Help with TAKEBST command

[szigler511]

Hi,

I'm running SEM v1.9.0 (100) on an old MacBook Pro with iOS v10.12.6. I'm controlling a Nikon D850 with a Sony 64GB XQD card (write speed = 400 MB/s). This is the same system I successfully used in 2019.

In 2019, I used a series of TAKEBST commands for the diamond ring to Baily's Beads to chromosphere continuum. To avoid memory card overload, I added a some time gaps between the commands. Here is the 2019 sequence:

LVPSTART,C2,-,00:43.0,D850-SC, , , , , , , ,D850-SC: Start Live View photography
EXPMODM,C2,-,00:41.0,D850-SC, , , , , , , ,D850-SC: Set to Manual Mode (M)
CHGCSSL,C2,-,00:39.0,D850-SC, , ,5, , , , ,D850-SC: Continuous shooting set to 5 fps
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:20.0,D850-SC,1/1000,7.1,100,20,RAW,None,Y,D850-SC: First burst of images before C2
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:12.5,D850-SC,1/1000,7.1,100,20,RAW,None,Y,D850-SC: Second burst of images before C2
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:05.0,D850-SC,1/1000,7.1,100,20,RAW,None,Y,D850-SC: Third burst of images before C2
TAKEBST,C2,+,00:00.5,D850-SC,1/1000,7.1,100,10,RAW,None,Y,D850-SC: Fourth burst of images before C2

I got some nice images with this sequence. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the gaps I added to prevent memory card overload caused me to miss some critical images in the continuum.

This coming April I want to correct this. The D850 easily captures and writes 3 fps in CL mode when I manually press the shutter in Live View and in Silent Photography mode (SL1). This is all I need for the continuum. I want to start shooting 20 seconds before C2 and stop 10 seconds after C2. At 3 fps, that would be 90 frames.

So I tried this command sequence:

LVPSTART,C2,-,00:43.0,D850-SC, , , , , , , ,D850-SC: Start Live View photography
EXPMODM,C2,-,00:41.0,D850-SC, , , , , , , ,D850-SC: Set to Manual Mode (M)
CHGCSSL,C2,-,00:39.0,D850-SC, , ,3, , , , ,D850-SC: Continuous shooting set to 3 fps
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:20.0,D850-SC,1/1000,7.1,100,90,RAW,None,Y,D850-SC: Burst of 90 images

I expected to see 90 images at the end of this sequence, but only saw 20. No matter what value I use for the number of frames in the TAKEBST command, the maximum number of frames I get is 20. I’ve also included the command BURSTNB,90 and obtained the same results. I’ve included the SEM log below. One of the messages seems to indicate the problem (“Up to 20 buffered frames in burst (6.7s) with current settings on camera #1”), but I don’t know what to do about it.

Any advice or suggestions appreciated. Perhaps I have some bad camera settings?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Here is a portion of the SEM log file:

Jan 29 22:53:06 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Presetting exposure settings for camera #1...
Jan 29 22:53:22 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Starting photography in live view on camera #1...
Jan 29 22:53:22 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Photography in live view started on camera #1
Jan 29 22:53:23 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Exposure program mode on camera #1 set to Manual (line #4)
Jan 29 22:53:25 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1 low-speed current 6 -> new 3 (line #5)
Jan 29 22:53:25 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Continuous low-speed on camera #1 set to 3 fps (line #5)
Jan 29 22:53:25 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Up to 20 buffered frames in burst (6.7s) with current settings on camera #1
Jan 29 22:53:44 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Burst number on camera #1 set to 90 [max. 200] (line #7)
Jan 29 22:53:45 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Notice>: Caping total burst time to 10 seconds down from 30.0s on camera #1
Jan 29 22:53:45 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: SIML +0.0s ISO 100 1/1000s f/7.1 RAW D850-SC [Burst 90 frames] D850-SC: Burst of 90 images (1/1000) (90 frames)
Jan 29 22:53:47 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC2]
Jan 29 22:53:48 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC3]
Jan 29 22:53:48 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC4]
Jan 29 22:53:48 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC5]
Jan 29 22:53:48 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC6]
Jan 29 22:53:48 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC7]
Jan 29 22:53:48 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC8]
Jan 29 22:53:49 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFC9]
Jan 29 22:53:49 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFCA]
Jan 29 22:53:49 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFCB]
Jan 29 22:53:49 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFCC]
Jan 29 22:53:49 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFCD]
Jan 29 22:53:50 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFCE]
Jan 29 22:53:50 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFCF]
Jan 29 22:53:50 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFD0]
Jan 29 22:53:51 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFD1]
Jan 29 22:53:51 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFD2]
Jan 29 22:53:51 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFD3]
Jan 29 22:53:52 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFD4]
Jan 29 22:53:52 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: image/video added [0xFFFFFFFF-0x091ADFD5]
Jan 29 22:53:52 Solar Eclipse Maestro[878] <Info>: Camera #1: capture complete [0x000001CD]

[szigler511]

I've been hoping to hear any thoughts on this issue with the TAKEBST command capping the number of exposures at 20. I have upgraded to the beta and I've now tried it with Nikon D850 and Z7ii cameras with the same results. There seems to be something systematic that I'm doing wrong, but I cannot figure it out. Any ideas greatly appreciated! Thanks! Steve

[David]

I'm having the same problem of a 20 frame limit with my Z8.

[gcargile]

Having the same problem, also with a Z8.
SEM caps the burst speed to 10 fps, so I "fixed" the 20 exposure limit by running multiple bursts. There's a slight delay between each burst, but its the best I could come up with.

Hopefully it'll work out.

#====FIRST DIAMOND AND BEADS================================================

SETBKT,C2,-,00:20.0,Zed8, , ,0, , , , ,Burst bracketing deactivation
PLAY,C2,-,00:00:20.1,Filters_Off.wav, , , , , , , ,'Filters off' voice prompt

TAKEBST,C2,-,00:19.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 20
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:17.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 40
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:15.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 60
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:13.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 80
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:11.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 100
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:09.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 120
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:07.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 140
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:05.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,20,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 160
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:03.0,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,10,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 170
TAKEBST,C2,-,00:02.0,Zed8,1/160,6.0,64,10,RAW,None,Y,First Diamond Ring 180
#TAKEBST,C2,-,00:01.5,Zed8,1/6400,6.0,64,15,RAW,None,Y,C2 Baily's Beads 195

#===========================================================================

[David]

gcargle

I am also using multiple bursts but I can only get 8 fps. I use the command SETCSSL,C2,-,00:30.0,Z8, , ,8 , , , ,Set burst speed to 8 fps.

If I raise the speed above 8 my camera slows down. 8 is as fast as it will go. How did you get 10 fps from your Z8?

[gcargile]

Here's what I'm doing.... On the camera, Low-speed burst is set to 10fps, High-speed burst is set to 20fps. I set the camera to either High or Low-speed burst, it doesn't seem to matter, and eliminate the SETSSL statement completely. If I have the camera set to H-20, SEM changes the setting and shoots at 10fps. If set to L-10, SEM keeps the setting and shoots at 10 fps.

SEM writes an entry into the log file that mentions setting the rate to 10, but I don't have a log with me to look up exactly what it says.

OH! and I'm running v1.9.2 beta shared at [ viewtopic.php?f=13&t=335#p991 ], and that might make a difference.

Cheers!
-Gerry

[David]

gcargile

Thank you for the detailed answer. I can now get 10fps and will be using multiple burst commands.

David

[David]

I don't know what time (relative to C2 and then later relative to C3) to switch from the Diamond Ring exposure to the BB exposure and then what time to switch to the Prominences exposure and then what time to switch to the Chromosphere exposure. I will be using the exposures on Xaviers exposure calculator page ( http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/So ... osure.html ) but I worry that the DR exposure way over exposures.

Thanks for the help
David