I’m often asked why those orange USB cables are so popular. Are they better than the cable that comes with my camera? Why are they so long? Why are they bright orange? What’s all that other stuff? These are all great questions and this article will answer them.
Those orange cables are from a company called Tether Tools. I’ve been using them in studio and on location for years. They are like the USB cable in your camera box – but supercharged! You connect your camera to your computer or tablet to transfer files and, more importantly, to photograph “tethered.” (We’ve covered what tethering is and many other topics on PHOTONews in the past. Click here)
Modern cameras capture more and more data – high-end prosumer cameras are now 60MP whilst Professional cameras are now 150MP. File sizes are measured in hundreds of Mega Bytes (MB) instead of 1 or 2MB. Video files are now many GB (Giga Bytes). These huge amounts of data require fast equipment to transfer at reasonable speeds. If you’ve tried using your new camera’s WiFi to transfer full size files, you know what I mean. Using that tiny cable that came with your camera works okay if you can stay 18-24” from your computer, but what if you need more distance between your camera and computer?
Tether Tools TetherPro Cables are uniquely built for photographers, filmmakers and creative professionals and enthusiasts. Designed for performance and speed, TetherPro Cables are built to the highest USB specifications to filter out signal noise and reduce transmission errors. Each cable is fully shielded to protect against external signal interference.
What does all mean to you and how can it help you? TetherPro cables use larger copper cores to improve data transfer. They also use more insulation per copper core and for the entire cable to reduce signal noise (signal noise is extraneous and unwanted information in the data) from internal and external sources. Try running a USB cable past a large magnet or any electrical source and watch the results. Signal noise can corrupt your images and/or sever the connection between your camera and computer.
Another advantage to the extra insulation – it protects the cable from twisting, kinking and other damage. The thicker outer sheath protects against cuts and people stepping on your cable.
Tether Tools unique construction allows up to 65’/19.8m distance with USB 3.0 cables and 46’/14m with USB C cables. These setups utilize TetherBoost Pro and, in the case of USB 3.0, Active Extensions to achieve stable signal. No other cable consistently works at these distances.
These TetherPro cables really are a big step up from the cable that you got with your camera or that you find at other retailers. If your work matters to you, you should trust Tether Tools cables to help you deliver that work.
The ubiquitous high-visibility orange ensures cables can be seen more easily on set and on location. They’re also easier to see in your gear bag. But it’s really about visibility and helping protect your valuable gear and preventing accidents with you and your talent. Many TetherPro cables are also available in black for those times where the orange may cause an unwanted reflection in your work.
Tether Tools also makes a lot of accessories to make your life easier – from storage bags to devices to protect your gear on set (Tether Guard and Tether Lock) to Tether Tables, power solutions to grip gear. I’ll continue this regular series on how Tether Tools products can improve your workflow and protect your gear.
If you’re not sure which cable you need, go to www.TetherTools.ca and click “Search for Cable by Camera” in the top navigation, select your camera from the list, and you’ll be presented with the cable you need to shoot tethered.
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Author: Will Prentice
A portrait, fine art and commercial photographer for 30 plus years, Will Prentice is not just a contributor to PHOTONews magazine, but also host of PHOTONewsTV, owner of Captura Photography+Imaging and Technical Support/Brand Manager for Amplis Foto, Canada’s largest distributor of photographic equipment.
Will teaches photographers of all skill levels how to improve their craft – from creative photo projects to picking the right gear for their needs to flattering lighting to getting the best expressions to creating final images for screen and print. His unique style of highly detailed images with perfect tonality, wide dynamic range and stunning colour is instantly recognizable. Commercial clients rely on Will’s creative eye and mastery of lighting.
When he’s not behind the camera or in front of a class, you’ll find Will outdoors in any weather – usually on one of his bikes or enjoying time with his grandchildren.
