Getting Ready for July 2019 with D850 [Case Solved]

Support for the Solar Eclipse Maestro photography software.

Getting Ready for July 2019 with D850 [Case Solved]

Postby szigler511 » Tue Feb 26, 2019 4:47 am

Hi Xavier,

I'm beginning to get ready for the total eclipse in Chile in July. Since the 2017 eclipse, I've upgraded from a D810 to a D850. I believe the latest version of SEM does not support this camera yet, but I might have missed something. I am running v1.8.6 V2. I tried some old scripts from 2017 that I used with the D810 and they seem to work for the most part with the D850, but the log contains numerous lines with this message: "Camera #1 unknown camera model [0x04b0/0x0441]. Trying to deactivate mirror lock-up."

Also since 2017, I have started using a MacBook Pro (2016). I am using the Sierra OS (version 10.12.6). Do you recommend an upgrade to Mojave for purposes of using SEM in July?

Thanks for any help and advice!
Steve
szigler511
 
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 3:54 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA

Re: Getting Ready for July 2019 with D850

Postby xjubier » Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:25 am

szigler511 wrote:I am running v1.8.6 V2. I tried some old scripts from 2017 that I used with the D810 and they seem to work for the most part with the D850, but the log contains numerous lines with this message: "Camera #1 unknown camera model [0x04b0/0x0441]. Trying to deactivate mirror lock-up."

The coming release will fully support the D850, including it's fully electronic shutter to further minimize any vibrations. Right now the log message is correct about the mirror lock-up, this is already fixed in the current beta. A limited access beta should be available sometime in April so that you can validate the fixes.

szigler511 wrote:Also since 2017, I have started using a MacBook Pro (2016). I am using the Sierra OS (version 10.12.6). Do you recommend an upgrade to Mojave for purposes of using SEM in July?

If it works well with Sierra I'd say stay put unless you have a need to use Mojave for another reason. At all costs avoid High Sierra in which Apple introduced a regression causing a crash when the memory card is not empty upon connecting the camera and never fixed (although the bug was acknowledged by one of Apple's engineers) this nasty crashing bug although I reported it and provided all the details and even a small 50KB app to reproduce it.
My tests show that Mojave works well as well but I personally will likely stay with Sierra for the time being.
xjubier
Site Admin
 
Posts: 326
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:35 pm
Location: France

Re: Getting Ready for July 2019 with D850

Postby szigler511 » Wed Feb 27, 2019 3:01 pm

Excellent! Thanks for the feedback. Very much appreciate it! I think I'll stay with Sierra for now as well.

I'm excited about the possibilities with the D850 and its electronic shutter with a fast XQD card. So far, the biggest problem I've encountered is that SEM changes the D850 from RAW mode to JPEG mode simply by plugging in the camera into the laptop and opening the app. In addition, SEM only captures images in JPEG mode even when RAW is included in the command scripts. But you probably already knew that.

These issues notwithstanding, my first round of tests have shown that SEM successfully captures 15 images with TAKEBST in 2 sec. In addition, RAMPDN successfully captures 15 images from 1/4000 sec to 4 sec in about 21 sec. Very nice!

When do you think the next version will be available?

Thanks again as always...
steve
szigler511
 
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 3:54 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA

Re: Getting Ready for July 2019 with D850

Postby xjubier » Thu Feb 28, 2019 12:33 am

szigler511 wrote:I'm excited about the possibilities with the D850 and its electronic shutter with a fast XQD card. So far, the biggest problem I've encountered is that SEM changes the D850 from RAW mode to JPEG mode simply by plugging in the camera into the laptop and opening the app. In addition, SEM only captures images in JPEG mode even when RAW is included in the command scripts. But you probably already knew that.

Yes, each new camera has different setting values. Although cameras are group by "family model", for example D800, D810, D850, the D850 has some new features distinguishing this model from its previous iterations within the family.

szigler511 wrote:When do you think the next version will be available?

I'd say within a month for the public beta. The release for the eclipse either late May or early June.
xjubier
Site Admin
 
Posts: 326
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:35 pm
Location: France

Re: Getting Ready for July 2019 with D850

Postby szigler511 » Thu Feb 28, 2019 2:04 am

I will be happy to perform some user testing for the next version if you have a beta available beforehand!
szigler511
 
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2017 3:54 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA

Re: Getting Ready for July 2019 with D850

Postby xjubier » Thu Mar 28, 2019 9:58 pm

szigler511 wrote:I will be happy to perform some user testing for the next version if you have a beta available beforehand!

Please try this old beta and report back on how it goes.
xjubier
Site Admin
 
Posts: 326
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:35 pm
Location: France


Return to Solar Eclipse Maestro

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

cron