How To Shoot Tethered In Capture One Pro 7 With A DSLR

This article explains step-by-step how you can shoot directly into Capture One Pro 7 with your Nikon or Canon camera, to view your images almost instantly on screen and examine them in close-up detail.

The Capture tool tab is the gateway to tethered shooting; simply connect your camera to your computer via a FireWire or a USB cable.

You can adjust your camera exposure settings remotely, apply adjustments and multiple styles during capture, use the Camera Tool to alter ISO and White Balance settings, use the Overlay Tool for advanced composition assistance, and evaluate the exposure.

You can also perform remote camera operations such as activating a camera’s Live View functionality and offering your clients a way to follow the shoot remotely using Capture Pilot for iOS and web-based devices.
 

Part One: Getting Started

From the Capture Tool tab, the Exposure Evaluation gives indication of exposure level for the currently selected exposure.

Set up the naming format in Capture Naming (this allows you to create a personalized name  formats such as name followed by the camera file numbers) and then decide where to store the captured files. With Capture One Pro 7, you now have a choice of using Catalogs* or Sessions** or to store the captured raw files.   

1. If you are using Catalogs, you can choose to store a raw file inside the catalog itself or nominate a folder by selecting it in the pull-down menu. For example, to nominate an album as a capture collection, right click on the album and choose ‘set as capture collection.’

2. If you are using Sessions, Choose File>New Session in the drop down menu choose. Check Location of the session and the naming of the individual Session folders.

3. Connect a supported camera. (See the end of the article for more information on supported cameras.)

*A catalog is the primary method of file organisation and viewing in Capture One Pro 7. A catalog contains all the information needed to find and display any image added to the catalog. The location of the actual image files can be on any disc location but can also be placed inside the catalog file. Image files and are located and accessed in the Library tool.

**Sessions enables you to store all files as a complete project that includes RAW files, setting files, library files, output files and paths to drives used in a project. For quick access and fast loading of folders you can create favorite folders for the locations used in a particular project.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Once a camera has been disconnected, do not reconnect it until the Camera tool status changes to No Camera Attached.

Adjust The Camera Exposure Settings

Once a camera is connected it is possible to make a number of adjustments to the camera settings.

1. Select the desired Program exposure mode from the drop down menu.

2. In this example Manual was chosen, which means it is possible to adjust the Shutter, Aperture and EV Adj. (Exposure Value Adjustment) settings.

3. Go to the Camera tab to alter the file Format, ISO and White Balance settings. In this example using a Nikon D700 means users can also alter the Image Area to either DX or FX format.

4. Capture One version 7 offers additional functionality including the ability to change the Flash Mode where an attached Speedlight (in this example for Nikon DSLRs) can be set to Front curtain, Rear curtain or to Red eye reduction.

Set White Balance

1. Take the first shot of your tethered session.

2. Press the White Balance icon in the Camera Tool.

Adjust Which Images Are Shown During Tethered Photography

1. Choose Camera>Auto Select New Capture.

2. Select the update rate of new captures from the following:

• Never will show the chosen primary variant.
• Immediately will show a new capture as soon as possible (before all sharpening calculations are done). 
• When Ready will show new captures as soon as all auto-adjustments are done. 
• Auto Pause Will allow the viewing of a selected primary variant while the tethered session continues. 

Apply Auto Adjustments When Shooting Tethered

Go to the Capture tool tab and check mark Auto Alignment option in the Next Capture Adjustments tool when shooting tethered. (The Auto Alignment option will correct rotation and keystone only).

Set Orientation Of The Capture

1. Choose Camera>Orientation.

2. Set the desired rotation.

Note: Select Camera>Orientation>Auto to rotate the capture automatically.

Depending on the camera model, these options may be greyed out and would be set on the camera interface itself. It is important to emphasize that Orientation will not only rotate, but it will also overwrite the orientation information in an image. Hence the orientation will be kept in the image file when it is moved to another Capture One user.

Shoot Test Shots

1. Choose Camera>Composition Mode or press the Composition mode icon*.

2. The Composition mode is activated as soon as the X Icon is displayed in the Viewer.

3. Remove the Composition mode to keep test shot files. 

Note: Each new capture taken in Composition mode overwrites the previous one. This mode makes it possible to shoot multiple test shots without filling up hard drive space.

Activating The Image Area/SensorFlex Function For Nikon

The Image Area and SensorFlex options feature a number of cropping choices for Nikon DSLRs. Please note that any selection will crop the sensor and information recorded outside the crop cannot be recovered.

1. Go to the Camera tool.

2. Select an option from the Image Area drop down menu.

Using The Overlay Tool

The Overlay tool provides advanced composition assistance and is commonly used when shooting tethered. This function is often used to shoot an image that will match a specific layout. For example, an image could be captured for a magazine cover where space needs to be left for a masthead and headline copy.
 
1. Start a tethered session (Choose File>New Session...)

2. Set up the camera for tethered photography.

3. Go to Crop tool tab.

4. Insert a draft file into the Overlay window by pressing the browse icon to select a relevant file or simply drag and drop a file into the specified area.

5. Press the Composition mode icon to shoot a test shot.

6. Adjust the draft file and/or the test shot to match each other accordingly.

Note: The overlay file should be a PSD, RAW, TIFF, JPEG or PDF. PC users can use a JPEG, TIFF, BMP, PNG or a GIF.

Exposure Evaluation

Exposure Evaluation (in the Capture Tool Tab) displays a histogram of the latest captured raw file. Subsequent adjustments made to the raw file will be reflected in any histograms that are located in the tool tabs. However, the Exposure Evaluation Histogram will stay as originally captured, as it refers to the raw file.

The Exposure meter is located directly below the Exposure Evaluation Histogram. This meter provides an indication of under/overexposure that is based on center weighted measuring and calculated in aperture values.

The Exposure meter is designed to be easily seen at long viewing distances to make estimating the exposure value easier when shooting tethered in a studio or on location. 

Tethered Camera Support

Capture One Pro 7 offers tethered support for these Nikon and Canon DSLRS: 1D X, 1D Mark IV, 1Ds Mark III, 1D Mark III, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, 6D, 7D, 60D, 50D, 40D, 700D/Rebel T5i, 650D/Rebel T4i, 600D/Rebel T3i, 550D/Rebel T2i, 500D/Rebel T1i, 450D/Rebel XSi, 1100D/Rebel T3, 1000D/Rebel XS, and 100D/Rebel SL1.

Note: Some older Canon models may work to some extent but no support is provided for these. D4, D3s, D3x, D3, D800, D800E, D700, D600, D300, D300s, D200, D90, D80, D60, D7100, D7000, D5200, D5100, D5000, D40x, D40.

For more advice, take a look at the video tutorial on tethered shooting found on the Phase One YouTube page. 

Capture One Pro 7 is the world’s most advanced tethered capture solution. Its power and simplicity in shooting directly from a camera into the computer is highly regarded. Originally designed to support Phase One medium format camera systems, today Capture One Pro 7 supports tethered shooting for not only Phase One and Mamiya Leaf camera systems but also most popular Canon and Nikon systems.