Tethering with a d3200

[Charley22]

I would like to know if there is a way to tether capture using a nikon d3200 please using lightroom ?

[JP Hess · Accepted solution]

That model is not on the list of cameras that Lightroom supports for tethered shooting.

A list of cameras that can be tethered to Lightroom.

[Charley22]

I was just wondering maybe if there is a way to do it using that camera.

[JP Hess]

Not that I'm aware of.

[Rob_Cullen]

To tether the Nikon D3200- you will need:

1. Alternative software-  DigiCamControl  Easy to use, free solution for complex camera control | digiCamControl

2. In Lightroom- set up "Auto Import"  with a 'Watched' folder (Desktop is a convenient location), and a 'Destination' folder (Within your  Pictures folders.)

3. In DigiCamControl- Start a 'Session' and specify the 'Watched' folder as the location to 'save' photos that come from the tethered D3200 camera.

4. Shoot- your images will appear in the 'Destination' folder in Lightroom.

[Charley22]

Thankyou.

Sorry im very new to this. Do i have to do all 4 steps ?

[JP Hess]

Seems that I was not aware of that software. I have looked at it, and it seems to be quite robust. In order to have the images go directly into Lightroom you need to follow all four steps that have been outlined above.

[Rob_Cullen]

Yes, as Jim Hess says- "All four steps"

You are working with two software apps operating at the same time.

The DigiCamControl program is transferring your images from camera to the computer "Watched Folder".

And Lightroom is automatically adding the images into the library catalog by the "Auto Import" process that moves the photos out of the 'Watched Folder" and into the selected "Destination folder".

The setup for "Auto Import" in Lr needs to be only set up once  (File > Auto Import > Auto Import Settings...)

All the photos from the tethered camera end up in the named "Destination Folder", but you can use Lightroom to move them to other folders in the Folder panel of Lr  (never with the OS)

I commonly use the Auto-Import feature of Lr with my Epson scanner. Any photo (or document) I scan (as an image file- jpg, tiff)  can be 'saved' to the "Watched Folder" and then automatically gets added into the Lr catalog.

[JP Hess]

If you aren't concerned about having the images go into the Lightroom catalog automatically then you don't need to set up the watched folder. You can just use the other software and specify a folder on your computer. Then when you have finished your shooting you can import all the images into Lightroom at once.  It's all a matter of what you are looking for.

[Charley22]

What im trying to do is have they come straight up on my laptop when i shoot. And liked the way they come up in lightroom.

[Rob_Cullen]

come up in lightroom.

Possible after the four steps above-  Get both apps working so you know the images are appearing in the Lr "Destination" folder.

Then steps follow-

5. Maximize Lightroom to full-screen view (DigiCamControl- hidden below- but still operating)

6. Have the "Destination" Folder visible in the library grid view

7. Goto the menu and set 'Auto Advance' on to always see the last photo taken.   {Menu > Photo > Auto Advance }

8. Press 'F'  for full screen.

9. Shoot from the camera.

(I think I have the details correct- )

[Tespa .Jpg]

Is there a solution on Mac? I tried to download that software but it seems to be a Windows application... 

[Rob_Cullen]

Not being familiar with Mac (tether alternatives), I can only suggest a Googly search-

https://formac.informer.com/digicamcontrol

Or perhaps others may have an answer for you.

[Tespa .Jpg]

Ah, thank you so much. I will have a look. 

[mochmmad24138429uo55]

thanks bro, this is very helpful. At first I was disappointed to learn that the D3200 was not included in the supported list. now i can transfer photos directly to lightroom even though there is a few seconds lag for JPEG Fine (and it takes a lot more seconds when capturing NEF Raw) but who cares, IT WORKS! 😄

[Vale260166065411]

Hi Jim, I would love to tether my D3200 to Lightroom but would like to have a program that is compatible with my Mac. Is there one I can do all the steps you mention? Thanks for your help 

[Rob_Cullen]

@Vale260166065411 I believe tethering will be difficult (virtually impossible!) for the D3200 as its SDK has lack of support by many software apps.

One that I can find is 'Smart Shooter 4'  that mentions -

And the D3200 is not evn shown in the list of compatible cameras!

https://tethertools.com/tethering-software/smart-shooter-3/

https://tethertools.com/product/smart-shooter-4/

[Nuke_ET42]

Thanks for the information.  I had my D3200 going into Lightroom in minutes after following these instructions.  Very helpful!