How to get rebel XT working on Macbook Pro?

January 18, 2007 6:54 PM

I would like to tether my rebel XT to my intel Macbook pro. I know that there is PPC software to do this, but can not track down anything that will work on my macbook. What options do I have?

My goal is to be able to control the camera and take photos from my laptop, and have the photos appear on my laptop immediately after they are taken. I've seen this done before, and know that there is software for the old ppc platform that does this. After an hour of googling and downloading/installing software from canon's site, I am beginning to think that this might be a hopeless effort. Any help?

posted by burhan to computers & internet (17 comments total)

Why not run Parallels and then use the Windows software?
posted by b1tr0t at 6:56 PM on January 18, 2007

That is a solution, but I have no need to run any windows apps other than this one.
posted by burhan at 7:05 PM on January 18, 2007

Remote Capture?
posted by tmcw at 7:12 PM on January 18, 2007

Download link off of version tracker keeps on forwarding me to Canon's website where there is now download link. Also, documentation for the software does not list the Rebel XT, but rather more the 'point and shoot' digitals. Thank you though.
posted by burhan at 7:17 PM on January 18, 2007

Here's the link to the software on canons site.
posted by filmgeek at 8:37 PM on January 18, 2007

I know you can use the supplied CD's software (the Canon Utility) to make your Macbook act as a remote control, but the feature of viewing the picture immediately--I dunno...

I'll be keeping my eye on this one.
posted by blastrid at 9:15 PM on January 18, 2007

When you say PPC do you mean Power PC? As in the old vintage mac 68k/ 604 processor type? Because I would be at a loss as to why you would want to run software from that on an Intel Mac.

More on point, I don't know what software comes with the XT, but if it's anything like what came with my 30d, the Mac versions are excellent (I normally don't install the software that comes with my electronic toys, as it's usually pretty crappy. The Canon stuff is a serious exception.)

My Mac has since died, so I can't check this for you, but if memory serves, it did provide almost full camera control. (shutter, ISO, aperture, etc...)

If your camera didn't come with a disc, I'd dig around filmgeek's link, it seems to be more or less what I remember the programs being called. And like I said, they were very polished.
posted by quin at 10:04 PM on January 18, 2007

On my G4 + XTi the "EOS Utility" does the trick. I believe the issue is that this software—supplied with the camera—isn't a universal binary?
posted by wemayfreeze at 10:26 PM on January 18, 2007

According to this link EOS Utility doesn't work with your camera (listed here as EOS 350D DIGITAL). And this blogger had no luck, even in XP. So may we (I) safely rephrase the question as:

"Is there any hack to allow me to shoot my XT tethered to my MacBook with Canon's software? Failing that, how about a 3rd-party solution?"

?

I don't have an answer to that question, unfortunately. It seems odd that Canon hasn't released an Intel version. Boooo Canon.
posted by wemayfreeze at 12:10 AM on January 19, 2007

I have a PPC Mac Mini (quin: G4s and G5s are still PowerPC) so I don't know all the hoops you need to jump through, but won't Rosetta run the PPC software you found on your MacBook?
posted by revgeorge at 6:03 AM on January 19, 2007

G4s and G5s are still PowerPC

Interesting. I thought they dropped the designation when they switched to the 'G' series. The last time I saw it used was on the case of my old 604e. Thanks revgeorge.
posted by quin at 7:51 AM on January 19, 2007

FilmGeek: This is the same site that I've been using, and according to canon's documentation: "2. EOS Utility is not compatible with Intel-based Macs (Mac OS X 10.4.4 to 10.4.6)."

WeMayFreeze: Bang on - that's the question.

What Canon DSLR's support tethering to Intel based Mac's? I've got a huge investment in lenses, and if it's a case of switching bodies, that's expensive but not as bad to having to switch to a nikon outfit completely.
posted by burhan at 8:01 AM on January 19, 2007

I've got a huge investment in lenses, and if it's a case of switching bodies, that's expensive but not as bad to having to switch to a nikon outfit completely.

Actually, its probably a lot cheaper to buy a bottom-of-the-line PC notebook or an old G3 iBook and dedicate it to image capture duty. Then share the photos over the network to your mac and work on them there.

Apple and Canon seem to have a tight working relationship (they sell canon gear in the Apple Store) so it should only be a matter of time before intel OSX support shows up for Canon cameras.

quin: Apple may have dropped the PowerPC moniker from the product, but the G3/G4/G5 were all later generations of the PowerPC architecture. If you go to IBM or Freescale and look up the G4 or G5 chip in a given macintosh, they will describe it as a PowerPC chip. Also, the 68k series were 68k chips, not PowerPCs.
posted by b1tr0t at 9:08 AM on January 19, 2007

Right you are b1tr0t, I just dug out my old Mac 635cd (absolutely certain it would say PowerPC on the front), only to realize I was thinking of the machine I got right after it. Same case design, totally different processor. You know, they say one of the first things to go when you get old is your memory. They aren't wrong.

Now, remind me what we were talking about? :)

Actually, its probably a lot cheaper to buy a bottom-of-the-line PC notebook or an old G3 iBook and dedicate it to image capture duty. Then share the photos over the network to your mac and work on them there.

This strikes me as an excellent stop-gap solution till they update the software. A cheap processor, a big hard drive and a USB 2.0 card, will put you in business for next to nothing.
posted by quin at 9:29 AM on January 19, 2007

I heard memory was the second thing to go. Can't remember what the first thing was.
posted by b1tr0t at 9:33 AM on January 19, 2007

Burnham...

Ok, yeah. But it works just fine on my MBP 10.4.7 (well, it fires itself up and I can set/browse the camera/download pictures.)

I use Aperture...so I don't know if the remote triggering works.

But the software works
posted by filmgeek at 6:17 PM on January 21, 2007

Hmm... The software from Canon says that it won't work on intel macs. When I install and execute, the software simply closes.

Now, iPhoto, etc. can import the photos no problem - it's the tethering I want. I'm not sure if aperture will assist in this.
posted by burhan at 12:01 PM on January 24, 2007