Published: June 4, 2014

Sony’s Remote Camera Control application allows you to control your Sony a7, a7R or a7S and to record images to your computer via the micro USB cable supplied with your camera. You can also use it to change camera settings from your computer, or perform interval-timed shooting.

You can download Remote Camera Control for Windows at: www.sony.co.jp/imsoft/Win/
You can download Remote Camera Control for Mac at: www.sony.co.jp/imsoft/Mac/

(Please Note: Remote Camera Control works the same with any Sony camera that supports tethering including a99, a77 II, a5000, a6000, a58, a900, a850 and a700 – Just make certain you have version 3.3 or later to tether Sony a7S or a77 II)

Setting your camera up for tethered shooting:

 

1. Set your camera’s USB Connection to PC Remote Mode

Select Menu > Setup Menu > USB Connection > PC Remote.

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2. Connect the micro USB cable supplied with your camera to the Multi-Terminal USB port on the side of the a7/a7R/a7S camera

 

3. Plug the other end of the cable into your computer’s USB port. The USB cable that comes with the camera is very short, but you can extend the range using a TetherPro USB 3 SuperSpeed active extension cable

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4. Turn on your camera then Open Remote Camera Control to establish a connection. Once you do, you can set a destination folder and control a number of camera settings

 

 

5. You can view those images as they’re transferred to your computer by using Sony’s Image Data Converter software or third-party applications such as Capture One or Adobe Lightroom

 
When using Adobe Lightroom you need to set Lightroom to watch the import folder:

Turn on Auto Import in Lightroom: File > Auto Import > Enable Auto Import

Set the Auto Import Settings to select the import location: File > Auto Import > Auto Import Settings

 

TETHERING ACCESSORIES:

 

Tether Cables:

Since I’ve got big feet and all the grace of a mule, I love the High-Visibility Orange TetherPro USB 3.0 SuperSpeed Active Extension Cables. The highly visible orange will help keep you from tripping over the cable and tearing down the set.

Cable Management:

I really like the TetherTools JerkStoppers because they keep the connection rock solid…(the nice folks at Tether Tools swear they didn’t name them after me)

Tether Tables:

Tether Tables can be mounted on industry standard lightstands or tripods that you probably already have on set. I particularly like Tether Tools LoPro-2 Pro-Bracket for my Tether Table Aero. It’s small and light for travel and grooved to slip right into Arca-style Quick Release Heads that I have on all my tripods. It’s thin profile allows you to easily slip your Tether Table into your laptop bag or at the top of a roller bag when your head out for your next photo shoot.

TetherTools Tether Table Aero with LoPro-2 Bracket perfect for easy travel.

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For more tips and tricks about getting the most out of your Sony a7 series camera, check out my book ‘Sony a7-Series: From Snapshots to Great Shots’. It’s your guide to all of the Sony a7 Series I & II cameras. While the camera manual explains what the camera can do, it doesn’t show how to use the camera to create great images! Starting with the Top Ten things users need to know about the cameras, author Brian Smith, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and Sony Artisan of Imagery, carefully guides you through the operating features of Sony a7, a7R, a7S, a7II and a7RII and how to use them. Get practical advice from a pro on which settings to use when, great shooting tips, and assignments at end of chapter to practice what you’ve just learned.

‘Sony A7 Series: From Snapshots to Great Shots’ is available NOW from Amazon

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