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Tethering S90?

Started 11 months ago | Discussions
joniverson Junior Member • Posts: 36
Tethering S90?
1

One of the hitches I'm encountering with my macro set up is focus.  The S90's view screen is just too small to see things like the edges, etc.  I think someone had mentioned tethering capability in another thread, but what are the details- software needed, etc?  I do have an mini to full HDMI cable on the way, but in the meantime, I had hoped to maybe be able to tether.  Thanks in advance.

Canon PowerShot S90
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reyalp Regular Member • Posts: 201
Re: Tethering S90?
1

joniverson wrote:

One of the hitches I'm encountering with my macro set up is focus. The S90's view screen is just too small to see things like the edges, etc. I think someone had mentioned tethering capability in another thread, but what are the details- software needed, etc?

That was probably me. For PowerShots of that generation, the only way to tether is using the CHDK PTP extension https://chdk.fandom.com/wiki/PTP_Extension and a client program that talks to it, usually chdkptp https://app.assembla.com/spaces/chdkptp/wiki (disclaimer: I'm the primary author of chdkptp, so I might be biased, but I'm not aware of other working alternatives)

With this, you can control the camera and display the contents of the camera screen on a PC. Windows and Linux downloads are available from the link above, Mac is possible but you have to compile it yourself.

There are some limitations: The display is quite low resolution, generally about 720x480 for cameras like S90, and the magnified area displayed when using camera MF ("MF Point zoom") is not available on the remote display.

I do have an mini to full HDMI cable on the way

Unfortunately, this almost certainly won't help: Except for some much more recent high end models, the HDMI out only supports playback. The standard definition out (using cable AVC-DC400 / AVC-DC400ST) can often be used in shooting mode, but only gives you NTSC/PAL resolution.

OP joniverson Junior Member • Posts: 36
Re: Tethering S90?

reyalp wrote:

For PowerShots of that generation, the only way to tether is using the CHDK PTP extension https://chdk.fandom.com/wiki/PTP_Extension and a client program that talks to it, usually chdkptp https://app.assembla.com/spaces/chdkptp/wiki (disclaimer: I'm the primary author of chdkptp, so I might be biased, but I'm not aware of other working alternatives)

Thanks!  Downloaded and installed.  It took me a little while to get everything going, but nice to see a live display on the laptop as well as having function capability.

I do have an mini to full HDMI cable on the way

Unfortunately, this almost certainly won't help: Except for some much more recent high end models, the HDMI out only supports playback. The standard definition out (using cable AVC-DC400 / AVC-DC400ST) can often be used in shooting mode, but only gives you NTSC/PAL resolution.

Boy, another hitch.  One of the reasons I steered away from Canon years ago was because of all of the loopholes they make you go through if you want to use accessories in any way.  For example, I recently began using a DC adapter with the S90.  Instead of placing a convenient jack alongside the camera somewhere, they made it so you'd have to use an adapter for the adapter!  Plus, you are basically struck using their batteries.  My old Pentax uses 4 AA's.  I use Eneloops in that camera and it does as well, if not better, than Canon's batteries.  Ok, enough rant, but sorry to hear that the HDMI will only offer playback.   Luckily, the only loss there is for the mini to regular HDMI adapter as I already had the standard cable here.  However, it means acquiring their AVC-DC400 which doesn't look like any old standard cable of that type.  If I hadn't of obtained this S90 at a "yard sale" price, which is where I got it in the box, I'd have stuck with my Pentax only.  My little Samsung S630 still outperforms it in sharpness so far. Again, sorry for the rant here, I'm just venting..... I do appreciate all of the answers to my questions over these last few days.

reyalp Regular Member • Posts: 201
Re: Tethering S90?

joniverson wrote:

reyalp wrote:

Thanks! Downloaded and installed. It took me a little while to get everything going, but nice to see a live display on the laptop as well as having function capability.

Glad it worked. Happy to answer questions, I know the documentation is sometimes lacking.

However, it means acquiring their AVC-DC400 which doesn't look like any old standard cable of that type.

Yeah, it's a propriety extension to the mini-USB plug, with additional contacts on the opposite side from the USB ones. You can kind find relatively cheap knockoffs on Amazon etc. but the output resolution unlikely to be better than chdkptp live view.

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