Nikon D7000 and the "bulb" solution

[beckemd]

I've been using the nikon D7000 and the Shoestring astronomy DSUSB cable  to control the camera via Backyard Nikon software. 

Recently, i've noticed when connected that the planetary and frame/focus modes worked fine, but the imaging tab failed to control the camera when the shutter was set to bulb.  I'm almost sure this has been mentioned earlier but here goes...

 

My solution:  Boot up the computer and then connect the DSUSB cable to your usb port. There should be an audible 2 sound confirmation from windows. 

Next, Connect your 8 pin DSUSB and the download cable to the Nikon D7000  with the CAMERA OFF.   Now turn ON the camera and there should be another confirmation sound from windows. 

Your camera's green light on the back will be blinking furiously.  GO GET A CUP OF COFFEE or anything for about 2 minutes or so until the light has STOPPED ( ie the camera has loaded drivers etc to make it all work) 

Once the camera is no longer blinking, connect via Backyard Nikon and you're good to go. This works and whats more, it's reproducible for me allowing the bulb function to work as intended:)

 

Dave (beckemd)  in Chicago

 

[beckemd]

So now I can routinely connect my D7000 to the program. Live view works. Planetary works. But when I go to shutter under thecapture plan center, I noted SOMETIMES I can set the duration to 30sec to 1/8000 sec. Other times its 1/30-1/8000.  Reguardless if shutter is set to BULB and I try to do ANY exposure duration, it connects to the cable, without opening the shutter, it counts down my exposure, then hangs up for 2 minutes before stopping.... Any help appreciated..

Dave in chicago

[admin]

Looks like you did not select DSUSB cable in the capture plan.

[beckemd]

Dsusb was actually selected.

[astroman133]

The symptoms are that the DSUSB cable is either not being used, or is not starting the capture.

 

Do you know that the DSUSB cable is good? Have you tested it with the cable test tool that came with the cable?

[admin]

As Rick said, please try your DSUSB cable with the test app from Shoestring Astronomy.  We need to confirm the cable is working properly or not before anything else.

 

Keep us posted.

[astroman133]

2 minutes seems an excessive amount of time to wait.  Do you have a lot of images on the memory card in the camera?  The Nikon SDK wants to build a list of those images before it allows connections to proceed.  By either removing the memory card or making sure that the card is empty that wait time should be minimized. There are numerous posts about this in the BYN forum here.

[admin]

Rick nailed it, you have a lot of images on your SD card.  Sadly the Nikon SDK builds an index of all images of the card before passing along control of the camera, so less images on the card = left wait time to connect.

 

Regards,

[beckemd]

I ran the dsusb test from shoestring astonomy: redlight/greenlight, on light/off light no problem...open close shutter....PROBLEM.  nothing happened...

A bad cable?

What I'm wondering is why the shutter works on other NON bulb settings...

Should I get another DSUSB u think?

 

Dave in Chicago

[admin]

because BULB is the only mode not possible over regular usb cable, that is why you need a DSUSB cable for bulb.  all other shutter uses the regulat cable.

 

Try pressing ASSERT (using the Shoestring test software) then press open shutter to start BULB and then press DEASSERT then press close shutter to end your bulb sequence.  Does this work?

[beckemd]

Yes Guy, the assert makes the shutter fire., or rather the open shutter work

[beckemd]

GGGUUUYYYY! IT WORKS! But could u dumb it down for a simple layman...why is it working now? Why wasn't it before, and more importantly what sequence will I need to use to repeat BYN's working consistently in bulb mode?

Tyty

Dave in Chicago

[admin]

BYN already performs the ASSERT/DEASSERT for you.  There is nothing to do.

 

My only guess as to why it did not work before is a mystery to me.  

 

Regards,

[beckemd]

One thought...I started to try the other cable formats from the drop down menu including a USB one. Guessing it may have defaulted to that and NOT asserted back to DSUSB?