126 replies to this topic

[szigler511]

... and one last observation, this time about RAMPUP, which seems like a useful way of bypassing the bracketing limit of 9 frames at a slight loss of speed.

 

RAMPUP (and presumably RAMPDN and RAMPSUD although I have not yet tested these other commands) takes "as quickly as possible an upward ramp of exposures auto-adjusting the settings."  Unlike bracketing, which is written into the D850 hardware, RAMPUP must send commands to the camera between frames, I am guessing.  For this reason, "as quickly as possible" is not the 6 fps for short exposure bracketing.  Rather it turns out to be about 3 fps, which is slower but not as slow as TAKEPIC.  

 

Also, RAMPUP naturally accommodates for long exposures by slowing down appropriately if the exposure exceeds 1/3 second.

 

If RAMPUP has a downside of being slower for short exposures than bracketing, its advantage is that there seems to be no limit in number of frames in a ramp, at least up to the 25 that I tried.  (I mean how many exposures do you want in a ramp?)

 

So, to summarize results for the Nikon D850,

 

TAKEPIC seems to not like intervals shorter than 0.7s, especially when the mirror is locked up.  At 0.6s intervals with mirror up, SEM crashes occasionally and with still shorter intervals, SEM crashes more often.

TAKEBST seems to work up to 5 fps and up to 20 frames in a burst.  At 6 fps, frames are occasionally dropped.  There doesn't seem to be a way of passing the 20 frame limit with the D850.

TAKEBKT runs up to 6 fps, accommodates frames longer than 1/6s by slowing down gracefully but only allows up to 9 frames in a burst.

RAMPUP (and maybe its cousins RAMPDN & RAMPSUD) run at about 3 fps, probably sending commands to the camera for each frame, accommodate for any exposure time gracefully and seem to be unlimited in number of frames in a ramp.

 

How certain am I of these conclusions?  Not all that certain because the experiments were short and simple so edge cases were not tested.  If you find exceptions, please post.

 

But now it is time to optimize an image acquisition script through totality from beads to diamonds to chromosphere to corona and back again.  Xavier's 'deluxe.txt' is a very useful starting point for timing and events to capture.

Great summary and thanks for sharing. This is exactly in line with my experience on the D850 and Solar Eclipse Maestro. The upper limit of 20 frames with the TAKEBST command has been a bit frustrating and I've been unable to find a way around it. I've posted this problem on the SEM Forum and haven't found a fix there either.

 

The same problem exists with the Z7ii and the latest beta version of SEM. In the end, I've decided to stack multiple TAKEBST commands together at a slow frame rate of 3 fps. This is the only way I have found to create an evenly spaced sequence of images with the same exposure for C2 and C3. I also found that RAMPUP and RAMPDN both work on the Z7ii with the beta version of SEM, but a ramp "down" of 13 exposures takes about two seconds longer than a ramp "up" of the same exposure settings.

[bobfugate]

Hello, Wei-Hao and ALL,

 

I’ve just discovered this thread. Lots of extremely useful info. Thanks to all that have contributed. Wish I had seen it earlier.

 

I am using a D850 on a Takahashi FSQ 106 EDX4  (F/5) on a HEM44EC mount and plan to use SEM for camera sequencing. I have the beta version from Xavier. I will be in south Texas - 4 min 24.6 sec of totality.

 

I have been fine tuning my SEM script. I agree with everyone’s findings on the limitations with the D850 and SEM related to burst max of 20 exposures, 9 only exposures in burst brackets, and slower execution in RAMPUP and RAMPDN.

 

Here’s my question.

 

Wei-Hao, In your post #38 in this thread you say

 

“The burst mode is really only suitable for the corona during totality, where relative few different exposure times are needed especially with stacking.  For the Baily's bead, chromosphere, prominence stage, I think constantly changing exposure time is needed, even at the cost of lower frame rate.”

 

I’m worried that I have been doing what is essentially the opposite - bursts of 20 short (1/8000, 1/5000, 1/4000) exposures during Baily’s beads and Chromosphere and then a couple of ramps from 1/4000 to 4 seconds using a combination of burst brackets for the short exposures and RAMPUP for exposures 1/8” to 4 sec”. One set of these takes 49 seconds for 43 images 1/4000 to 4 sec in 1/3 stop steps. Timing so that the longest exposures are at MAX.

 

Your post suggests it is better to shoot brackets during Baily’s beads and bursts of up to 20 during the corona.

 

Am I better off doing what you suggest and what are the details? Can I set the burst exposures during corona say 2 stops apart?

 

May I ask for you to share your D850 script so I can see the details? 

 

Here is a snippet from mine showing the C2 transition and the first ramp using a combination of burst brackets and RAMPUP at 1/3 stop increments:

 

 

#f/5 telescope on D850 sun at 68 deg elevation during totality
#exposures based on Xavier's exposure calculator

BURSTNB,20
LVPSTART,C2,-,00:38.0,D850, , , , , , , , start live view
#-------------DIAMOND RING----------------------
#To be added  - Bursts at 1/250 Starting at C2-20?

#-------------BAILY'S BEADS 40 shots at 1/8000----------------------

CHGCSSL,C2,-,00:10.5,D850, , ,4, , , , , Set to 4 fps
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:10.0,D850,1/8000,4.5,64,20,RAW,None,Y,Burst of 20picture
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:04.0,D850,1/8000,4.5,64,20,RAW,None,Y,Burst of 20picture

#-------------CHROMOSPHERE 20 shots at 1/5000 20 at 1/4000------------------------

TAKEBST,C2,+,00:02.0,D850,1/5000,4.5,64,20,RAW,None,Y,Burst of 20picture
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:08.0,D850,1/4000,4.5,64,20,RAW,None,Y,Burst of 20picture

#---------------TOTALITY--------------------------

BKTDATA,9,0.3EV,u0o
EXPMOD,C2,+,00:13.0,D850, , , , , , , ,Set to manual
CHGCSSL,C2,+,00:13.5,D850, , ,4, , , , , Set to 4 fps
SETBKT,C2,+,00:14.0,D850, , ,1, , , , ,Set bracket mode ON

TAKEBST,C2,+,00:15.0,D850,1/1600,4.5,64,9,RAW,None,N,bracket of 9 from 1/4000 to 1/640
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:18.3,D850,1/200,4.5,64,9,RAW,None,N,bracket of 9 from 1/500 to 1/80
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:21.6,D850,1/25,4.5,64,9,RAW,None,N,bracket of 9 from 1/60 to 1/10
SETBKT,C2,+,00:25.7,D850, , ,0, , , , ,Set bracket mode OFF

RAMPUP,C2,+,00:26.0,D850,1/8,5,64,0.0,RAW,None,Y,16,0.3,Ramping up
#this ramp ends 0i:08 before MAX
. . .

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated.

Bob

[SteveHookEm]

Wow, great info that has flown way over my head! lol Questions:

 

I have a D850, 500mm Nikkor, AM5 mount. I will be in the path with 4m 15sec of totality. If I want to make sure to get before, during, full totality with no filter, exiting and then some after shots, can someone make it a little easier to understand? lol

I have a M2 Macbook Pro. Is there a script now that will do what I need?

I'm not sure I need a fast burst mode. Is that mainly for bracketing?

 

Sorry for being so dense. I'm not new but this makes me feel a bit lost. 

 

Thanks!

[szigler511]

Wow, great info that has flown way over my head! lol Questions:

 

I have a D850, 500mm Nikkor, AM5 mount. I will be in the path with 4m 15sec of totality. If I want to make sure to get before, during, full totality with no filter, exiting and then some after shots, can someone make it a little easier to understand? lol

I have a M2 Macbook Pro. Is there a script now that will do what I need?

I'm not sure I need a fast burst mode. Is that mainly for bracketing?

 

Sorry for being so dense. I'm not new but this makes me feel a bit lost. 

 

Thanks!

You might this talk useful. I gave it several months ago the Astroimaging Channel. https://www.youtube....tqHm7XT9bCuVJg9

[whwang]

Wow.  Now it looks more like a D850 thread.  I love it.  But let's hope D850 isn't too dominating here and other users can also share their findings so we can all learn together.

 

 

I’m worried that I have been doing what is essentially the opposite - bursts of 20 short (1/8000, 1/5000, 1/4000) exposures during Baily’s beads and Chromosphere and then a couple of ramps from 1/4000 to 4 seconds using a combination of burst brackets for the short exposures and RAMPUP for exposures 1/8” to 4 sec”. One set of these takes 49 seconds for 43 images 1/4000 to 4 sec in 1/3 stop steps. Timing so that the longest exposures are at MAX.

Your post suggests it is better to shoot brackets during Baily’s beads and bursts of up to 20 during the corona.

 

Hi Bob,

 

I should not insist that my way is the optimal or the best. This will be just my second total eclipse.  Other more experienced people may have different opinions and they may be right.

 

My reason of that are:

 

1. If you shoot 10 different exposure times from short to long, you will be doing a 10-image HDR.  Comparing to a 3-image HDR, 10 will be much more difficult, even with help from software.
2. Some of us found that changing exposure setting in SEM creates additional overheads.  Changing exposure times constantly is quite a waste of time (and perhaps increases the chance of dropped exposures or even SEM crashing).  I would rather use that time on collecting more photons.
3. This is the most important one.  By stacking many exposures of the same exposure time, one dramatically improves the shadow quality.  Stacking 100, you improve the S/N by 10x, which is equivalent to extending the dynamical range of the shadow by 3.3 EV.  So with just one single exposure time (but many of them), you are effectively covering a range that traditionally requires a bracket of 3 or even 4 EV.  There isn't really a need for very finely stepped brackets of many different exposure times, if fast burst and stacking are involved.

At the end of this message, I append my current version of script.  You will see that I only employ 3 different, relatively short exposure times for the corona.  Together, they cover about 6 EV of different exposure range, and stacking many of them adds at least another 4 EV.  One caveat is that you can see I only focus on the lower part of the corona.  Although I do put a small number of longer exposures in the middle around MAX, they are just "why not?"  I am not counting on them for the outer corona.  Instead, I have other cameras with larger FoV and faster optics to cover the outer corona.  The other cameras take the same approach: stacking many exposures with identical exposure time.  They will even only have one exposure time per camera during the totality and they are not controlled by SEM.  So all cameras together, their exposure time alone cover a range of about 9.5 EV.  With stacking, that can easily be extended to 13 EV or more.  I think that's quite enough.  And I only have a very small number of different exposure times to deal with.  This should make the HDR processing less troublesome.

 

 

I have a M2 Macbook Pro. Is there a script now that will do what I need?

I'm not sure I need a fast burst mode. Is that mainly for bracketing?

 

Hi Steve, please see my script appended at the end, and my comment above about bracketing and burst of many exposures.

 

Basically I use SEM's configuration wizard to create a script template.  I follow its structure and modify it.  A key modification is to change the TAKEPIC loop to TAKEBST.  It's faster.  Another modification is to dramatically reduce the exposure time and ISO for Baily's beads.  Other people and I found that SEM's recommended exposure for Baily's beads is waaaaay too long.  It over exposes the photosphere by many EV.

 

Have you tried installing SEM on your M2 MBP?  SEM only runs on intel, and worse, only 32 bit ones.  People can run SEM on a 32bit Mac OS virtual machine in Parallels on a native 64 bit intel Mac/MacOS.  But I am not sure if Parallels will allow you to run intel MacOS on Apple Silicon hardware.  You better try it first.  Even if it runs, you need to test it with your camera to make sure it is stable.

 

Cheers,

Wei-Hao

 

 

------------ my current SEM script ------------

 

# for first contact
LVPSTART,C1,-,00:00:15.0,D850, , , , , , , ,Start photography in Lv
TAKEPIC,C1,-,00:00:10.0,D850,1/800,15.0,400,0.000,RAW,None,N,pre C1
CHGCSSL,C1,-,00:00:02.0,D850, , ,5, , , , ,Set frame rate to 5 per second
TAKEBST,C1,-,00:00:01.0,D850,1/800,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,N,First contact
LVPSTOP,C1,+,00:00:10.0,D850, , , , , , , ,Stop photography in Lv

# for fourth contact
LVPSTART,C4,-,00:00:06.0,D850, , , , , , , ,Start photography in Lv
CHGCSSL,C4,-,00:00:05.0,D850, , ,5, , , , ,Set frame rate to 5 per second
TAKEBST,C4,-,00:00:03.0,D850,1/800,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,N,Fourth contact
TAKEPIC,C4,+,00:00:10.0,D850,1/800,15.0,400,0.000,RAW,None,N,post C4
LVPSTOP,C4,+,00:00:20.0,D850, , , , , , , ,Stop photography in Lv

# for partial phase
# MLU wait time seems to be 3 sec max, cannot be further increased
FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),0,120.000,37
TAKEPIC,C2,-,02:03.0,D850,1/800,15.0,400,3.0,RAW,None,Y,Partial C1-C2
ENDFOR
FOR,(INTERVALOMETER),1,120.000,40
TAKEPIC,C3,+,01:57.0,D850,1/800,15.0,400,3.0,RAW,None,Y,Partial C3-C4
ENDFOR

# for Baily's beads, chromosphere, prominence, should have 20 exposures
# Exp setting for Baily's beads is about 3.5 stop less than SEM's suggestion

LVPSTART,C2,-,00:05.0,D850, , , , , , , ,Start photography in Lv
CHGCSSL,C2,-,00:04.0,D850, , ,100, , , , ,Set frame rate to max
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:03.0,D850,1/8000,15.0,64,12,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads  (SEM suggests ISO400, 1/5000sec)
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00.2,D850,1/3200,15.0,400,4,RAW,None,Y,C2 Chromosphere
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:01.0,D850,1/1600,15.0,400,4,RAW,None,Y,C2 Prominences

 

# Corona sequence, should have 848 exposures
# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:03.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:08.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:13.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:18.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:23.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona

# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:29.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:34.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:39.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00:44.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona

# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:01:16.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:01:11.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:01:06.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:01:01.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona

# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:55.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:50.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:45.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:40.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona

# This sequence takes about 7 sec each
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:34.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:27.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:20.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:13.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona

# This sequence takes about 9 sec each
TAKEBST,MAX,-,00:00:05.0,D850,1.0,15.0,400,8,RAW,None,Y,Earth Shine

# This sequence takes about 7 sec each
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:06.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:13.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:20.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:27.0,D850,1/6,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Middle Corona

# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:35.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:40.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:45.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:50.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona

# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:00:56.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:01:01.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:01:06.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,MAX,+,00:01:11.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona

# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:50.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:45.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:40.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:35.0,D850,1/50,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Inner Corona

# This sequence takes about 5 sec each
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:29.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:24.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:19.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:14.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00:09.0,D850,1/400,15.0,400,20,RAW,None,Y,Lower Corona

# for Baily's beads, chromosphere, prominence, should have 28 exposures
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:01.5,D850,1/1600,15.0,400,4,RAW,None,Y,C3 Prominences
TAKEBST,C3,-,00:00.2,D850,1/3200,15.0,400,4,RAW,None,Y,C3 Chromosphere
TAKEBST,C3,+,00:01.5,D850,1/8000,15.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C3 Baily's Beads  (SEM suggests ISO400, 1/5000sec)
LVPSTOP,C3,+,00:00:05.0,D850, , , , , , , ,Stop photography in Lv

[gapperns]

Wow.  Now it looks more like a D850 thread.  I love it.  But let's hope D850 isn't too dominating here and other users can also share their findings so we can all learn together.

 

...

Hi Steve, please see my script appended at the end, and my comment above about bracketing and burst of many exposures.

 

Basically I use SEM's configuration wizard to create a script template.  I follow its structure and modify it.  A key modification is to change the TAKEPIC loop to TAKEBST.  It's faster.  Another modification is to dramatically reduce the exposure time and ISO for Baily's beads.  Other people and I found that SEM's recommended exposure for Baily's beads is waaaaay too long.  It over exposes the photosphere by many EV.

 

Have you tried installing SEM on your M2 MBP?  SEM only runs on intel, and worse, only 32 bit ones.  People can run SEM on a 32bit Mac OS virtual machine in Parallels on a native 64 bit intel Mac/MacOS.  But I am not sure if Parallels will allow you to run intel MacOS on Apple Silicon hardware.  You better try it first.  Even if it runs, you need to test it with your camera to make sure it is stable.

 

Cheers,

Wei-Hao

 

I tried to run Parallels to install an older Mojave OS on Apple Silicon, and for me at least, that didn't work, it wanted intel based hardware. I had to use my 10 year old intel MacBook to run Parallels from there.

[bobfugate]

Wow.  Now it looks more like a D850 thread.  I love it.  But let's hope D850 isn't too dominating here and other users can also share their findings so we can all learn together.

 

 

 

Hi Bob,

 

I should not insist that my way is the optimal or the best. This will be just my second total eclipse.  Other more experienced people may have different opinions and they may be right.

 

My reason of that are:

 

1. If you shoot 10 different exposure times from short to long, you will be doing a 10-image HDR.  Comparing to a 3-image HDR, 10 will be much more difficult, even with help from software.
2. Some of us found that changing exposure setting in SEM creates additional overheads.  Changing exposure times constantly is quite a waste of time (and perhaps increases the chance of dropped exposures or even SEM crashing).  I would rather use that time on collecting more photons.
3. This is the most important one.  By stacking many exposures of the same exposure time, one dramatically improves the shadow quality.  Stacking 100, you improve the S/N by 10x, which is equivalent to extending the dynamical range of the shadow by 3.3 EV.  So with just one single exposure time (but many of them), you are effectively covering a range that traditionally requires a bracket of 3 or even 4 EV.  There isn't really a need for very finely stepped brackets of many different exposure times, if fast burst and stacking are involved.

At the end of this message, I append my current version of script.  You will see that I only employ 3 different, relatively short exposure times for the corona.  Together, they cover about 6 EV of different exposure range, and stacking many of them adds at least another 4 EV.  One caveat is that you can see I only focus on the lower part of the corona.  Although I do put a small number of longer exposures in the middle around MAX, they are just "why not?"  I am not counting on them for the outer corona.  Instead, I have other cameras with larger FoV and faster optics to cover the outer corona.  The other cameras take the same approach: stacking many exposures with identical exposure time.  They will even only have one exposure time per camera during the totality and they are not controlled by SEM.  So all cameras together, their exposure time alone cover a range of about 9.5 EV.  With stacking, that can easily be extended to 13 EV or more.  I think that's quite enough.  And I only have a very small number of different exposure times to deal with.  This should make the HDR processing less troublesome.

Wei-Hao,

 

Yes, I don't intend to make this a D850 thread - but it is an old camera with a great sensor and works with SEM so seems ideal for the task. 

 

Thank you for taking the time for a detailed response. It is extremely helpful and I'm going to switch philosophies and do fewer shutter speeds and more images during corona. I see you are at f/14 and mostly ISO 400. The FSQ is f/5 and I have chosen ISO 64. If I did he math right (please someone check it), it is just about the same exposure, with my setup being 1/3 stop faster - ( (14/5)^2 = 7.84 times slower, (400/64) = 2 and 2/3 stop faster = factor of 6.36 in exposure; so I am  (7.84/6.36) = 1.23 times faster or almost exactly 1/3 stop) so I should adjust shutter speed from yours accordingly. I am afraid I may be way too bright on Baily's beads since I can't go faster than 1/8000. I will run the SEM script creator again. 

 

I had already planned two additional cameras on separate mounts, a Z6 with 40 mm F1.4 Sigma Art lens for Venus, Jupiter, and maybe the comet and a D810 with 104mm F1.4 Sigma Art centered on the sun for extended corona. I have them set up to shoot on the internal intervalometer, at about 2 frames per second, all frames same exposure (still trying to decide on what - between 1/8 to 1/3 second) which produces ~500 shots during totality. After your post, I may switch out the 40 mm for my old Rokinon 135 F2 on the Z6 and shoot at a faster shutter speed by a couple stops. Decisions, decisions!  

 

Couple more questions if you don't mind:

 

Is your telescope really f/14? What is the focal length? 

What software do you use to stack the corona exposures (assume you do groups of each shutter speed first then blend?) 

How do you blend, what software?

What cameras and lenses and exposures are you using for the wide field shots?

 

I feel like I am not contributing but I am sure learning a lot. Thank you  so much!

 

Cheers, 

Bob

[FXM]

You might this talk useful. I gave it several months ago the Astroimaging Channel. https://www.youtube....tqHm7XT9bCuVJg9

Wonderful presentation and I have watched a few times. Always trying to learn new things and tips!

Thank you!

[whwang]

Hi Bob,

 

Baily's beads are real problems, I think.  Hope other experienced people can chime in and provide their suggestions.

 

I use TAK FOA60Q and D850. It has D=60mm and f=900mm.  So exactly F15.0.  My other two cameras are medium format Fujifilm GFX.  One will be put on an AP Stowaway 92 with flattener, so F7.0.  The other will be put on a Fuji 250mm/F4 lens.  These two cameras are slower than D850.  But each of them will only have one exposure time and will burst through the totality (using remote cable control).  Each of them will get about as many exposures as D850 gets for an exposure time.  So their slowness shouldn't bring too much harm.

 

Now you mention the comet.  I need to think again if I need yet another even wider lens and camera.

 

I haven't decided how to register and stack.  Maybe I will use the star position, correct for solar motion based on the predicted solar position, and then shift and stack centered at the sun.  If I can get stacking down, I am likely to use Photoshop for blending of different exposures, like what I did for the 2017 eclipse.

Edited by whwang, 20 March 2024 - 02:34 PM.

[agavephoto]

Haha, I had similar thoughts about a fourth setup, but decided to stick with just three cameras since my main goal is the corona. For the 2017 eclipse, I had a similar approach as you: take several shots of one exposure, then move to the next, with my longest exposures around maximum eclipse. I then stacked the single exposure value sets and then did an HDR combine. I used photoshop for my stacks as well as the HDR combining (that or Lightroom depending on which one handled the input data better). PixInsight has a Larson-Sekanina filter for bringing out more detail in the corona that I plan to use again.

 

I plan to keep my exposure time fixed for Baily's beads as this shows the relative change through the series nicely and I liked my result in 2017.

 

For 2024, I'm currently deciding between the sets of bursts method or just taking as many RAMPUP sequences as I can. If partly cloudy, I think the ramps may give more probability of getting each exposure I want throughout totality. I should make another script with more bursts and then I can switch plans depending on the weather. Sadly, the R5 is limited in burst speed, so for that camera, ramps are likely my choice no matter what I decide for the other two cameras.

 

Hi Bob,

 

Baily's beads are real problems, I think.  Hope other experienced people can chime in and provide their suggestions.

 

I use TAK FOA60Q and D850. It has D=60mm and f=900mm.  So exactly F15.0.  My other two cameras are medium format Fujifilm GFX.  One will be put on an AP Stowaway 92 with flattener, so F7.0.  The other will be put on a Fuji 250mm/F4 lens.  These two cameras are slower than D850.  But each of them will only have one exposure time and will burst through the totality (using remote cable control).  Each of them will get about as many exposures as D850 gets for an exposure time.  So their slowness shouldn't bring too much harm.

 

Now you mention the comet.  I need to think again if I need yet another even wider lens and camera.

 

I haven't decided how to register and stack.  Maybe I will use the star position, correct for solar motion based on the predicted solar position, and then shift and stack centered at the sun.  If I can get stacking down, I am likely to use Photoshop for blending of different exposures, like what I did for the 2017 eclipse.

 

[Smitty14]

Haha, I had similar thoughts about a fourth setup, but decided to stick with just three cameras since my main goal is the corona. For the 2017 eclipse, I had a similar approach as you: take several shots of one exposure, then move to the next, with my longest exposures around maximum eclipse. I then stacked the single exposure value sets and then did an HDR combine. I used photoshop for my stacks as well as the HDR combining (that or Lightroom depending on which one handled the input data better). PixInsight has a Larson-Sekanina filter for bringing out more detail in the corona that I plan to use again.

 

I plan to keep my exposure time fixed for Baily's beads as this shows the relative change through the series nicely and I liked my result in 2017.

 

For 2024, I'm currently deciding between the sets of bursts method or just taking as many RAMPUP sequences as I can. If partly cloudy, I think the ramps may give more probability of getting each exposure I want throughout totality. I should make another script with more bursts and then I can switch plans depending on the weather. Sadly, the R5 is limited in burst speed, so for that camera, ramps are likely my choice no matter what I decide for the other two cameras.

agavephoto,

 

I appreciate all of your input in this thread.  I am using two cameras, the R5 and 90D.  This is my second time to hopefully see totality, but the first time to image.  I have gleaned much information regarding the scripting of SEM with the contributors on this topic.  I have used Xavier's "Solar Eclipse Time Exposure Calculator" and the "delux" script.  I have practiced using several scripts, but they are just simulations. 

 

Would you be so kind as to present your script?  I appreciate your advice and experience with respect to the R5.  This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.

 

Mark

[amdizack]

I have discovered my camera has a mechanical shutter and an electronic front. curtain shutter. The skipping and slow down seems to occur only in electronic front curtain shutter. The problem here is that sometimes the camera switches on its own from mechanical shutter to electronic.

I am investigating the camera problems.

David

Hey David,
Curious if you found a solution for this? I am running into the same issue you described.

Aaron

[agavephoto]

agavephoto,

 

I appreciate all of your input in this thread.  I am using two cameras, the R5 and 90D.  This is my second time to hopefully see totality, but the first time to image.  I have gleaned much information regarding the scripting of SEM with the contributors on this topic.  I have used Xavier's "Solar Eclipse Time Exposure Calculator" and the "delux" script.  I have practiced using several scripts, but they are just simulations. 

 

Would you be so kind as to present your script?  I appreciate your advice and experience with respect to the R5.  This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.

 

Mark

Hey Mark, certainly! Here's a working version of my R5 script. I note a few caveats:

 

1.) This is a work in progress ...

2.) As mentioned before, I cannot get the R5 into high frame rate mode nor can I get TAKEBST to work correctly, but I'm relying on another camera for the high frame rate stuff.

3.) This script does NOT maximize the time to expose (this script leaves gaps between the ramps are present). This already gives me more than twice the data to work with vs. my 2017 results so I'm not too worried about missing a few seconds of exposure time, but everyone should make their own plan for their own needs!

4.) The ramps give me more exposure values than I really need, so this may not be ideal for some people. I may also experiment with RAMPSUD.

5.) I consider also using the method shown in Wei-Hao's script examples, sets of burst for a single exposure value for another camera, but I wonder if the ramps option covers more exposure values should it be partially cloudy. The sets of bursts method is closer to my strategy in 2017.

6.) Related to some unused time, the R5 takes the 13 exposure RAMPUP sequences significantly faster than the 5D4 does with the same settings. Live View start does not work with the 5D2 for me.

 

- Drew

 

# !!!!! R5 not fully supported, setting max burst mode not working! 2024.03.09
# !!!!! R5 not fully supported, burst mode not respecting burst count! 2024.03.09

 

#--------- Diamond Ring --------
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:11.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:10.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:09.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:08.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring

 

#--------- Baily's Beads --------

TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:07.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:06.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:05.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:04.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:03.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:02.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:01.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:00.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

 

#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------
#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------
#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------

 

TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:01.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:02.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere
TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:03.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:04.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Prominences
TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:05.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Priminences

 

#--------- Corona Sets --------

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000 to 4s
RAMPUP,C2,+,00:06.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,00:26.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,00:48.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,01:08.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,01:30.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,01:55.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,02:20.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,02:42.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,03:04.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,03:26.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp down for final prep to end of totality
RAMPDN,C3,-,00:24.0,R5,4.0,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp down 13 shots 4s-->1/1000

 

#--------- Prominence Set --------

TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:05.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Prominences
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:04.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Priminences

 

#--------- Chromosphere Set --------
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:03.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:02.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:01.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

 

#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------
#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------
#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------

 

#--------- Baily's Beads --------

TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:00.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:01.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:02.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:03.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:04.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:05.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:06.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:07.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

 

#--------- Diamond Ring --------
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:09.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:09.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:10.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:11.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring

 

#--------- C4 ECLIPSE ENDS!!! --------

 

[Edits: formatting, added caveat 6.]

Edited by agavephoto, 21 March 2024 - 04:41 PM.

[Goldenberg]

Aaron

 

I switched to a beta version of the software and a Nikon Z8.  With this combination the problem does not occur.

 

David

[agavephoto]

I had a confusing time last night where the beta version of SEM stopped recognizing the R5, giving the message the latest released version does about it being unsupported. This stopped after some minutes, but I don't understand the cause or what fixed it at this time. Anyone else using the beta version experienced this with a camera not supported in 1.9.0v1?

[Nn1982i]

Can someone post the beta version of the software assuming that Xavier is okay? I intend to use my D850 and Z6 coupled with a Sigma 40mm art (for wide angle, tracked) and a 500mm PF lens (tracked). Anyone has success with a Z6? My camera seems to switch to an electronic curtain when tethered thereby limiting the shutter speed to 1/2000.

[Goldenberg]

My Z8 not connected to a computer is able to ( 9 shots each bracket burst) shoot 20 frames per second in bracket mode . However with SEM connected to the camera using my old MacBook using TAKEBKT I can only shoot 4 per sec.  Is there any way I can speed up the bracketing for diamond rind, BB chromosphere and prominences? I want to bracket as fast as I can. Ramp up - ramp down only gives me 3 frames per sec

Edited by Goldenberg, 23 March 2024 - 09:02 AM.

[Smitty14]

Hey Mark, certainly! Here's a working version of my R5 script. I note a few caveats:

 

1.) This is a work in progress ...

2.) As mentioned before, I cannot get the R5 into high frame rate mode nor can I get TAKEBST to work correctly, but I'm relying on another camera for the high frame rate stuff.

3.) This script does NOT maximize the time to expose (this script leaves gaps between the ramps are present). This already gives me more than twice the data to work with vs. my 2017 results so I'm not too worried about missing a few seconds of exposure time, but everyone should make their own plan for their own needs!

4.) The ramps give me more exposure values than I really need, so this may not be ideal for some people. I may also experiment with RAMPSUD.

5.) I consider also using the method shown in Wei-Hao's script examples, sets of burst for a single exposure value for another camera, but I wonder if the ramps option covers more exposure values should it be partially cloudy. The sets of bursts method is closer to my strategy in 2017.

6.) Related to some unused time, the R5 takes the 13 exposure RAMPUP sequences significantly faster than the 5D4 does with the same settings. Live View start does not work with the 5D2 for me.

 

- Drew

 

# !!!!! R5 not fully supported, setting max burst mode not working! 2024.03.09
# !!!!! R5 not fully supported, burst mode not respecting burst count! 2024.03.09

 

#--------- Diamond Ring --------
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:11.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:10.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:09.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:08.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring

 

#--------- Baily's Beads --------

TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:07.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:06.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:05.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:04.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:03.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:02.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:01.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C2,-,00:00.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

 

#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------
#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------
#--------- C2 TOTALITY BEGINS!!! --------

 

TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:01.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:02.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere
TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:03.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:04.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Prominences
TAKEPIC,C2,+,00:05.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Priminences

 

#--------- Corona Sets --------

# Ramp up 13 exposures from 1/1000 to 4s
RAMPUP,C2,+,00:06.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,00:26.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,00:48.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,01:08.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,01:30.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,01:55.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,02:20.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,02:42.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,03:04.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

RAMPUP,C2,+,03:26.0,R5,1/1000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp 1/1000-->4s

# Ramp down for final prep to end of totality
RAMPDN,C3,-,00:24.0,R5,4.0,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,13,1.0,Exposure ramp down 13 shots 4s-->1/1000

 

#--------- Prominence Set --------

TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:05.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Prominences
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:04.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,100,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Priminences

 

#--------- Chromosphere Set --------
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:03.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:02.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere
TAKEPIC,C3,-,00:01.0,R5,1/4000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Chromosphere

 

#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------
#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------
#--------- C3 TOTALITY ENDS!!! --------

 

#--------- Baily's Beads --------

TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:00.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:01.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:02.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:03.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:04.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:05.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:06.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:07.0,R5,1/8000,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Bailys Beads

 

#--------- Diamond Ring --------
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:09.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:09.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:10.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring
TAKEPIC,C3,+,00:11.0,R5,1/320,5.6,50,0.0,RAW,None,Y,Diamond Ring

 

#--------- C4 ECLIPSE ENDS!!! --------

 

[Edits: formatting, added caveat 6.]

Thank you, Drew!  I may have to give it a try!

 

Mark

[Smitty14]

I had a confusing time last night where the beta version of SEM stopped recognizing the R5, giving the message the latest released version does about it being unsupported. This stopped after some minutes, but I don't understand the cause or what fixed it at this time. Anyone else using the beta version experienced this with a camera not supported in 1.9.0v1?

Drew,

 

Yes, my 90D wasn't being recognized, so I closed SEM and reloaded it and then it recognized my camera.

 

Hope that works for you.

 

Mark

[amdizack]

Aaron

 

I switched to a beta version of the software and a Nikon Z8.  With this combination the problem does not occur.

 

David

David,

Good to hear! How did you download a beta version? I'm not seeing that as an option anywhere on the site.

 

Aaron

[agavephoto]

David,

Good to hear! How did you download a beta version? I'm not seeing that as an option anywhere on the site.

 

Aaron

You need to email Xavier directly and ask for a download link.

[kdenny2]

Hey David,
Curious if you found a solution for this? I am running into the same issue you described.

Aaron

My solution with a Z6 was to set the camera to electronic shutter instead of mechanical. I honestly don't see much need in using the mechanical shutter to be honest. 

Edited by kdenny2, 23 March 2024 - 07:16 PM.

[Nn1982i]

My solution with a Z6 was to set the camera to electronic shutter instead of mechanical. I honestly don't see much need in using the mechanical shutter to be honest.

[Nn1982i]

The challenge however is that with electronic shutter you cannot go beyond 1/2000 sec shutter speed.

[kdenny2]

The challenge however is that with electronic shutter you cannot go beyond 1/2000 sec shutter speed.

 

Really? My Z6 goes to 1/8000 with an electronic shutter. Are you setting the camera to "silent" mode? 

Edited by kdenny2, 24 March 2024 - 10:25 AM.