When shooting your Leica SL cameras while tethered to an Apple device (phone, iPad, Mac), have any of you used Thether Tools USB-C cables successfully?
While I am in the market for an SL2 and yet own one, I’ve not had any luck with TT USB-C cables tethering to iPads with either the Sony A1 or the Hassy X1D2. iOS apparently can be fussy with chips/firmware in the ends of USB-C cables.
They work better when using a MBP, BUT I’ve moved away from them entirely when tethering with USB-C in favour of IQ Wire and Area 51 cables. I also know that Cobra Union USB-C cables are very well regarded.
Even assuming they work, TT cables are very thick and stiff, and with a small connector like USB-C that doesn’t ‘lock’ into it’s socket, that stiffness leads to a lot of wiggling of the connector in the port as you move around, leading to connection issues and possible eventual repairs.
The thicker & stiffer cable also isn’t as ‘invisible’ when handling the camera - and is too thick for many cable securing plates (other than TT’s costly ones).
IQWire and A51 cables and those from (by reputation) CU are thinner and very flexible, making life a lot easier - and neither A51 or IQW cables have caused me any issues when tethering to an iPad either directly or through a Kondor Blue hub with any camera.
I also not noted any speed issues going to the thinner, more flexible cables.
Good to know regarding Area 51 and IQ Wire. Had to get a replacement and had a bad experience with premature failure of a thinner tether cable, so just went with a 10G TT cable, which has been fine in terms of reliability but I miss having a lighter cable, especially when running longer length like 25+ ft.
I keep meaning to try tethering to an iPad with my Nikons but haven’t found a situation where it was more convenient than just bringing my 14” MBP, which isn’t that much larger.
Conner999 wrote:
While I am in the market for an SL2 and yet own one, I’ve not had any luck with TT USB-C cables tethering to iPads with either the Sony A1 or the Hassy X1D2. iOS apparently can be fussy with chips/firmware in the ends of USB-C cables.
They work better when using a MBP, BUT I’ve moved away from them entirely when tethering with USB-C in favour of IQ Wire and Area 51 cables. I also know that Cobra Union USB-C cables are very well regarded.
Even assuming they work, TT cables are very thick and stiff, and with a small connector like USB-C that doesn’t ‘lock’ into it’s socket, that stiffness leads to a lot of wiggling of the connector in the port as you move around, leading to connection issues and possible eventual repairs.
The thicker & stiffer cable also isn’t as ‘invisible’ when handling the camera - and is too thick for many cable securing plates (other than TT’s costly ones).
IQWire and A51 cables and those from (by reputation) CU are thinner and very flexible, making life a lot easier - and neither A51 or IQW cables have caused me any issues when tethering to an iPad either directly or through a Kondor Blue hub with any camera.
I also not noted any speed issues going to the thinner, more flexible cables....Show more →
