MacBookAir v Nikon

IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
edited December 3, 2011 in Accessories
Boy am I pissed at Nikon. I just bought a MacBook Air to replace my Windows Vista laptop that had been acting up. This is my primary capture tool. I shoot tethered most all the time, using Nikon Camera Control Pro 2. Guess what?!? Camera Control Pro 2 won't work with OS X Lion. I kept installing and uninstalling it on the MacBook and kept getting an "Installation Successful" message, but when I'd try to open it, I'd get a message that it was not installed properly.

I figured out it was prolly a software problem, and not the computer, so actually got someone at Nikon to talk to me. After she went back and forth with me on hold for a while she finally gave me the news that not only did it not work with Lion, as far as she knew, there were no plans for there to be any update to make it happen. WTF??

This is the third version of Nikon "camera control" software I've had to buy, 'cause when they come out with new camera generations they don't update the programs. They make you buy new. I really like the functionality of Camera Control. Being able to actually control virtually all exposure controls from the laptop is great. Lightroom's Tethered Capture feature is a poor substitute, cause you cant do anything but release the shutter from the laptop.

Nikon's approach to customer satisfaction with their software absolutely sucks. Hey Nikon :flip! And that's from a 30 year Nikon shooter.
John :
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.

Comments

  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited November 18, 2011
    I have no idea of whether this would work or not, but if it's really important to you, you might try to run a Windows version of the Nikon software in a virtual Windows machine using Boot Camp or one of the other similar products.
    My Pics
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    Richard wrote: »
    I have no idea of whether this would work or not, but if it's really important to you, you might try to run a Windows version of the Nikon software in a virtual Windows machine using Boot Camp or one of the other similar products.

    VMware Fusion 4 is what we all use here at SmugMug - it's awesome for running windows on your Macs. I run it on my 11in Macbook Air on Lion perfectly, and can run the windows apps that I need to run just fine.
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    Woo-hoo. I kinda figured there might be a workaround. This is my first Mac, so I'm flying blind. 2 questions though: First, Nikon, why should this be necessary. Second, Nikon, wonder why your very friendly guru didn't sugges that to me? Sheesh. Thanks guys. clap.gifclap
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • D3SshooterD3Sshooter Registered Users Posts: 1,187 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    VMware Fusion 4 indeed is what has worked for me on my MAC's. Not that I like windows, but it has saved me to buy all new software for MAC.
    I have been running CS, LR for windows on my Macbook Pro.
    In fact I have moved my old Dell windows laptop fully over to my Macbook pro with VMware Fusion 4 and all that for 46 Euro's or about 70 Dollars. I would give it a try.
    A photographer without a style, is like a pub without beer
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    OK, bear with me please. I'm really a systems dumass. If I understand what I read about BootCamp and VMWare Fusion 4, I would need to also buy a properly licensed Windows 7 disc and install that on my Macbook Air, right? headscratch.gif
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited November 18, 2011
    That's correct. You need a licensed copy of Windows, though I don't know that you necessarily would need Win7--most Windows programs are backwards compatible to XP, and some even further. It is unfortunate that most PCs are sold with OEM versions of Windows that cannot be transferred to another machine legally (and usually not at all).
    My Pics
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    Well, I chatted with Microsoft and, as I thought, I'd need a whole new Windows 7 license to do this legally. And you know what? As soon as I bought it, Nikon would come out with the D4, D400, D800, and my Camera Control Pro 2 wouldn't be worth a tinker's damn anyway. I think I'll wait for them to drop the hammer, and assume there will be Lion support in CC Pro3 or whatever they make me buy. Bahstads.

    Richard, Andy, Shooter, mille grazie!
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,133 moderator
    edited November 18, 2011
    Have you tried "Sofortbild"? It is freeware, Mac OS X 10.5 or better, remote control software for many Nikon digital-SLR cameras. Might be worth a download:

    http://www.sofortbildapp.com/
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    ziggy53 wrote: »
    Have you tried "Sofortbild"? It is freeware, Mac OS X 10.5 or better, remote control software for many Nikon digital-SLR cameras. Might be worth a download:

    http://www.sofortbildapp.com/

    My gosh Zig! Never heard of it. I'm off to cyberspace!
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • CameronCameron Registered Users Posts: 745 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    Andy wrote: »
    VMware Fusion 4 is what we all use here at SmugMug - it's awesome for running windows on your Macs. I run it on my 11in Macbook Air on Lion perfectly, and can run the windows apps that I need to run just fine.

    Any reason you chose it over Parallels? I don't yet own either and I'm learning about the merits of each.
    Photos
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 18, 2011
    Ye gods and little fishes! How cool is that software, Ziggy! Thank you my friend. Another (temporary) thing for Canon shooters to be jealous of.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • pmaxwellpmaxwell Registered Users Posts: 129 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2011
    Cameron wrote: »
    Any reason you chose it over Parallels? I don't yet own either and I'm learning about the merits of each.


    Cameron,
    I have had both, and found that VMWare Fusion just works better for the type of applications I need to run. I run compilers in both a XP & Win7 environment, so my use is fairly processor intensive and VMWare just works better.
    Google+ - Facebook - SmugMug

    Pete
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,133 moderator
    edited November 19, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    Ye gods and little fishes! How cool is that software, Ziggy! Thank you my friend. Another (temporary) thing for Canon shooters to be jealous of.

    Hopefully that works for you. thumb.gif

    I prefer to marvel at all the wonderfulness that we are afforded in today's cameras, from any manufacturer. I'm old enough to remember the "old days". Photographically speaking, we have never lived in better times than today. clap.gifclap
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2011
    Cameron wrote: »
    Any reason you chose it over Parallels? I don't yet own either and I'm learning about the merits of each.
    started with Parallels years ago and switched after some fails... haven't looked back.
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2011
    ziggy53 wrote: »
    Hopefully that works for you. thumb.gif

    I prefer to marvel at all the wonderfulness that we are afforded in today's cameras, from any manufacturer. I'm old enough to remember the "old days". Photographically speaking, we have never lived in better times than today. clap.gifclap

    Ziggy, I'm going to familiarize myself with the Sofortbild software and then do a layperson's comparison between it and CC Pro2. What forum do you suggest I post that in so it will be most useful to DGrinners?
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,133 moderator
    edited November 19, 2011
    Icebear wrote: »
    Ziggy, I'm going to familiarize myself with the Sofortbild software and then do a layperson's comparison between it and CC Pro2. What forum do you suggest I post that in so it will be most useful to DGrinners?

    More than likely I would recommend a "tethered software" review to start in the "Digital Darkroom" since that's where we put computer related discussions. If the thread starts to take a different turn we can move it later.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • IcebearIcebear Registered Users Posts: 4,015 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2011
    Will do.

    As an update: Nikon sent me the following reply to my e-mail:

    "Thank you for contacting Nikon technical Support.
    Unfortunately at this time Nikon is temporarily up to Supported System Requirements for
    Camera Control Pro 2 for Mac OS •10.6.6. We are diligently keeping in stride, and we will make announcements when releasing the Camera Control Pro 2 10.6.8 successful up grade."

    So maybe sometime.
    John :
    Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
    D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
  • brvheartbrvheart Registered Users Posts: 434 Major grins
    edited November 19, 2011
    I would just like to add virtual box - it is a free vm utility that was bought by sun and I have switched to it from fusion. Does a great job of virtualizing windows on the Mac.
  • AWPhotoAWPhoto Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
    edited December 2, 2011
    Co-sign on VirtualBox, I use it at work and it is wonderful. Especially for personal use.
  • pmaxwellpmaxwell Registered Users Posts: 129 Major grins
    edited December 2, 2011
    We use virtual box at work for some applications. In most applications it is fine, but it doesn't deal with multicast IP software very well at all, but that isn't an issue for 95% or more of the population.
    Google+ - Facebook - SmugMug

    Pete
  • TexPhotogTexPhotog Registered Users Posts: 187 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2011
    ziggy53 wrote: »
    Have you tried "Sofortbild"? It is freeware, Mac OS X 10.5 or better, remote control software for many Nikon digital-SLR cameras. Might be worth a download:

    http://www.sofortbildapp.com/

    Thank you Ziggy for this... looks like a really awesome tool for Nikon shooters...
    Miguel
    www.kabestudios.com
    I use a little bit of everything gear wise...
    Nikon/Canon/Sony/GoPro/Insta360º/Mavic 2 Pro
  • TexPhotogTexPhotog Registered Users Posts: 187 Major grins
    edited December 3, 2011
    Andy wrote: »
    VMware Fusion 4 is what we all use here at SmugMug - it's awesome for running windows on your Macs. I run it on my 11in Macbook Air on Lion perfectly, and can run the windows apps that I need to run just fine.

    Windows XP by any chance??? I've been reading up and most info on either Fusion or Parallels is on Win7...
    Miguel
    www.kabestudios.com
    I use a little bit of everything gear wise...
    Nikon/Canon/Sony/GoPro/Insta360º/Mavic 2 Pro
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