Can't get Z6 to reliably go into PC mode for DragonFrame

[Veloz]

Hi there
I bought the z6 primarily to remote control it with DragonFrame, for making stop motion movies.

I've been having a heck of a time getting the camera to go into "PC" mode so that Dragnframe can connect to it.

I've been in contact with Dragonframe's support staff and they say they are seeing the same thing with this, and other new mirrorless cameras.

Sometimes it takes 20 minutes of turning camera on/off, plugging/unplugging USB cable, waiting, trying again, etc before I finally see "PC" on the z6's display and I can connect to it.

Dragonframe says it has something to do with the way the Z6 uses power, or interacts with power, when a USB cable is plugged in. That's not much detail to act on. The only related thing I've noticed is that the z6 won't even turn on if the USB cable is connected to it first. I'm not sure if this a clue or just a random design characteristic.

ANY IDEAS on the right sequence of reliably connecting this camera via USB? I would even hop around one-footed if that would help! lol

Michael

 

[lokatz]

Neither of this may be new to you, but the first two things that come to mind are "use a short USB cable" and "do NOT go via a USB hub, so plug the camera directly into the computer".

 

[Tavarino]

I've got an ancient MacBook Air that I use as a dedicated DragonFrame/ Nikon Z6 system. It has 2 USB ports and is very picky about which port I use for the Z6. It always works fine on one of the ports and works intermittently on the other.