Canon cameras can’t tether with Lightroom with the latest macOS update
Jan 9, 2020
Share:

If you are a Canon camera and Mac computer user and rely on tethered shooting – don’t update to the latest version of macOS Catalina just yet. MacOS Catalina 10.15.2 doesn’t seem to support tethered shooting in Lightroom and other apps, and there’s currently no workaround.
Photographer Krystofz Levet complained that the latest version of macOS Catalina doesn’t support tethered mode. On the MacBook Pro 16, Lightroom doesn’t see his Canon 5D Mark III. Other users added that the same problem occurs in other apps too, such as EOS Utility and Capture One. Some claim that Apple is to blame for the hiccup, while others blame Adobe.
However, the problem with Capture One was reportedly fixed, while it remains in Adobe Lightroom. So it could be that Adobe is the one that should work on it. And indeed, judging from the response Markus Hofstaetter got from Adobe, they’re working on fixing the issue:
Hi Markus, we're sorry to hear you've been affected by this issue. Our engineering team is aware of this issue and working diligently to resolve it. Follow this thread for more details: https://t.co/uKlfCJEgTL ^CM
— Adobe Care (@AdobeCare) January 3, 2020
Hofstaetter believes that the problem is actually on Canon’s end, as he told PetaPixel. But that’s just an assumption and we can’t really know what’s going on or how long this will last.
What’s more, tethered shooting doesn’t work with Nikon cameras either, according to Adobe. When the camera is turned on after invoking the Start Tether Capture command, Adobe Lightroom won’t see it in MacOS Catalina 10.15.2. But there’s a workaround if you’re a Nikon shooter: turn your camera on first. Then, select File > Tethered Capture > Start Tether Capture and you should be good to go.
As for Canon shooters, until the problem is solved, please don’t update your macOS Catalina. If you already have, well… I’m sorry. Your options are switching to Capture One Pro, using another computer, or another camera brand until the problem is solved.
[via PetaPixel]
Filed Under:
Tagged With:
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.




































Join the Discussion
DIYP Comment Policy
Be nice, be on-topic, no personal information or flames.
15 responses to “Canon cameras can’t tether with Lightroom with the latest macOS update”
Been dealing with this since before the holidays. I’ve been shooting to a card then importing from there. Seriously a huge pain in the ass.
Probably a change in the way USB security is handled on Mac that Adobe have fallen foul of. I’m sure it’s going to be a relatively easy fix.
And this isn’t the only thing wrong with Catalina.
The workaround doesn’t work with all Nikon cameras. And you can shoot tethered with at least some Canon cameras by using Lightroom Classic.
I’ve still not updated to 10.15 because of all the adobe crap. Have apple and adobe started some kind of compatibility war?!?
Windows PCs dont suffer from this :)
Same with Nikon
Canon, Adobe and Apple just refuse to get along.
Typical…
I could never make Lightroom works perfectly with canon tethered. And I tried 5D2, 5d3, 5d4, 1dx and eos r. We would test prior to a shoot and it’d work. Then client came and stopped working.
My work around would be to use eos utility software for tethered then tell Lightroom to import through the “watch folder” feature. It never failed me. If it helps.. ?
I wish I had seen this before wasting six hours of my life troubleshooting, including buying a new cable — ergg.
Any new update on it?
Absolute radio silence form Canon.
Any answer to this issue yet? I just updated :( didn’t realize this was happening so I’m gutted! Was in a shoot yesterday and couldn’t tether :( updated over the weekend. Darn!!
The problem has solved with the last update… macOS Catalina 10.15.3.
The problem still exist for me. My Canon 5DSR doesn’t work in macOS Catalina 10.15.3 and latest version of both Capture One 20 or Adobe Lightroom. Frustrating to say the least!