Tools, is a design and manufacturing company providing innovative custom photography equipment and accessories for in-studio and on-location shoots. We are committed to being the premier tethering resource and providing the highest quality tethering and workstation solutions for photographers.

How to Shoot Tethered
So, how does tethered photography work? Following are some of the tools of the tethered photography trade that you’ll need.

Tethering software options:

• Nikon users: Camera Control 2
• Canon users: EOS Utility
• Additionally, there are photo management software programs with integrated tethering capabilities. Check out: Lightroom 3, Capture One and Aperture 3

A tethered photography workstation:

• Our Tether Table Aero System provides a complete workflow solution with a variety of options for laptops, monitors and gear.
• The Aero System’s LAJO-4 ProBracket allows you to mount a workstation on any tripod, light stand, SuperClamp, Magic Arm, or other common photography support equipment.

Key accessories to help protect tethered photography equipment:

• A JerkStopper maintains cable connections and protects computer and camera port damage
• SecureStraps provide added security for your laptop
• Aero ProPad’s cushioned, non-slip surface protects your laptop, lenses, filters, and any other items you need within arm’s reach

You’ll also need a TetherPro cable line and can use our cable connection service to find the best cable for your specific needs.

A lot of photographers like to shoot to an external hard drive for image portability and seamless back up, both in the studio and on location.  If this is your preferred set-up, you’ll want to check out the Aero XDC or XDC Duo.  Both are an ideal addition to your Tether Table.

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