Tethering EOS Rebel XTi to Windows 10 Laptop

I purchased my EOS Rebel XTi used - just the body only. I had to research what lens to get to start out with. This is my first SLR and I'm just learning all of this SLR stuff for the first time.

One thing I'd like to get set up to do is connect the camera to my computer to view images directly - which I've just learned is called "tethering". I would have liked to, but I understand that I won't be able to "live view" with the camera - at least that what I'm understanding in my research this evening.

I was having a difficult time finding the EOS Utility for my particular model, but I finally was able to download and install it.

I fired up EOS Utility, connected my camera and turned it on. In the Utility window there's a message saying "Control your camera to download images". I thought that was one of the functions of the Utility - get the pictures from the connected camera. I mean Windows sees the CF card as a drive and can get the pics - why can't the utility? But okay - I'm learning - maybe there's a good reason. So on the camera there was a menu with an option to start the transfer, so I did. And in the 5 or 8 minutes I've spent writing this, a blue light has been blinking and it still says on the camera display "Transferring... Images remaining 8". Problem is, I started with 8 images - nothing's happened.

I'm going to kill this transfer and ask you guys how to properly use this software.

Thanks for any help!

Hi!

It has been a few years since I sold my 350D (=XTi) so maybe I am mistaken (edit: sorry, XTi is 400D I can see now, but basically they were very similar cameras): tethering does not necessarily include automatic transferring of images, it is much more likely just remote controlling your camera using a PC.

If you want to use the proprietary Canon softwares for file transfer ZoomBrowser is your thing. Besides, I can't really see a reason for using it as file transfer can be much more convenient with the built-in Windows solutions.

If I were you I would only use an USB2.0 or 3.0 card reader, it is much faster than the Camera's transfer option (which is quite dumb, as it needs the battery to be fully charged for copying images).