Shooting tethered.

[pippy]

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Hi everyone.

Newbie (first post) so make allowances, please...

 

My M-8.2 is on it's way to me as I type but I'd like to get some info first if anyone can shed some light. I tried the search function but couldn't find out what I wish to know.

 

Firstly;

Can the aforementioned be used in a useful way in a 'tethered' fashion?

I spoke with someone at Red-Dot and they couldn't advise. Nor could any of the rest of the staff.

I'm fully aware that most Leica users are street-shooters (and I have bought mine primarily for that purpose) but I'm a studio/location snapper (mix of still-life and portraiture) and if I could use it for 'work' portraiture it would be a handy bonus.

Currently I'm using Canon DSLRs which work brilliantly with Canon's own software in tethered mode so all is not lost if I can't. But I'd like to!

 

Secondly;

I'm guessing - and please tell me if I'm wrong! - that a radio transmitter-unit can be used in the hot-shoe to trigger suitably receiver-equipped studio flash heads(?). If so then does it have to be a Leica-shoe dedicated send-unit or will pretty much any decent-quality generic trigger system be useable?

 

Lastly (for the time being);

In the main body of the forum I've read that various members have had success with various Post-Prod software. Currently I'm using mainly CS6. I have tried an early version of LR in the past and not really enjoyed it but is the latest version more user-friendly and, quite simply, better all round?

 

Thanks in advance if anyone can be of help!

 

Philip.

Edited November 25, 2014 by pippy

[Dao De Leitz]

Hello Philip,

 

as a quick note on the old remote access/control program: 'Digital Capture 1.0'

 

Capturering is the main function.

…

I want to give a hint on an article from the German forum .

- ' See screen-dump as an explanation! ' -

 

As I described, the M8 does not even need a display.

 

The menu for the relevant exposure parameters are accessible with the remote

control program, Digital Capture 1.0 . (Source: Leica Camera AG - Downloads, software LEICA M8 ...)

 

With Digital Capture the values are stored in the M8 in the same way as the entries in the SET menu. After the restart they are used.

 

Thus, one can define the "Film Properties" before using.

 

For safety, you can read the settings from the image data and check them. The exposure meter and the time setting dial can then be evaluated as usual. Batterycontrol and and 'Remaining number of images' are integrated at the top of the cap.

 

DNG provided: Nothing more is needed for photographing '(at the moment:o )

Perhaps you need no repair?

 

Info:

- The M8 automatically detects the active USB connection - no display is required!

- I tested the program only on XP and a virtual machine.

- All sub menus must be accessed individually and set - to write the new parameters.

 

Maybe it helps further - Thorsten

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[pippy]

Hello, Thorsten,and thanks for the reply.

 

Unfortunately as I don't, as yet, have the body I don't know what will happen when I connect the thing to the laptop via the USB port.

My understanding of the German language is, I'm sorry to say, atrocious so I'll have to rely on some web-based translation service to read the posts in the link which you kindly provided.

 

Thanks very much for your helpful suggestion; it is appreciated!

 

Philip.

Edited November 25, 2014 by pippy

[pippy]

Tried to edit previous post but failed. Pardon me.

Ah, well.. I suppose I'll learn to navigate this place eventually.

 

Thanks again.Thorsten.

I checked out your suggestion of Leica's Digital Capture 1.

Details seem hard to come by (for my search engine at least) but, as ever, I'm optimistic it'll be alright in the end.

It certainly sounds at least 10% more promising than it did around 47 mins ago and that's a good thing.

 

Cheers!

 

Philip.

[gbealnz]

I was sure the Leica digitals could tether within Lightroom, but a quick check didn't reveal this.

M, S, and S2, by the looks of it.

Tethered camera support in Lightroom

Keep trying though, I am sure the "older" M8 did tether, I recall trying it myself back in the day when I had one.

Could be wrong too though.

Gary

[pippy]

Thanks for the link, gbealnz.

 

I might send Adobe Customer Support an email but it isn't looking too promising.

My idea was to shoot RAW and be able to check images in near-enough real-time but it doesn't look likely.

As I'm buying s/h there will be no software and I would use the PP in Photoshop CS6 to process RAW images but I've read a few threads here which suggest other possibilities so I will check those threads out when time allows.

 

On the 'plus' side...

I've downloaded the M 8.2 manual and it seems my other point about the flash-trigger should be fine so now I'll just have to wait for the postman to call.

 

Thanks again for the replies.

 

Philip.

[pico]

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Are you using Windows or OS-X? If OS-X, then plug the camera into the USB port and fire up Image Capture. It might work. You won't have all the camera setting controls, but you can trigger the camera. (No preview because CCD does not support live view.)

[Paul J]

As Pico has said, Image Capture in Mac is the best bet. Otherwise the M9 works easiest and fastest with Aperture (i'm pretty sure it just interfaces Image Capture). Literally, just plug it in and find tether in the menu and go.

[David&Kay]

Quick answer to your second question, I have used generic radio triggers with my M8.2 without noticing any problems.

[pico]

Quick answer to your second question, I have used generic radio triggers with my M8.2 without noticing any problems.

 

How? Through the USB? I thought I tried everything with no success.

.

[David&Kay]

How? Through the USB? I thought I tried everything with no success.

.

 

Sorry this was in response to op's question relating to studio flash triggers.

[pippy]

Thanks for the latest replies.

 

I'm using Windows so the various Mac options are not open to me.

The body should arrive by UPS tomorrow / Tuesday so I'll find out soon what I can work out when I plug it into the USB port. If all else fails CS6 can convert the RAW for me one image at a time. Come to think of it I can probably set up a new 'Batch' automation. Looking forward to the fun and games.

 

Thanks for the flash-trigger confirmation. That will be easy to sort out.

 

I've a couple of lenses here which I'd used with my old M2 so can play about trying to get my head back into 'Leica-mode' until my two new ones arrive in the next week or so.

 

Thanks again, everyone.

 

Philip.