can a rebel XTi be made to work using windows 7

[fornax]

HI everyone

 

I am new to this forum and have a question.  I purchased Backyard EOS earlier this year and have been playing with my son's Rebel T2i and everything was working fine.  My younger son gave me his old Rebel XTi and I figured everything would be fine.  It will connect fine but if I try to do anything it says "Your camera requires a configured serial cable for bulb or mirror lock".  I am running windows 7 so I don't know if this older camera can be made to work.  If it will work what do I need to do to get up and going.  I have been working with CCD's for the last several years but this DSLR stuff looks like fun to me.

 

Looking forward to any information.  If it can't work I haven't lost anything as the camera was free.

 

Thanks

Steve

 

PS - I left "topic tags" blank as I don't know what that means.  I'm an old dude and don't do much of this so I will try and learn.

[admin]

The XTi is an older camera model.  Back then Canon did not allow for BULB to work over regular USB cable.  As a result you need a serial cable (like the DSUSB from Shoestring Astronomy) to be able to take BULB images > 30 seconds with the XTi.

 

Hope this helps.

[fornax]

Thanks for responding.  Well I guess it help but leads to another question.  Are you saying the DSUSB cable replaces the current cable I have been using?  Do I just replace the cable or is there other hardware and/or software involved.  I have some Shoestring Astronomy stuff I use when I was using PHD guiding before I got my SBig camera will dual sensors.  I have not had I hooked up in some time and remember that set up used ASCOM something or other.  You have to forgive my lack of knowledge here but you are dealing with an unarmed man in these matters, I have to rely on my son to understand it. So, do I just replace the cable and i'm ready to go?

 

Steve

[admin]

Thanks for responding.  Well I guess it help but leads to another question.  Are you saying the DSUSB cable replaces the current cable I have been using?  Do I just replace the cable or is there other hardware and/or software involved.  I have some Shoestring Astronomy stuff I use when I was using PHD guiding before I got my SBig camera will dual sensors.  I have not had I hooked up in some time and remember that set up used ASCOM something or other.  You have to forgive my lack of knowledge here but you are dealing with an unarmed man in these matters, I have to rely on my son to understand it. So, do I just replace the cable and i'm ready to go?

 

Steve

 

Hi Steve,

 

The DSUSB does not replace the camera supplied USB cable.  You need both.  The DSUSB is for BULB and the regular USB cable for everything else.

 

Regards,

[fornax]

OK - so I am looking at the camera now and I see the connector marked "digital", one jack marked "video out" and a smaller jack marked with a little picture I don't know, I think it may be for a remote control maybe.  I am using the digital connection for the supplied cable that goes to a USB port.  Does this other cable go in one of the other jacks and then to another USB on my computer?  Again, sorry for you having to take me by the hand here but I just don't know.

Steve

[admin]

Yes, the DSUSB cable uses one of those extra jacks.

[fornax]

Thanks

I read up on Shoestrings site and understand better now.  I will continue to read up and decide what I want to do. 

 

 

Thanks for you help.

 

Steve