Kludging Mirror Lock with a D7000

[WillyK]

I understand that v1.0.2 of BYN doesn’t support Mirror Lock.

 

While I agree that it is not needed for long exposure time shots, there are some exposure ranges of just sub-second to several seconds where it would be handy.

 

In shooting the recent Lunar eclipse, I implemented a work-around Mirror Lock with the “Mup” (Mirror up) Release Mode on my D7000.

 

Connected the D7000 to my laptop with two cables; a USB cable (from laptop USB A to camera USB mini-B, and a DSUSB cable (“Shoestring Astronomy”, from laptop USB A to camera accessory port).  BYN configured with Cable Support set to “DSUSB”.

 

With the camera’s   “MODE” dial set to “M” (manual), and the camera’s “Release-Mode” dial set to “S” (single-frame) I enter “Frame & Focus” in BYN which allows me to use the Live View display on the Frame/Focus screen and utilize all the niceties to compose and focus.  I move to “Imaging” within BYN and set up a capture plan of several single exposures, ranging from sub-second to BULB exposures of 1, 2 and 3 seconds.  If at this point I initiated a “Start Capture”, it would work through my capture plan.

 

However, if prior to initiating a “Start Capture” I physically change the camera’s “Release-Mode” dial by rotating it from “S” to “Mup” (mirror-up) then the following happens.

 

When I initiate a “Start Capture”, prior to each exposure the mirror flips up, in the “Progress Centre” it displays the statement “Anti-Vibration”, after about 5 seconds the exposure is triggered, exposure ends and mirror drops.  As it moves through each line of my capture plan it repeats the “Anti-vibration” mirror up sequence for each exposure.

 

Very nice.  THE PROBLEM is when I move BYN back to “Frame & Focus”, Live View does not work.  I have to physically change the camera setting by rotating the “Release-Mode” dial back to “S” (single-shot).  Then the Live View will work, and I can adjust focus, composition, etc.  Back to “Imaging” to shoot a capture plan and if I want to use the anti-vibration feature I must again physically change the “Release-Mode” dial to “Mup”.

 

Certainly a kludge, and unfortunately not the best as you have to physically touch the camera to adjust the Release-Mode dial.  I don’t know if this would translate to other Nikon bodies, but it does work for my D7000.

 

I like BYN and recently upgraded to Premium, but it will be better when Mirror-Lock is implemented.

 

... Bill

 

[admin]

Now that is out-of-the-box thinking, pretty cool stuff

[cedricthebrave]

I made up the cable using one of these KMtronic USB Relay Controller  http://r.ebay.com/EMDFtRand the end peice from one of the invalometer boxes that plugs into the camera.

it appears to work i have it on Com2

[cedricthebrave]

i will try this 'Kludge'! 

I setup my version 1.03 last night for the first time with two cables and when in Mirror up mode on the dial it appears to do something a bit weird.

the shutter sounds like it opens for 2 seconds then starts again! the exposure length was set to 35 seconds as i wanted to see if it worked the same way as my invalometer which opens the shutter then starts the exposure after 30 seconds shutting down the lot after the set period!

I hope that makes sense.

i will try switching to M-UP after the cam is all connected up as above.

[admin]

i will try this 'Kludge'! 

I setup my version 1.03 last night for the first time with two cables and when in Mirror up mode on the dial it appears to do something a bit weird.

the shutter sounds like it opens for 2 seconds then starts again! the exposure length was set to 35 seconds as i wanted to see if it worked the same way as my invalometer which opens the shutter then starts the exposure after 30 seconds shutting down the lot after the set period!

I hope that makes sense.

i will try switching to M-UP after the cam is all connected up as above.

 

 

What camera do you have?  The second cable (whatever it is) may not even be used.  I can confirm this only if I know what model you have.

 

Regards,

[cedricthebrave]

mine is a D7000

[admin]

Looks like you did not select the correct serial cable configuration in the imaging plan.