Cameras That Work Or Don't With Aperture 2.0 Tethering

In continuum of my previous post on Aperture 2.0 and why I didn't switch to Lightroom, I'm compiling a list of cameras that are reported to work or reported not to work with the tether feature at this time. I will be updating this list regularly so the best way to stay informed is to subscribe to the feed.

Camera By Brand and Model

Make/Model	Yes	No	Unreported
Nikon
D40	•
D40x	•
D50	•
D70	•
D80	•
D200	•
D300	•
D3	•
D2x	•
D1H		•
Canon
EOS-1Ds	•
EOS-1Ds mkII	•
EOS-1Ds mkIII		•
EOS-1D			•
EOS-1D mkII			•
EOS-1D mkIII		•
EOS-1D Mark II N	•
EOS-5D	•
EOS-40D		•
EOS-30D		•
EOS-350D	•
EOS-20D	•
EOS-10D		•
EOS Rebel Xti 400d		•
SD500		•
SD550		•
Powershot G6		•
Powershot G9	Works but problematic
Powershot SD870		•
Pentax
DMC-L1		•
Sony
A700		•
Panasonic
LX1		•
FZ50		•
Leica
Digilux 3		•
D-Lux 2		•

Note: If a camera is not listed that means I have not heard reports of it working or not.

The Apple support page on tethered shooting states the following:

Aperture uses a standard protocol for tethered shooting. Some cameras use proprietary protocols, and may only support tethered shooting with their own software.

Some cameras may need to be set to a specific storage protocol to allow tethered shooting. In some cases, tethered shooting may only work in PTP mode, in other cases, USB Mass Storage may be required.

Some cameras support both remote computer control and camera control of the shutter when shooting tethered, others may only support one or the other.

For best results, use Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Some cameras require Leopard to support tethered shooting.

If you have a camera that is not on this list and is working or not working with the tether feature, post back and let me know. If you see an error in this list I would appreciate it if you told me so I can keep this list complete and as accurate as possible.

59 Comments

Sander
On Monday, Feb 18

EOS 30D also does not work with the tethering feature in Aperture 2.0

greg.newman
On Monday, Feb 18

Thanks Sander. I'll add it to the list

Richard
On Monday, Feb 18

What will it take for Apple to fix this? Is tethering support a system deal or can a small Aperture upgrade fix the problem for cameras not supported?

greg
On Monday, Feb 18

That's a good question Richard. From what I have been hearing in talking to a lot of people is that some camera's don't seem to support the port change while some cameras do and lock up. I think it's probably a little bit of both. Probably firmware for the camera and an update to Aperture.

Ryan
On Monday, Feb 18

Thanks for posting all of this info about Aperture 2.0. Nikon D50 also works with the tethering feature in Aperture 2.0.

greg.newman
On Monday, Feb 18

You're welcome Ryan and thanks for the D50 notice. Adding it now.

James Duncan Davidson
On Monday, Feb 18

Canon 5D works fine for me here.

Canon 1Dmk3 does NOT.

Canon G9 works sorta. The lens stays closed until you hit "Capture" in the HUD, then extends, the camera snaps the pic, transfers it to Ap, then closes the lens. There's no way to drive the process from the G9 that I've found yet.

Also, tethering puts serious instability into things for me. I've managed to hang my USB chain once while doing it, forcing a reboot. Also, I've managed to crash out Aperture several times.

Maarten
On Tuesday, Feb 19

As above, Canon 5D works smooth, Canon 1Ds MK3 Does not, I've heard that 1Ds MK2 does work.

David Anderson
On Tuesday, Feb 19

Sony A700 does not work in Aperture tethered mode. The supplied Sony Macintosh remote software also has a bad display bug in Leopard as well.

greg.newman
On Tuesday, Feb 19

@maarten
Thanks, can you get a confirmation on the MK2?

@David Anderson
Thanks, I wanted to start a Sony list. Will add this in there.

greg.newman
On Tuesday, Feb 19

@James Duncan Davidson
Thanks for posting these! I forgot your had a G9.
You're a Canon guy. What's the difference between these models, specifically the 5D and 1Dmk3 that would cause one to work well and one to not work at all? It's even more confusing that Maarten posted that the 1Ds MK2 might be working.

I had one instability issue with tethering when in full screen mode. When I finished the session and disconnected it locked up Aperture in a wierd way. Buttons were clickable but didn't react. I later used a spaces hot key which released Aperture and took it out of full screen mode.

David Anderson
On Tuesday, Feb 19

Greg, as far as I know the A700 is the only Sony DSLR that has any kind of remote control software available, so it is unlikely that the Sony DSLR A200/300/350 will work in Aperture tethered mode. The A100 which I used to own certainly didn't have any Sony remote control capability.

greg.newman
On Tuesday, Feb 19

Great. Thanks for that information David.

James Duncan Davidson
On Tuesday, Feb 19

The firmware and user interface on the Canon 1-series has always been very different than most of the other Canon DSLRs whose interface and firmware have been a steady progression from what was on the original D30 in 2000 and through to the D60, 10D, 20D, 30D, 5D, and now (I presume even though I haven't picked one up) the 40D.

Additionally, the firmware/ui on the 1-series went through a major overhaul with the mark 3. Before this, the 1-series UI was a pita. Now it's pretty workable. The firmware differences may explain why the mk2 would work even while the mk3 won't.

Nikon must have either a better or a more consistent API for doing the tethering as it looks like their support is great across the board. Interesting that.

greg.newman
On Tuesday, Feb 19

Hopefully the manufacturers and/or the Aperture engineers can get that worked out Duncan. I think tethering is something a lot of photographers would like to have the ability to do, especially portrait shooters.

Gerald Skrocki
On Tuesday, Feb 19

Canon EOS 1Ds does work.

greg.newman
On Tuesday, Feb 19

Thanks Gerald. The grid has been updated to reflect it.

Bernt
On Tuesday, Feb 19

Hello from Thailand,

Nikon D200 works, but I had as well the issue once, when using Aperture 2 in Full screen mode not being able to get out of this mode. Had to kill the App. Seems to be an Aperture bug. But works fine since.

Thanks for your compilation of information.

Best regards

Bernt

greg.newman
On Wednesday, Feb 20

Bernt,

I've had that problem too with my D80. I think it's more of a Aperture vs. Spaces issue. If that happens again, use the hot keys to switch to another space and it will force aperture out of full screen mode. At least that's how I got out of it.

Rico Hofmann
On Wednesday, Feb 20

Canon EOS 1ds does not work, but EOS 1ds Mark II does work.

greg.newman
On Wednesday, Feb 20

Thanks Rico.
I added the 1ds mkII to the grid.
GERALD SKROCKI above you posted that his 1Ds does work.
Does anyone else have a 1Ds that can be tested for the tied breaker?

Rico Hofmann
On Wednesday, Feb 20

OK, the EOS 1ds works, but the CF-Card must be in the Camera.

greg
On Wednesday, Feb 20

Interesting discovery Rico. I wonder if this is true for all cameras. I'll do some tests with my Nikon and see. I'm assuming it is true since the image isn't really being streamed from the sensor but read from the card.

Did you have a card in the 1Ds MII when you tested it?

Brad
On Wednesday, Feb 20

You're not even listing the 1Ds mkIII ? For shame !

greg
On Wednesday, Feb 20

hah. Sorry Brad. No reports on that at this point. Do you have one to test?

Chris
On Wednesday, Feb 20

Canon Powershot G6: No

Thomas Tukker
On Wednesday, Feb 20

Tethering the D3 or D300 works FANTASTIC!!!

GREAT!!!

Michael
On Wednesday, Feb 20

You can add:

Canon SD500/SD550
Panasonic LX1 and it's leica brother the D-Lux 2
Also the Lecia Digilux 3 will be on the no tether list it the L1 is on it
(Panasonic=Leica for digicams and their firmwares)

greg.newman
On Thursday, Feb 21

Thanks to Chris, Thomas and Michael for your additions!

Ian
On Thursday, Feb 21

The Canon 1D Mark IIn works perfectly.

greg.newman
On Thursday, Feb 21

Thanks Ian. Added

Paulino Michelazzo
On Thursday, Feb 21

Dear,

I don't know if the Canon D350D is the same in NA and Asia. If yes, this model is RebelXT in South America and don't work with Aperture 2.0. I'm tested with my Canon here and nothing happens.

Thanks for the list

Ian
On Thursday, Feb 21

By the way, shouldn't the Nikon DH1 be listed as the D1H, or is the DH1 and older camera? Not trying to be sarcastic, just wasn't sure if that was a typo or not. As a matter of fact, I believe the DH1 is a charger for the F series 35mm cameras, isn't it?

greg.newman
On Thursday, Feb 21

That's it. I'm firing my proofer! Yes, a typo and thanks. Chargers are confirmed not to work with A2.

Ian
On Thursday, Feb 21

Hm... I was wondering why my charger wasn't working... dang!

Graeme Smith
On Friday, Feb 22

Panasonic FZ50 does not work.

Ian
On Friday, Feb 22

You have "EOS Rebel Xti 400d" listed twice. Should one be the 300 or 350 instead?

greg.newman
On Friday, Feb 22

Thanks Graeme.

Ian. Fixed it. Just doing the edits too fast I guess (and tired).

Gregory
On Saturday, Feb 23

Does tehtering work with the d70s? It shows up, but when i press the button on the d70s it doesn't work. Any ideas?

om.
On Saturday, Feb 23

@gregory:
have you tried inserting a memory card into the camera?

om.

Allan
On Monday, Feb 25

The D100 is recognized by Aperture 2.0 in the Tether HUD, but there are no controls for taking the picture (and the camera controls don't do anything). Or am I missing something?

This is with Tiger and I tried the D100 in PTP and Mass Storage modes. There was a memory card in the camera, as well.

danielmimura
On Monday, Feb 25

Gregory/OM: I couldn't get the "capture" button to be active until I put in a card. I snapped 3 or 4 test shots, but I after 5 minutes, it still says it's "Importing"... ?? Someone said it was SLOW, but this can't be right. I'm pretty sure I'm running USB 2.0, so I don't get it.

Gregory: Also, you have to it in PTP?

momo
On Monday, Feb 25

Canon Powershot SD870 IS : NOT working

Brent Brolin
On Tuesday, Feb 26

The 1DS Mark III does not work with Aperture 2.0.

greg.newman
On Tuesday, Feb 26

Allan.
If you try to import into the library the controls will not work. You have to create a project or select an existing project for it to work.

greg.newman
On Tuesday, Feb 26

Thanks for posting Brent and Momo! I've added them to the grid.

kapix
On Tuesday, Feb 26

Aperture 2.0 correctly identifies my Olympus E-1 but after trying many different start-up sequences - including Storage and Control modes - I'll claim that the E-1 won't tether with Aperture 2.0 (Trial but soon to buy)

greg.newman
On Wednesday, Feb 27

Kapix.
I'm not 100% sure that tethering works in the trial version. Unfortunately, I myself did not try the tether feature in the trial version prior to upgrading my 1.x release. However, I have heard that it does not work until you upgrade. Can you try again after you upgrade?

Allan
On Thursday, Feb 28

Hmmmm... if tethering doesn't work with the trial, then that explains why I couldn't get it to work with my Nikon D100. Unfortunately I won't be getting the full version for several weeks. I guess I'll just try it again then.

Joseph
On Friday, Feb 29

Nikon D100 is recognized by the HUD by doesn't work

Stephane Gotty
On Tuesday, Mar 4

I am using a Canon rebel XTi. Aperture sees the the camera, i click on 'Start Sesson', but the Capture button on the session window stay dimmed. I can nont take picture that way. ???

Davosian
On Sunday, Mar 9

The new Nikon D60 works with tethering as well in Aperture 2.0

Brad J
On Monday, Mar 10

Canon Powershot S5IS works the same way as the G9 - lens doesn't extend until you hit 'capture' in Aperture, then it powers on, takes the picture, and shuts down.

Pascal
On Thursday, Mar 20

I bought aperture 2 last week and ik got the same problem with my 1DmarkIII....

After calling canon they explaned to me that the mkIII changes his storage mode by himself by reconising software and you can't set it manualy to PTP and thats the reason why it won't work :(

so... what can we MKIII users do about that because i like to shoot tethered.

Mike
On Monday, Mar 31

The Kodak 14n works tethered on Intel macs with Aperture 2.1 The Kodak shooting software didnt work on Intel macs

Also for some reason my d80 doesnt seem to work?

Norman
On Saturday, Apr 5

Olympus E-1 & E-400 are DEFINITELY NOT supported for tethering in Aperture 2.0 or 2.1.
Both Cameras work tethered in Studio 2 so this is clearly an Apple issue.