Tether issues with SL {merged}

[ski542002]

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Just purchased a new Macbook having only one USB-C port. I know this Mac laptop will seem underpowered for many photogs, but this is more about size & less about raw power; anyway that's not my issue.

 

Using the Apple dongle (USB-3 port on Apple dongle to SL), my Canon bodies & SL, do not tether. The Canon is recognized by LR, but Only sporadically; very inconsistent. The SL is not even seen by LR. I am able to transfer images from the SD card using my USB-3 card reader thru the USB port on the dongle, so at least that will work. I'm just hoping there's not something the camera manufactures have to tweak to make this connection function. Having taken Leica and Adobe a year to get their tether to work, I'm fearing I'll need to return the new laptop and purchase last years model that has native USB-3 ports, or go PC, which I don't want to do.

 

Thoughts?

[JeffWright]

Just purchased a new Macbook having only one USB-C port. I know this Mac laptop will seem underpowered for many photogs, but this is more about size & less about raw power; anyway that's not my issue.

 

Using the Apple dongle (USB-3 port on Apple dongle to SL), my Canon bodies & SL, do not tether. The Canon is recognized by LR, but Only sporadically; very inconsistent. The SL is not even seen by LR. I am able to transfer images from the SD card using my USB-3 card reader thru the USB port on the dongle, so at least that will work. I'm just hoping there's not something the camera manufactures have to tweak to make this connection function. Having taken Leica and Adobe a year to get their tether to work, I'm fearing I'll need to return the new laptop and purchase last years model that has native USB-3 ports, or go PC, which I don't want to do.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

It's not likely you'll get a fix quickly. It's probably an Apple driver problem, and with this latest iteration it's apparent Apple could care less about any professional user that uses existing peripherals. In the not too distant past they would have at least tested a few Canon and Nikon cameras to see if they worked...If you're dependent on tethering, I'd either get the prior generation MB Pro, or get a Windows laptop. There are great selections of those available now with 100% Adobe RGB color space, USB3 ports and card readers built in. Never in a million years thought I would consider a Windows laptop, but the current dongle-fest that is Apple laptop computing is leading me that way.

[Guest]

It's not likely you'll get a fix quickly. It's probably an Apple driver problem, and with this latest iteration it's apparent Apple could care less about any professional user that uses existing peripherals. In the not too distant past they would have at least tested a few Canon and Nikon cameras to see if they worked...If you're dependent on tethering, I'd either get the prior generation MB Pro, or get a Windows laptop. There are great selections of those available now with 100% Adobe RGB color space, USB3 ports and card readers built in. Never in a million years thought I would consider a Windows laptop, but the current dongle-fest that is Apple laptop computing is leading me that way.

 

Hence why I don't even consider tethering as I have that same 12" Macbook with the stupid dongle-fest to do anything. I should have known better!

[orc999]

same here, got the macbook 12 - and I will certainly not buy the new line macbook pro.

all usb devices loose connections, very unstable, hdmi is flickering. I don't recommend using it for professionaly.

 

I got mine to apple care and they claimed everything fine with the device.

 

How I keep down problems as good as possible(...and still fighting):

 

- use the original Leica SL cable only, at least from this side no problems can occur, they are better build

- use only latest, highest specs hdmi cables, see above

- reset pram before critical use

- checking the options to buy a windows laptop that has proper connections

- spread the word apple is completely ignoring their users problems

 

Probably a combination of physically tiny wobbeling usb-c and weak firmware.

[ski542002]

Frustrating but anticipated responses from everyone   So on Thursday of this week, I return the Macbook 12" and either go "back in time" to buy the 2015 MBPro, or maybe get a surface book or an even more powerful Win laptop.  Apple's sticking it to the pro user where the sun don't shine!  Very very irritating.

[ramarren]

Hmm. I don't have anything with a USB-C port myself, but a friend just bought a new MacBook Pro with four of them. We installed LIS and I hooked up the SL. No problems at all. Did nothing different from doing the same thing with my MacBook Air 13" except for using the USB to USB-C adapter dingle. 

 

That reminds me: I should get the Lightroom plugin for the SL too. I keep forgetting.

[ski542002]

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Hey Ramarren:

 

I owe you a case of your finest brew!  The Macbook (not pro), uses USB-C.  

 

On my older Macbook Pro, I've never had the need to use LIS; just tethered into LR directly without issue.  I downloaded a copy of LIS, setup a watched folder in LR, and the damn thing works on my Macbook, Apple USB-C to USB-3 dongle and all!   Won't have to return my laptop and move over to the win-side of things.  

 

That's why I love this forum!

[ramarren]

Good to hear it. 

 

I've heard various people tell me that the MacBook 12" has problems with a lot of different things to do with tethering and attachment to devices. 

 

It sorta makes sense ... the MacBook 12" was conceived as a superlight machine for people who need mobility over most anything else (students, casual users of the net and email, etc), and who don't generally do a lot of peripheral device management; it's sort of an Apple 'netbook' in a way. I would imagine the problem is that the machine is compromised with respect to how much power it has to run the ports and such more than anything else: they skinnied it right to the bone on battery space, etc. It can't be as robust or provide the power that the MacBook Pro or even MacBook Air models can, just from the dynamics of its size and power supply. I've stayed away from it on that basis. 

 

I've used MacBook Air 13" and MacBook Pro 13" and 15" for years as workhorse computers that can do anything I throw at them. If anyone ever asked my advice on what to buy for doing their photography at the lightest end of the full service macOS system, I would point to MacBook Air 13 and MacBook Pro 13 without question. (My personal laptop is a MacBook Air 13", 2016 production with the max RAM, max storage, max processor. It's a great little system. If the new MacBook Pro 13 had been available, I'd have ordered one of those instead as it is very close to the same size and weight, and has a lot more processing oomph.)

 

same here, got the macbook 12 - and I will certainly not buy the new line macbook pro.

...

- spread the word apple is completely ignoring their users problems

...

 

And frankly I think that's a completely unjustified response to taking the bottom of the line computer, designed to be the light, cheap thing for a student to do homework and papers with, and: 

 

1) assuming that it's up to the task of handling professional photographic needs,

2) extrapolating that the top of the line machine is built to the same quality standards as the bottom of the line machine. 

 

There's a reason why top of the line products are more expensive than bottom of the line products: quality materials and components do cost, and the quality of these things comes into play when you get to the lowest price point systems. Not all components are created equal, even if they do the same job when not stressed to the limits. 

Edited November 27, 2016 by ramarren

[JeffWright]

Hmm. I don't have anything with a USB-C port myself, but a friend just bought a new MacBook Pro with four of them. We installed LIS and I hooked up the SL. No problems at all. Did nothing different from doing the same thing with my MacBook Air 13" except for using the USB to USB-C adapter dingle. 

 

That reminds me: I should get the Lightroom plugin for the SL too. I keep forgetting.

 

 

OK, I'm sure I'm a Troglodyte, but what's "LIS". Lightroom in situ? 

[ramarren]

OK, I'm sure I'm a Troglodyte, but what's "LIS". Lightroom in situ? 

 

 

Leica Image Shuttle ... the S/SL/M typ 240/etc tethering software. 

[JeffWright]

Leica Image Shuttle ... the S/SL/M typ 240/etc tethering software. 

 

 

LOL, that makes sense. Thanks!

[orc999]

Good to hear it. 

 

I've heard various people tell me that the MacBook 12" has problems with a lot of different things to do with tethering and attachment to devices. 

 

It sorta makes sense ... the MacBook 12" was conceived as a superlight machine for people who need mobility over most anything else (students, casual users of the net and email, etc), and who don't generally do a lot of peripheral device management; it's sort of an Apple 'netbook' in a way. I would imagine the problem is that the machine is compromised with respect to how much power it has to run the ports and such more than anything else: they skinnied it right to the bone on battery space, etc. It can't be as robust or provide the power that the MacBook Pro or even MacBook Air models can, just from the dynamics of its size and power supply. I've stayed away from it on that basis. 

 

I've used MacBook Air 13" and MacBook Pro 13" and 15" for years as workhorse computers that can do anything I throw at them. If anyone ever asked my advice on what to buy for doing their photography at the lightest end of the full service macOS system, I would point to MacBook Air 13 and MacBook Pro 13 without question. (My personal laptop is a MacBook Air 13", 2016 production with the max RAM, max storage, max processor. It's a great little system. If the new MacBook Pro 13 had been available, I'd have ordered one of those instead as it is very close to the same size and weight, and has a lot more processing oomph.)

 

 

And frankly I think that's a completely unjustified response to taking the bottom of the line computer, designed to be the light, cheap thing for a student to do homework and papers with, and: 

 

1) assuming that it's up to the task of handling professional photographic needs,

2) extrapolating that the top of the line machine is built to the same quality standards as the bottom of the line machine. 

 

There's a reason why top of the line products are more expensive than bottom of the line products: quality materials and components do cost, and the quality of these things comes into play when you get to the lowest price point systems. Not all components are created equal, even if they do the same job when not stressed to the limits. 

1) In question is the usb-c port in general. Any kind of usb device will loose and regain connection, even the charger.

Please expect a 1500USD computer to be able to hold and USB connection.

 

It is not a cheap components computer.In questions are not the specs but simply the usb-c port. Any really cheap computer at half price with a proper usb port will be sufficient to tether.

 

2) first users of the latest mbp 2016 already report the same problems

[orc999]

update from my side about the USB-C issues:

I read some post about the the OSX beta having better support.

So I registered the beta program, and AV(HDMI) output is 99% stable now with only little flickering.

No improving for the usb devices. The tiny usb-c plug is physically not so stable and adapters do not make the situation better.

Slight disruption causes harddrives to disconnect and tether software will fail.

 

Situation might improve once devices come with usb-c native. As Leica wants their very own tethering cable, that might take some time for the SL.

[ModernMan]

Just tried a new (late 2016) MacBook Pro (15", 4 USB-C ports) with LIS. Worked first try, no issues. Using a cheap USB-MICRO-B cable from Amazon -- no issues there either. 

 

LIS 3.4 is a very nice piece of software with the SL. 

[orc999]

yes good point!  I also did try the LIS as I had constant disconnects with LR. The connection was more stable and LIS somehow seems not to be irritated as much by the constant short disconnects.

 

(still it's not generally a LR issue: even OSX comes up regularly with "device disconnected" when a usb drive is attached and also the charging does sometimes beep randomly)

 

Now the issues with LIS is to browse through a series of pictures taken and of course applying some color/settings profile ad hoc.

 

Did you use a native usb-c cable with the micro-b plug on the other end? I guess that would be the best fit, sadly the ones I found are pretty short...and longer cables will bring issues if not in high quality

[ModernMan]

...

Did you use a native usb-c cable with the micro-b plug on the other end? I guess that would be the best fit, sadly the ones I found are pretty short...and longer cables will bring issues if not in high quality

 

 

I used a "Cable Matters SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Type A to Micro-B Cable in Black 15 Feet', from Amazon, in combination with a USB-A to USB-C adapter from Monoprice.

 

 

So far, the USB-C ports on the MacBook Pro (2016) with MacOS 10.12.1 have been consistently reliable (although, like others, I've certainly experienced glitchy USB connections on other Macs...)

[hmathias]

Poor Apple is forever making their new MAC laptops thinner than the old standard plugs — USB3, network connector RJ-45, and even CD-Roms.

 

Everyone likes the new thin profile, but then chastises Apple for "sabotaging" their favorite connector, and making the customer pay for adapters. You can't have it both ways. When a laptop is thiner than the connector is, you have to use a new thinner connector. Thats why the iPhone round fat headphone jack went away and why we now have USB-C (as in compact).  

[ski542002]

Hi there:

 

My happy-ending update for those interested.  After a bit of experimentation and helpful comments from the group, I've realized my almost-ideal tether solution. It's not the most powerful solution, but it's a lightweight, efficient solution for the assignments where I don't have an assistant and need to work quickly.  After images are captured, I can either process using the 12" MacBook connected to the new LG 21" 4K monitor, or if I need the speed, transfer the images to my 15" MacBook Pro.  

-12" Macbook, using a hot folder and Leica Image Shuttle, transferring to LR.  Fast, and never buggy.  Using the USB-C to USB-3 Apple dongle.  

-Entire package is mounted to my tripod using gear from tethertools.com.  

-Tether table (for 12" MacBook) https://www.tethertools.com/product/tether-table-aero/

-Aero Elbow. https://www.tethertools.com/product/rock-solid-aero-elbow/

-Master Clamp. (A Bogen super clamp would also do.).  https://www.tethertools.com/product/rock-solid-master-clamp/. 

Attached a pic showing the setup.  For now, couldn't be more pleased.

 

 

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[ModernMan]

Tethered capture seems to work nicely with LR5.7 and the Leica Tethered Capture plug-in, on MacBook Pro (2016) with USB-C. 

 

This, despite the requirements in the Leica docs saying that LR6 is required for the new tethered capture plug-in.

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[mice183]

Am 9.12.2016 um 18:48 schrieb ski542002:

Hi there:

 

My happy-ending update for those interested.  (...)

First of all i want to thank you a lot! The tethering function with the leica sl under lightroom isn't stable till today. So i tried your solution also on my desktop computer with windows 10 and lightroom cc desktop installed. what can i say? this is the way it rocks! thank you very much!

the pictures are made with the use of the leica image shuttle software. the software copies the pictures onto my harddrive. with the automatic import function under lightroom the mentioned save-folder is scanned and the new pictures are copied into my library.

 

Edited April 19, 2019 by mice183