Posted on by Terry White

How I Broke My D700 By Tethering. Again!

It feels like déjà vu! It was a few days before Photoshop World Vegas and I was in the middle of shoot and all of a sudden I noticed the last couple of images didn't come up on the screen in Lightroom. I looked down at the camera and to my dismay I saw my USB tethering cable was at a 45° angle on the side of the camera. I thought, "that can't be good!" At some point my hand must have applied a bit of pressure to the end of the cable going into my D700 and as I suspected I damaged the port once again. Last time this happened was the week before Photoshop World Orlando. The only difference was in the previous incident I must have tugged on the cable too much. See that blog post here. I solved that problem with a TetherLock:

However, as I painfully found out solutions like TetherLock and the ones from TetherTools only solve the cable "tug" problem. As you can see in the image above the cable plug is still exposed and therefore it has potential to be bumped, pushed, bent, etc.

 

I need a cage or bracket

I started thinking about ways to protect the actual port with some sort of cage or cover that surrounds the port/cable connection itself. Little did I know at the time that such solutions already exist. Blog reader and friend Ken Toney suggested this "Cable Relief Spacer" from Really Right Stuff. I thought "PERFECT!"

However, there was a small problem. All of my tripod heads and plates are by Kirk. I bought them long ago and while I do plan to switch to Really Right Stuff at some point (just for compatibility with all the people I shoot with), I hadn't planed on doing it right now. I wondered if Krik offered a similar solution for the L-Brackets I already own and fortunately they do! I ordered the Kirk LBA-1 USB Spacer Block immediately While these solutions basically offer the same solution, I would give the nod to the Really Right Stuff one because it appears to do both: Protect the port AND keep the cable from being tugged. Nevertheless, I'm now using the Kirk Spacer Block and my existing TetherLock for the ultimate "Terry proof" solution.

 

The Bottom Line

These extra pieces add cost to tethering. However, I couldn't imagine not tethering to Lightroom during my studio shoots. Now if only the camera manufacturers would wake up and build fast wireless tethering right into these expensive camera bodies (or at least the battery grips) this breaking the usb port, tripping over the cable, stuff would be a thing of the past.

Printer Rebates Lexar Rebates Sandisk Rebates Tamron Rebates Olympus Rebates Nikon Rebates Canon Rebates B&H Rebates & Promotions

20 Replies to “How I Broke My D700 By Tethering. Again!”

  1. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve accidentally tugged on the tether cable and yanked it out of the camera so enough is enough I’m putting in an order right now for a TetherLock. Interesting what you say about needing a ‘cage’ for it too though.

    Terry on the subject of tethering, can you recommend a decent cable? Reason I ask is that before now just when I thought the issue was Lightroom it appears the problem 99% of the time has been the cable I’ve been using which also has a ‘booster’. Just wondered if you veld recommend one that serves you well.

    Cheers,
    Glyn

    1. Glyn,
      I use this cable now since In need it to go “straight” into the body and spacer.
      I used this one in the past because I liked that it was L-shaped.
      Both cables above have always served me well.
      Never had any good luck with “Active” cable extenders. Seems to add more complication and flakiness. I prefer one cable instead of two joined together.

    1. Robert if you search my blog for Eye-Fi you’ll see that I use one with my D7000. However, my D700 uses CF Cards (adapters aren’t an option) and the Eye-Fi isn’t fast enough for RAW files during my shoots.

  4. Terry, our CRS “Cable Relief Spacer” is fully compatible with all Arca-Swiss style L-Plates. So it will fit and work great with all L-plates from Kirk, AcraTech, etc.
    Carla Geyer
    Really Right Stuff

  5. I think it is ridiculous how camera companies refuse to embrace modern technology. My little phone has better connectivity than my camera. They need to understand that wireless connectivity for modern devices should not be a nice-to-have add-on but a tightly integrated feature of the device. There is absolutely no reason for example, why I should not be able to ‘tether’ my camera to my PC or iPad and have images displayed on screen a few seconds after shutter release. I should be able to compose my image (in live view mode) using my iPad. I should also be able to change settings and fire the shutter from my iPad. These wires simply make no sense. We’ll see if any part of this message sunk in when Nikon (eventually) releases their new DSLRs. It only takes one company to get it right and all the others will jump.

  6. Terry,

    Thanks for the great tips. I don’t shoot much tethered right now, but that’s about to change very soon, and I would have never even considered the potential dangers without this info. Much appreciated!

  7. Terry, I’m a professional photographer and project my images from my MacBook Pro/MacBook and the stupid little plug out of the side of my MBP and/or MB is constantly coming undone during projection appointments. Are there any adapters that will keep it plugged in as I sit in my chair with my computer on my lap?

    I saw one a few weeks ago and said I’d get it and I forgot to bookmark it.

    Any idea or suggestion how to utilize the laptop with a long heavy cord coming from it?

    Thanks

    Phil

  10. I’ve had the same problem – a small tug on the cable damaged the camera’s port. Fast wireless tethering is definitely a great idea for the camera manufacturers to pick up on! I like the lock and cage ideas in the meantime.

  11. I have a D300 with a RRS bracket and a D700 with a Kirk bracket. While the CRS fits on the RRS bracket it won’t on the Kirk. A problem with the CRS on the D300 – the anchoring screw won’t let you open the rubber door on the camera rendering useless. Of course I could be doing something wrong. Any idea?

    1. Hi Paul,

      Why would the Cable Relief Spacer from Really Right Stuff not fit on a Kirk L-Bracket? They are both ARCA SWISS Compatible. Any more detail?

      1. so – there are 2 issues. first i guess is a problem with tolerances in the machining of the arcs swiss mounts. just wouldn’t attach to the kirk bracket. the second is the design. this will not work with nikon cams with a single large, unremovable door. take a look at the picture. that screw prevents the door from opening.

        let me know if you wanna buy one. mine is on sale cheap!

        1. Sure, I’m down to try it on my 5D3 + Kirk L-Bracket and help you recoup the cost of learning. Send me an email to kalieaire over on google’s mail service and we’ll finalize the details.

Comments are closed.