jim quist Loc: Missouri

I photograph dances and sports pictures at the High School and am going to begin doing it with my camera tethered to a macbook. does anyone currently use a sturdy set? I am worried about using a tripod with an arm that the camera and macbook will both sit on, it just seems like it could tip over easy. I saw something new (to me anyway). It comes folded and when you unfold it the top part slips over the tripod, and the opens up with a plate the macbook sits on. the camera attached normally to the tripod and the macbook would then be beneath it by about a foot or so. Also wondering if there is a cart of some kind that an attachment could be added to that would hold the camera and let me set the macbook on the cart. I drive Lincoln Towncar and anything I take to a shoot has to fit in it.
Any suggestions from those actually shooting tethered on location would be great.

tsilva Loc: Arizona

Check out Tether Tools, the choice of Professionals.

www.tethertools.com

Dik

Don't mount the laptop on the same support as the camera.
You don't want to shake or move the camera while working on the laptop.
Use a longer USB cable if needed.

Jaime Loc: Los Angeles

I would NOT recommend shooting sports or dance tethered. You will be severely limited in your movement. Even if the tether is long enough, you will always be worried that you are going to pull your laptop off its platform. You need to be MOBILE in these scenarios. Tethered shooting is really used for client review and feedback... and to adjust exposure and lighting. In sports and dance, you cannot adjust your lighting... the coach or dance instructor is not going to be looking over your shoulder. If you want to show folks the results, just take your laptop and a card reader along and download the files for review. My 2.

rochephoto

I have shot tethered for many years both in the studio and on location. I have shot in such extreme situations as deep powder snow while wearing snowshoes tethered to an iMac running off a generator. Get a long USB cord ( I've used up to 2 - 25ft cords together) Buy them off the web. They're much cheaper! For your laptop, buy a small folding table from Target. Wrap the USB around the table leg a couple of times before you plug it in so that if someone trips on the cord your laptop doesn't become a Frisbee. To steady your tripod, get an empty 1 gal. bleach bottle and fill it with water then tie a rope through the handle and hang it on the the tripod. PS - Get a 60 day free trail of PhaseOne Capture One Pro8. That's what all the real Pros use.

Dik

TP Link MR3040 USB WiFi Modem & flash firmware. Use with DSLR Dashboard for iPad/Android or computer.
Wireless tethering with focus stacking capabilities & more.
Shoot RAW + JPG & view jpg on iPad/iPhone/Android/PC/Mac

Rechargeable battery powered modem connects to camera via usb.
Very affordable.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

I shoot events tethered all the time too. Not sure about "All the pros use Capture One Pro8", most of the people that I know that do this for pay, use Lightroom, but whatever.

I've tried every combination, and agree, don't use the same stand. I check the venue beforehand, and ask for a separate table for the laptop/printer/ etc. I tried wireless, but there are too many variables. I use a long USB cable (25'), make sure you get an "active" USB cable, and one that is shielded. Not sure what all those things mean, but if you start stringing together non active, and non shielded cables, you will start to run into troubles with uploading. If you need live view on the laptop, and not just instant uploading, then you will need a different program.