Body
The Body settings control how the app connects to the selected Nikon body, starts live view, sends camera commands, checks camera state, and displays the Body page exposure meter.
Most photographers should leave the timing settings at their defaults unless they are troubleshooting a specific camera or USB connection issue.
- Select the correct camera body on the Body page before relying on auto-connect.
- Disconnect from the camera before changing Command Frequency or Event Frequency.
- Camera features vary by Nikon model, so a setting can only use features that the connected body supports.
Body settings groups
Settings > Body is organized into expandable groups. The app remembers which groups you leave open or collapsed.
- Metadata contains Artist Name, Copyright, and User Comment metadata settings when the active Nikon SDK mode and connected body support them.
- Connection contains Nikon Remote SDK mode, Body date/time, Auto-connect, and Lock body after connecting.
- Live View contains Enable live view after connecting and Use CPU for live view image processing.
- Exposure Meter contains Exposure Meter and Exposure Meter Reversal.
- Transactions contains capture save safety, Read-only saved files, and the SDK-specific debug capture test flags.
- Communication contains Command Frequency and Event Frequency.
Body date/time
Body date/time sets the camera body's built-in clock from the computer's current local date and time. The Nikon Remote SDK body-clock value is a local wall-clock date/time; it does not include a timezone, UTC offset, or daylight-saving flag.
Sync on connect sets the body clock automatically after a successful connection, when the connected body reports that the body clock can currently be set. Unsynced leaves the body clock unchanged when the app connects.
Set date/time sets the body clock immediately. Use it when you want to update the camera clock without reconnecting, or after checking that the computer clock is correct.
The button is available only when the connected body reports that Body date/time is settable in the current camera state. Some bodies can make the clock read-only during movie recording, live view, Spot White Balance mode, mirror-up state, or busy camera states.
Auto-connect
Auto-connect watches for the selected body and connects when the camera is detected. Use this when your normal workflow is to open the app, power on the camera, and start shooting without pressing Connect each time.
If the selected body is already powered on when the app starts, the app may connect during startup before waiting for monitor detection. If the selected body is powered on after the app is already open, auto-connect waits for the body and connects when it appears.
If you use more than one Nikon body, confirm that the selected body matches the camera you plan to connect. Auto-connect loads the Nikon module for the selected model, so choosing the right body matters. The app is designed for one connected Nikon body at a time.
Auto-connect is not a repeated retry loop. If the app starts connecting and the connection fails, such as when the body is powered off during the connection attempt, the app shows that it was unable to connect and does not keep trying automatically. Use the Body power button or power-cycle the camera when you are ready to try again.
Enable live view after connecting
Enable live view after connecting starts live view automatically after the app finishes connecting and applying the current profile. This is useful for tethered composition, focus checks, motion trigger setup, and other workflows where live view is the first thing you need after connecting.
Leave this off if you usually connect only to capture, transfer, or adjust camera settings and do not want live view to start every time.
Use CPU for live view image processing
Use CPU for live view image processing forces live view frames to be processed on the CPU instead of the GPU.
Basic use: leave this disabled unless live view is blank, distorted, unstable, or you suspect a GPU driver problem. The GPU path is normally preferred for performance.
Advanced use: enable CPU processing when the computer GPU or graphics driver causes live view problems. CPU processing can be more compatible on some systems, but it may use more processor time and may be slower with high-resolution live view streams or heavy live view overlays.
Lock body after connecting
Lock body after connecting locks the camera controls after the connection is ready. Use this when the camera is mounted, shared, or positioned where accidental dial or button changes could affect the shoot.
Locking the body also allows you to change body settings that are represented by a physical dial or switch on the body, such as exposure mode. By locking the camera, you can change that setting without physically touching the body.
IMPORTANT: Nikon Z bodies typically require the body to be locked before the app can move the focus location from live view. If the live view focus box does not move after clicking the image, check whether the body is locked, whether live view is active, and whether the current focus mode and focus area mode allow remote focus-point movement.
Locking depends on camera support. If the connected body does not support remote locking, the app cannot force that feature on the camera.
Disconnect after critical capture save error
Disconnect after critical capture save error disconnects the camera when ControlMyNikon detects a critical computer-side capture save failure. This can happen in either Nikon SDK mode when the app cannot prove that a computer-side capture was saved correctly to its final Path location.
Use this when a missed save would be serious, such as school portraits, product batches, evidence work, or any session where you may capture many images quickly. If a critical failure occurs, the app shows a Guidance error alert and disconnects the body so you do not continue shooting into the same failure. The alert is the main signal that the capture transaction failed; the Log contains the detailed save phase, path, and byte-count diagnostics needed for support. For the full capture safety process and test flags, see Capture Transactions.
Leave this off if you prefer to stay connected and decide manually after reading the alert and log.
Make saved image files read-only
Make saved image files read-only marks captured files as read-only after ControlMyNikon saves them to the computer.
Use this when you want extra protection against other viewers or editors silently writing metadata back into camera-produced files. This is especially useful when image authentication, original-file handling, or chain-of-custody discipline matters.
Read-only is a Windows file attribute. It helps prevent accidental edits, but it is not a security boundary. You can clear the read-only attribute in Windows if you intentionally need to edit or replace a file.
Command Frequency (Hz)
Command Frequency controls the maximum rate that the app sends commands to the camera. The default is 60 Hz.
Basic use: leave this at the default unless you are troubleshooting camera communication. This setting does not make the camera expose, focus, or write images faster than the body can physically perform those actions.
Advanced use: if camera controls feel sluggish and the USB connection is stable, a higher value can make queued control changes feel more responsive. If the camera reports busy states, drops commands, disconnects, or behaves inconsistently, try lowering this value.
Reconnect the camera after changing this setting. The new value is used when the camera communication thread starts.
Event Frequency (Hz)
Event Frequency controls how often the camera communication thread checks for changes in the camera state. The default is 20 Hz.
Basic use: leave this at the default unless camera state changes are slow to appear or the connection is unstable. This setting affects how often the app checks for state changes; it does not change the camera settings themselves.
Advanced use: if camera-side changes take too long to appear in the app, a higher value can update state more often. If the connection is unstable or the computer is under load, a lower value can reduce communication pressure.
Reconnect the camera after changing this setting. The new value is used when the camera communication thread starts.
Exposure meter
Exposure Meter shows or hides the exposure meter on the Body page. It is a display setting only. It does not change exposure mode, exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture, or ISO.
Show the meter when you want a quick on-screen reference for underexposure or overexposure while working from the computer. Hide it if you prefer a cleaner Body page or if your workflow relies on the camera display, histogram, or live view exposure tools instead.
Exposure Meter Reversal
Exposure Meter Reversal reverses the direction of the on-screen meter. Use it when you want the meter to match the direction convention you expect from your Nikon body or your personal shooting habit.