Shooting vertically with no access to view

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jamesev

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Jamesev
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Not sure which category to put this in as its more Talk: Techniques but here goes:-

I want to shoot vertically with the camera low to the ground to get the shot as wide as possible and get as much in the frame. Because of this I can't then see the view finder or screen (it doesn't tilt 180 to face looking backwards) to compose. Essentially I need some sort of additional "off camera" screen to act as the proxy viewfinder. Any suggestions of equipment to do this?
 
Not sure what make your camera is, but a lot of them have an app you can connect to which will offer a live view. Failing that, if your camera has a mini HDMI port you could get a cable to connect to your phone or a tablet?
 
skullfunkerry said:
Not sure what make your camera is, but a lot of them have an app you can connect to which will offer a live view. Failing that, if your camera has a mini HDMI port you could get a cable to connect to your phone or a tablet?
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can that be done if I have USB-C on tablet/phone and camera? what sort of apps would be needed to read the camera screen this way as its essentially shooting tethered?
 
As above, this is a highly camera specific question.

Some cameras have their own WiFi apps, different cameras have different screen connections etc.
 
I can view and take pictures using a canon app with my 6D. What is your camera ?
 
If all the high tech solutions fail you could simply use a mirror to view the rear screen.
Another option that I used before I had a camera with live view, was to simply frame by guesswork (often cropping slightly afterwards). I can remember having half a dozen attempts to get big ben in frame shooting IR blind on an old DSLR.
 
When I did that, I wore an old overcoat or a one piece coverall, got down on the ground and looked through the viewfinder.

Bit more messy if it was raining, of course.
 
DemiLion said:
Time to get off your bum and do some research James.

Edit: FYI it took me 5 seconds.
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thats what a forum is, to share experience, views and opinions. Especially in the "talk" sections. Going and finding youtube videos that claim to be able to do so is often just theoretical and often contains a lot of misinformation or misleading. Funny how some are willing to help whereas some just need their dose of feeling smug
 
Petrochemist said:
If all the high tech solutions fail you could simply use a mirror to view the rear screen.
Another option that I used before I had a camera with live view, was to simply frame by guesswork (often cropping slightly afterwards). I can remember having half a dozen attempts to get big ben in frame shooting IR blind on an old DSLR.
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I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.

Lots of videos seem to claim that various Apps can do it, but in reality none have worked.
 
I use Snapbridge with an old D5600
It can be a bit flaky and I have to reinstall it on my android phone sometimes to get it to work
When it is working it is great for remote control and downloading photos
 
Suvv said:
I use Snapbridge with an old D5600
It can be a bit flaky and I have to reinstall it on my android phone sometimes to get it to work
When it is working it is great for remote control and downloading photos
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agreed can be a pain to setup with the right communications protocol as it offers both bluetooth and wifi. It more the camera end as Nikon have made the network setting setup process quite techincal
 
jamesev said:
I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.

Lots of videos seem to claim that various Apps can do it, but in reality none have worked.
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I brought a HDMI peaking monitor to use with one of my old DSLRs that didn't have peaking, only to find the camera only transmitted the image in review mode. Which made it kind of useless to me.
 
jamesev said:
I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.

Lots of videos seem to claim that various Apps can do it, but in reality none have worked.
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jamesev said:
I meant lots of apps claim to be able to do this by way of a cable, rather than wirelessly
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If you want / need a hardware solution using a cable and not a wireless connection to an app, get a portable external display and connect it via HDMI

Something like this


I'd test it first with a TV or some other display with an HDMI input before laying out cash.

Edit: on Sony, I use Imaging Edge Mobile app to connect to my A7III over BlueTooth + WiFi. Very handy for wireless remote live view and control. I was under the impression that you can do similar with Snapbridge and your Z8.
 
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jamesev said:
I was hoping that a simple solution involving a basic USB C to USB C cable would be available as both devices have that interface port however on the camera it is called the "USB Data Connector" port so I suspect its more for transferring files than able to broadcast whats on the viewfinder. Maybe only the HDMI port can relay the viewfinder so that would mean a HDMI to USB - C cable.
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The Z8/Z9 support USB-C tethering; it just has to be set up correctly (Nikon's NX Tether, Lightroom, etc). And the HDMI can be used to output the liveview to an external monitor. They also have built in Wi-Fi which can connect to Nikon's SnapBridge app.
 
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sk66 said:
The Z8/Z9 support USB-C tethering; it just has to be set up correctly (Nikon's NX Tether, Lightroom, etc). And the HDMI can be used to output the liveview to an external monitor. They also have built in Wi-Fi which can connect to Nikon's SnapBridge app.
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Is NX Tether an iOS app or just PC/Mac
 
jamesev said:
Is NX Tether an iOS app or just PC/Mac
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Pretty sure it's just PC/Mac.
jamesev said:
Would prefer cables as it’s less config faff
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Nikon's Snapbridge app can be used with a USB connection (or Bluetooth/WiFi). I don't think it's a great app, it wasn't last time I looked; but it'll do what you want.
 
jamesev said:
thats what a forum is, to share experience, views and opinions. Especially in the "talk" sections. Going and finding youtube videos that claim to be able to do so is often just theoretical and often contains a lot of misinformation or misleading. Funny how some are willing to help whereas some just need their dose of feeling smug
Click to expand...


It is also about educating.

If I spoon feed you information, you don't absorb it. You use it, then forget it.
If, however, you have put some effort in to the learning process, you are far more likely to fix that information in your brain.
 
DemiLion said:
It is also about educating.

If I spoon feed you information, you don't absorb it. You use it, then forget it.
If, however, you have put some effort in to the learning process, you are far more likely to fix that information in your brain.
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Thanks for the help
 
DemiLion said:
I'm sorry that you don't like my answer. The original was taking the mick a fraction but also meant to be pointing you in the right direction.
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Wasn't that I didn't like it, it just made a lot of incorrect assumptions as to how people best learn as well as what had already been "researched". But I took your contributions based on your extensive professional qualifications and experience in learning behaviours and styles, as well as your practical working of how to do it rather than the 5 seconds of theoretical research you claim to have done.
 
DemiLion said:
It is also about educating.

If I spoon feed you information, you don't absorb it. You use it, then forget it.
If, however, you have put some effort in to the learning process, you are far more likely to fix that information in your brain.
Click to expand...
Google will often give the official answer to questions like this, without showing alternatives. It will also repeat myths without clarifying their status & it's top answers tend to be the ones that make it most money.
Asking experienced users can often be preferable. The discussions such questions bring IMO help keep a forum interesting.
 
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Petrochemist said:
Google will often give the official answer to questions like this, without showing alternatives. It will also repeat myths without clarifying their status & it's top answers tend to be the ones that make it most money.
Asking experienced users can often be preferable. The discussions such questions bring IMO help keep a forum interesting.
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and also apps and technology changes so fast that something that might have ben true last year may not be completely so this. However those official answers do not get re-reviewed to ensure they are still accurate.

Now so many camera manufacturers update camera capability through firmware updates, some of the menu items get moved around so what was in the manual under say menu d12 may no be under menu d16 but the manual will still cite d12.

I was speaking to the Nikon team at the photography show who was saying there are over 800 configurable functions in some of the cameras.
 
Perhaps ask Nikon.

I am a Canon user but out of interest I googled your query. It appears that none of the Nikon apps will meet your requirements ie including a cable connection and not using a pc or Mac but as you say this may be out of date.
 
Brentor said:
Perhaps ask Nikon.

I am a Canon user but out of interest I googled your query. It appears that none of the Nikon apps will meet your requirements ie including a cable connection and not using a pc or Mac but as you say this may be out of date.
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This is why its a bit of a mine field, there are those apps that will tether like Cascable, but won't live view, theres those that will live view but need a video capture card HDMI to USB C. A lot of apps seem to "almost" do it but there's some additional something needed. But like you say there nothing that seems to allow just a simple plug a usb in to both devices and allow you go get going simply
 
jamesev said:
Wasn't that I didn't like it, it just made a lot of incorrect assumptions as to how people best learn as well as what had already been "researched". But I took your contributions based on your extensive professional qualifications and experience in learning behaviours and styles, as well as your practical working of how to do it rather than the 5 seconds of theoretical research you claim to have done.
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Well the education part comes from my mother who spent 50+ years as a teacher. Having been taught to be an instructor in the army and various other places..

The knowledge of reote connectivity comes from acting as field editor in multiple dirrefent scenarios, with different camera bodies and designing remote workflow for events.

So while no professional quals, the rest is all there.
 
Petrochemist said:
Google will often give the official answer to questions like this, without showing alternatives. It will also repeat myths without clarifying their status & it's top answers tend to be the ones that make it most money.
Asking experienced users can often be preferable. The discussions such questions bring IMO help keep a forum interesting.
Click to expand...


That's exactly why you have to balance returns from Google searches with research. :)
 
jamesev said:
Wasn't that I didn't like it, it just made a lot of incorrect assumptions as to how people best learn as well as what had already been "researched". But I took your contributions based on your extensive professional qualifications and experience in learning behaviours and styles, as well as your practical working of how to do it rather than the 5 seconds of theoretical research you claim to have done.
Click to expand...


PS, I'm going to back out gently now.

What was originally meant as a tongue in cheek comment has distracted from the core of the thread! :)
 
Honestly, the most reliable 'off-camera' screen these days is a dedicated monitor. A 5" screen mounted to your cage or cold shoe makes those ground-level wide shots so much easier to nail. Even a cheap one will save you from lying in the dirt!
 
alexning said:
Honestly, the most reliable 'off-camera' screen these days is a dedicated monitor. A 5" screen mounted to your cage or cold shoe makes those ground-level wide shots so much easier to nail. Even a cheap one will save you from lying in the dirt!
Click to expand...
do they connect via HDMI usually?
 
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