Saving Stills into computer realtime

[ranger]

Hello, this is my first post here.
I need to find a way to take a digital still and save it realtime (not batch) directly into my computer. I also need to be able to name the image file realtime.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Ranger

[Photo-John]

Do you already have a camera that you want to be able to do this with or are you going to be buying new equipment. This is very possible with a digital SLR. But if you want to use a compact digital camera you have a lot less options.

[drg]

Ranger,

If you are looking for a new camera, you can look for one that allows in software to be 'tethered'.

This means that you physically connect the camera via a cable to the computer and transmit each image.

There are also now 'wireless' connections just like a notebook that allow each image to be transferred to a computer and 'cataloged' as you shoot. Nikon has offered some Point and Shoots with a wireless capability for a year(approx) and they might be worth checking to see if they meet your needs. I am not sure all of their P/S models allow wireless tethering so check first!

Canon has offered tethering in their Powershot line on some models with certain versions of software. Check the actual package you would be buying first.

There are wireless solutions for the Professional DSLR's in several variants but the increment of expense is $1000's per feature to fully implement.

All the manufacturers change specs regularly and so features appear and disappear.

Let us know what you find and wind up with!

Welcome to Photography Review.

[ranger]

Do you already have a camera that you want to be able to do this with or are you going to be buying new equipment. This is very possible with a digital SLR. But if you want to use a compact digital camera you have a lot less options.

Hello Photo-John... Thank you for your reply... Yes I have a Canon Digital SLR Rebel. It's about 2 years old. I just don't know what accessories (hardware/software) to purchase. I don't what to ask or to whom to ask it.

[ranger]

Ranger,

If you are looking for a new camera, you can look for one that allows in software to be 'tethered'.

This means that you physically connect the camera via a cable to the computer and transmit each image.

There are also now 'wireless' connections just like a notebook that allow each image to be transferred to a computer and 'cataloged' as you shoot. Nikon has offered some Point and Shoots with a wireless capability for a year(approx) and they might be worth checking to see if they meet your needs. I am not sure all of their P/S models allow wireless tethering so check first!

Canon has offered tethering in their Powershot line on some models with certain versions of software. Check the actual package you would be buying first.

There are wireless solutions for the Professional DSLR's in several variants but the increment of expense is $1000's per feature to fully implement.

All the manufacturers change specs regularly and so features appear and disappear.

Let us know what you find and wind up with!

Welcome to Photography Review.

Hello drg,
Thank you for your reply... I alread have a Canon Digital SLR Rebel. It's about 2 years old. I just don't know what accessories (hardware/software) to purchase.
It does have a wired connection and software to do a batch download. I Need to be able to take a photo and have the sofware on the computer ask me where I want to save the file and what name I want to give it.
Thanks

[drg]

Ranger,

There is a software disk, Canon Camera Solution that came with your camera that may or may not contain a piece of Canon Software called 'Capture 1.x'. That is the tethering software for Canon cameras. The .x is the version number.

If you did not get this program with your version of the DRebel, you can take the serial number of your camera, the current version number of firmware (from the cameras menu display) and email Canon and see if you have a version that is compatible with their Digital Photo Professional software or if there is a Capture program available.

They, Canon, may point you to a link on their web site to download drivers/software etc. You might also want to explore the Canon site directly if you are comfortable with that and see if there are answers or download that will work for you.

Let us know if this helps or you more details.

addendum:

The Capture and DPP programs both have various facilities to rename/store/ each image either through parameters and sequencing or one at a time. The Capture program from the variants I have seen are less fully featured, but everyones functional needs will be different.

Again, best wishes.