Last week Fujifilm quietly released the plugin allowing Fuji X-T1 users to shoot tethered to Adobe Lightroom. I have been patiently waiting for this feature since I switched to Fuji from Canon.
So was the wait worth it?
For me the answer is yes. When I’m in the studio shooting products or portraits viewing the image on a big screen seconds after it’s taken is worth the small price of the software. It speeds up my entire process. I can see if things are in focus, what the lighting truly looks like, and if the client is in the room they can approve the image right then.
I’m sure for some people the fact that Fuji is charging $29.00 for this plugin is an immense turnoff, but for me it’s a small price to pay for all the time it saves me.
What does this plugin do, and what does it not do?
It allows you to click the shutter button from within Lightroom without touching the camera and it transfers the image into Lightroom instantaneously. That’s it.
It does not let you control or make any changes to the camera settings. You can apply a “Develop Setting” as the images are imported into Lightroom by selecting which Preset you want to apply, if any.
Lightroom setup
UPDATE – In order the install the plugin you will need to have File Sync turned on in your Creative Cloud Preferences.
After installing and enabling the plugin it’s pretty straightforward to use.
1. In Lightroom go to File > Tether Capture.
2. Enter the Session Name, which will create the folder that the images will be saved in.
3. Select the Naming template. This is the how the files will be named when they are saved. You can select one of the existing Templates from the list or customize a template.
4. Select the Destination. This is usually your default photo folder but can be anywhere you want.
5. Enter your Information settings. These are your Metadata & Keywords. Both of these are optional but very helpful to keep your images organized.
At this point all you need to do is attach your camera to the computer via a USB cable and turn it on. You will see the camera name along with the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO in the floating tethered window. This is also the place to select any develop settings you want to apply.
Setting up the X-T1
In order for the files to transfer from the camera to Lightroom you will need to make one change to the camera settings.
On the camera go to the Menu SET-UP and highlight #3, scroll to USB MODE and press the Menu/OK button then select PC SHOOT AUTO. That’s the only change to the camera.
Now you’re ready to shoot tethered with the Fuji X-T1. If you have any questions about the setup please let me know.
To learn more about the different transfer modes read the FAQ on Fujifilm’s website.
Equipment Used
Camera: Fujifilm X-T1
Software: Fujifilm X-T1 Plugin & Adobe Lightroom
USB Cable: TetherPro USB 2.0 A Male to Micro-B 5-pin 15′ (4.6m)
Computer: MacBook Pro
Hi does this only work in Lightroom? what about photoshopcs6 or Aperture?
Thanks for the article.
Hi John, yes this plugin only works with Lightroom. I doubt Fuji will add support for Photoshop CS6 or Aperture. But you never know if enough people send them a request for it they might.
Hi Arno, do you know if this plugin is computer specific? or can you use on multiple computers on same account?
Hi Jeremy, the plug-in is not computer specific. I have it installed on both my Mac at the office and my MacBook Air that I travel with. What I’m not sure of is if it’s OS specific. You might need to reach out to Fuji for that info…I hope this helps.