BYN Premium Edition 2.0.10 - Nikon D800

[ouioui01]

 

Hello,

A friend of mine gives me a Nikon D800 (with last firmware from Nikon). I can connect it to BYN with no problem. The only problem i have with it is that i can't use BYN to shoot and save pictures:

 

1.       Light / Dark / Flats / Bias :

·         save to Camera: KO

·         save to PC: OK

·         save to PC+Camera: camera OK, PC not OK (picture is in download folder of BackyardTEMP folder).

2.       Preview: ok

I configure my setting folders like that

-          Download folder: D:\BackyardNIKON

Sub-folders: LIBRARY

-          Plan folder: D:\BackyardNIKON\Plans

-          Backyard folder: D:\BackyardTEMP

of course, I delete default folders in my pictures folder.

When I launch BYN, it creates again a log file in : D:\Users\myuser\Pictures\ BackyardTEMP\Logs:

Logfile-[timestamp]-backgroundworker- [xxxx]-YYYY-MM-DD

In D:\BackyardTEMP\Logs, I find an another file logfile-[timestamp]-[xxxxx]-YYYY-MM-DD

Do I miss something?

Thanks for your answer and your help.

Bests regards,

Ouioui01

NB: With Nikon software (camera control pro2), i can shoot and save to camera directly from the software

Logs-BYN.zip

[astroman133]

I believe that some Nikon cameras have a problem when saving to both the PC and the camera's memory card. So if it works when saving only to the PC you may be stuck.

Have you tried doing a factory reset on the camera? This sometimes fixes a setting that BYN cannot read or change but interferes.

If you are trying to take a picture with a lens on the camera, make sure that the lens is in Manual Focus mode since the camera will want to be sure that the scene is in focus before taking the picture. If the lens cap is on the camera or if you are shooting a dark sky, autofocus is not possible.

[admin]

This looks more like a Windows privileges issue.  It looks to me like your settings are not saved.

The easiest way to fix this is to re-install BYN in a separate folder.

Keep us posted.

 

[ouioui01]

On 10/29/2019 at 1:19 AM, admin said:

This looks more like a Windows privileges issue.  It looks to me like your settings are not saved.

The easiest way to fix this is to re-install BYN in a separate folder.

Keep us posted.

 

i re install in a new folder and settings are now ok. but i still have problem to take pictures as in plan. there's a message saying abort after shooting the first picture (picture is saved in camera). and the plan is stopped..An error is written in the log file. i set 4 shoots at 400 iso in bulb mode (logfile attached). only one shoot is done.

of course, autofocus  set to manual, reset camera settings done, using two cards in camera (sd card as master and cf card to extended if sd is full)

thanks for tour help.

clear skies

logfile-[20191029-20h42m51s929]-[9280]-2019-10-29.zip

[admin]

I believe saving to card is the issue.  Try saving to PC only and see if this makes a difference.

I recall a few years ago an issue with Nikon cameras with 2 CD card slots and saving to card; your issue looks like this may be the case.

Keep us posted.

[ouioui01]

Hi Guylain,

i tried with only one card (sd card), but i still have the problem : plan is aborted after first picture (it's saved in camera).

I tried soft digicamControl and i don't meet this problem and pictures are saved in camera.

Did you find something in the logs ?

Clear skies,

[admin]

digicamControl does not use the Nikon SDK and therefor they are not subjected the limitation of the Nikon SDK.

I looked at the log as it fails on starting the bulb capture.

2019-10-29 20:43:55,802 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] DEBUG - TAKE PICTURE ::: Shutter(MANUAL) Cable(CameraUSB) Av(4.2) Duration(1,0) Iso(400) Quality(RAW) Mirror(0) SaveTo(CARD)
2019-10-29 20:44:00,754 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] ERROR - [kNkMAIDResult_ValueOutOfBounds] (kNkMAIDCommand_CapStart, 33560, kNkMAIDDataType_GenericPtr, 242741744)
2019-10-29 20:44:00,754 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] ERROR -    à BinaryRivers.Camera.Nikon.Wrapper.NikonTaskQueue.Invoke(Delegate d, Object[] args)
   à BinaryRivers.Camera.Nikon.Wrapper.NikonBase.Start(eNkMAIDCapability cap, eNkMAIDDataType dataType, Int32 data)
   à BinaryRivers.Camera.Nikon.Wrapper.NikonDevice.StopBulbCapture()
   à BinaryRivers.Camera.Nikon.CameraModel.<>c__DisplayClass26_0.<DoTakePictureBulb>b__0()
   à BinaryRivers.Common.ProviderInterfaces.Camera.CameraControllerBase.DoWithCameraLocked(Action action)
   à BinaryRivers.Camera.Nikon.CameraModel.DoTakePictureBulb(Boolean start, Single mirrorlockseconds)
   à BinaryRivers.Common.Model.CameraModelBase.TakePictureBulb(Single durationseconds, Single mirrorlockseconds, String progresstext)
   à BinaryRivers.Common.Model.CameraModelBase.<>c__DisplayClass77_0.<CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved>b__0(Object state)
2019-10-29 20:44:00,766 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] INFO  - Timespan 6,094
2019-10-29 20:44:00,778 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] INFO  - Imaging session cancelled
2019-10-29 20:44:00,790 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] INFO  - [kNkMAIDResult_ValueOutOfBounds] (kNkMAIDCommand_CapStart, 33560, kNkMAIDDataType_GenericPtr, 242741744)
2019-10-29 20:44:00,790 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] ERROR - [kNkMAIDResult_ValueOutOfBounds] (kNkMAIDCommand_CapStart, 33560, kNkMAIDDataType_GenericPtr, 242741744)
2019-10-29 20:44:00,790 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] ERROR -    à BinaryRivers.Camera.Nikon.Wrapper.NikonTaskQueue.Invoke(Delegate d, Object[] args)
 

Please save to PC only and see if that works (raw file only for now).  We need to go at it by process of elimination.  In some cases the Nikon SDK *must* save to PC with the SDK; the D800 may be one of them and I'm trying to see if this is the case with this test.

Regards,

[ouioui01]

Hi,

I try to save to PC and yes, it works. it takes time cause of files size (74Mo) with an usb3.

But i don't understand why i can take only one picture from the plan and can save it to camera...it's very strange!

I attach log file.

Thanks for your help and investigation!

Clear skies

logfile-[20191030-18h39m57s434]-[10824]-2019-10-30.txt

[astroman133]

The attached log file showed several errors, but it appears that all the attempts were configured to save the image to the PC, not the camera. See the following line from the log file:

2019-10-30 18:41:20,737 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] DEBUG - TAKE PICTURE ::: Shutter(MANUAL) Cable(CameraUSB) Av(20) Duration(2,0) Iso(100) Quality(RAW) Mirror(0) SaveTo(PC)

The error was "Le format de la chaîne d'entrée est incorrect." which may be due to the decimal separator of some string value being returned by the SDK being different from what BYN is expecting.

[ouioui01]

1 hour ago, astroman133 said:

The attached log file showed several errors, but it appears that all the attempts were configured to save the image to the PC, not the camera. See the following line from the log file:

2019-10-30 18:41:20,737 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] DEBUG - TAKE PICTURE ::: Shutter(MANUAL) Cable(CameraUSB) Av(20) Duration(2,0) Iso(100) Quality(RAW) Mirror(0) SaveTo(PC)

The error was "Le format de la chaîne d'entrée est incorrect." which may be due to the decimal separator of some string value being returned by the SDK being different from what BYN is expecting.

it's from the test that Guylain  asked me to do to see if saving pictures to PC is working.

[admin]

2 hours ago, ouioui01 said:

 

But i don't understand why i can take only one picture from the plan and can save it to camera...it's very strange!

 

This may be it.

2019-10-30 18:41:26,351 [7] DEBUG - NIKON EVENT --> OnDeviceOnImageReady(1,type[1]) fired
2019-10-30 18:41:26,786 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] ERROR - Le format de la chaîne d'entrée est incorrect.
2019-10-30 18:41:26,786 [CameraTakePictureOnMessageRecieved] ERROR -    à System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)
   à System.Number.ParseInt32(String s, NumberStyles style, NumberFormatInfo info)
   à System.Convert.ToInt32(String value)

 

It's a good thing I'm actually French

Looks like you have Windows setup for French numeric?

I suspect this is the issue... a comma decimal point, instead of a period decimal point, will cause a numeric parse error.

Can you make sure your pc is set to english (period decimal) and try again.  For now keep all file saved to PC only. 

Send me that log file.

[ouioui01]

yes, windows setup for french. change windows settings.still same message in log

i think that error is due to aperture as i'm using a non cpu lens (4.8, 5, 5.6, 6.3, 7.1, 8, 9, 10....)

logfile-[20191030-22h30m28s486]-[3480]-2019-10-30.txt

[admin]

It could be.  To confirm (or not) that this could be the issue please remove the lens and try again just with the camera. 

If it does work without lens this gives me an idea where to look.

Regards,

[ouioui01]

22 hours ago, admin said:

It could be.  To confirm (or not) that this could be the issue please remove the lens and try again just with the camera. 

If it does work without lens this gives me an idea where to look.

Regards,

Hello, same behavior without lens. log files attached (save to pc and camera in french and English Windows settings).

Regards

logfile-[20191031-20h51m08s824]-[10720]-2019-10-31-FRENCH.zip logfile-[20191031-20h59m14s540]-[404]-2019-10-31-ENGLISH.zip

[ouioui01]

Hi,

Any news about this problem?

Clear skies

[admin]

20 minutes ago, ouioui01 said:

Hi,

Any news about this problem?

Clear skies

I will have to dig deeper, I can't reproduce the issue for now so it makes it hard to find the offending parsing value/code... but it does look like a real bug in BYN.  The only way around this for now (I think) would be to set windows to display decimals as period instead of comma.

Regards,

[ouioui01]

25 minutes ago, admin said:

I will have to dig deeper, I can't reproduce the issue for now so it makes it hard to find the offending parsing value/code... but it does look like a real bug in BYN.  The only way around this for now (I think) would be to set windows to display decimals as period instead of comma.

Regards,

I understand. If you want me to make some tests, don't hesitate to contact me.

Clear skies

[ouioui01]

Bonjour Guylain,

just wondering in bulb mode, plan is aborted after the first picture (save to camera, RAW mode).

in the same mode, but JPG, it works without problem?

also if time exposure is less than 30sec, manual work to save to camera in raw mode.

is there a limitation for bulb mode when use in RAW in SDK? Nikon app uses the same SDK, and it works ?

I saw that there are plenty of threads in this forum with this problem...

By the way, thanks for your effort to investigate for this problem

cheers

PS: I'm using the last RC3 of BYN for now and waiting for a clear sky...

[astroman133]

Do you perhaps have Long Exposure Noise Reduction turned on in the camera? If so, this doubles the exposure time because it causes the camera to take the dark frame after each light frame. BYN does not know this and will fail if the camera does not report that it is ready for the next exposure in a timely manner. Conventional wisdom is to turn off LENR when doing astrophotography, as this automatically doubles your productivity, and take your dark frames separately.

[ouioui01]

2 hours ago, astroman133 said:

Do you perhaps have Long Exposure Noise Reduction turned on in the camera? If so, this doubles the exposure time because it causes the camera to take the dark frame after each light frame. BYN does not know this and will fail if the camera does not report that it is ready for the next exposure in a timely manner. Conventional wisdom is to turn off LENR when doing astrophotography, as this automatically doubles your productivity, and take your dark frames separately.

Hello astro,

LENR is turn to off, NR too...

i also have a d5300 and worked without problem...

best regards and clear skies...

 

 

[admin]

Try a factory reset on the D800, maybe there is an in-camera setting causing it to fail. 

Keep us posted.

[astroman133]

Does BYN fail the same way when you save your images to the PC? I believe that there are some BYN issues when saving to the camera. Or perhaps I am mis-remembering and it is with saving both RAW & JPG. In any case it is simple to try saving RAW only to the PC.

[ouioui01]

2 hours ago, admin said:

Try a factory reset on the D800, maybe there is an in-camera setting causing it to fail. 

Keep us posted.

hi,

already done without succeed...saving raw to pc is OK.

[ouioui01]

1 hour ago, astroman133 said:

Does BYN fail the same way when you save your images to the PC? I believe that there are some BYN issues when saving to the camera. Or perhaps I am mis-remembering and it is with saving both RAW & JPG. In any case it is simple to try saving RAW only to the PC.

saving raw to pc is working. if plan is in jpeg, saving to pc, camera or both is OK.

it's only when plan is in mode bulb and raw saved to camera that plan is cancelled automatically after the first image (saved in camera)

Best regards,

ouioui

[ouioui01]

Hello,

Any others suggestions ?

Hope you'll finds a solution for that...

Best regards,

ouioui

___

Clear skies

[astroman133]

So just to recap...With your D800 and BYN 2.0.10 you are unable to save RAW BULB exposure images to the camera.

Guylain may ask for a log file where it fails to do that. It is best to delete the old logs then start BYN and go through the steps to take a bulb image with save to camera selected. Then follow the instructions at the link below to send the log without posting it here.

 

[s3igell]

ouioui01: 

While it may not be a Satisfying Answer, we have learned that Many NIKON DSLRs have Issues when it comes to variants of "Save-to-Camera" - Issues which are somehow between the NIKON Firmware on the DSLR and the NIKON-provided SDK (and NIKON rarely responds to such because that SDK is provided "Without Support").

BYE and BYN use these SDK exclusively, while smaller programs like DigiCamControl does not.  Sometimes this means that DigiCamControl can do things which BYN cannot, but BYN is the Better AP Imaging Software overall.  AND, for BYN to provide several Features, it is necessary for RAW Images to be stored to PC, so the inability for the SDK to facilitate RAW Save-to-Camera doesn't provide much benefit.

[admin]

From the log file the SDK is throwing an error on the BULB start command.  This tells me that the error is thrown when the in-camera firmware (or SDK) executes the command and the camera goes into a check-loop sequence to ensure the camera is in a proper state to start the bulb sequence...and it fails that check sequence for some reason when save to card is enabled.

The SDK exposes a single command to start a bulb sequence and expect the SDK / Camera to execute this command in one go.  It is the exact same command being sent regardless the images are saved to PC / Card / or PC+CARD.  For this reason it is very unlikely that I can address this

Regards,

[astroman133]

I am not a Nikon owner, so I apologize for not mentioning this sooner. The D800 has 2 memory card slots; an SD card slot and a CF card slot. The camera can be configured to use those cards in different ways. I would suggest testing BYN with different memory card settings. I would select choosing the SD card as the primary card and use the Overflow option so that both RAW and JPG images are saved to the SD card until it is full. I would also make extra sure that neither card is write protected. In other words try each configuration without the camera being connected to the computer.

If you get it to work, please come back here and let us know what configuration(s) worked and what configuration(s) didn't work.

 

[ouioui01]

2 hours ago, astroman133 said:

I am not a Nikon owner, so I apologize for not mentioning this sooner. The D800 has 2 memory card slots; an SD card slot and a CF card slot. The camera can be configured to use those cards in different ways. I would suggest testing BYN with different memory card settings. I would select choosing the SD card as the primary card and use the Overflow option so that both RAW and JPG images are saved to the SD card until it is full. I would also make extra sure that neither card is write protected. In other words try each configuration without the camera being connected to the computer.

If you get it to work, please come back here and let us know what configuration(s) worked and what configuration(s) didn't work.

 

hi astroman133,

i already done those tests without success for Bulb mode with RAW...plan with raw, save to camera is always cancelled...after the first picture (saved in camera).

 

any others suggestions are welcome...

NB: downloading to PC (with preview for each picture in BYN, with 52Mo or 72Mo files) slows drastically the imaging process...in the other hand, plans with exposure less 30 sec are working and pictures are saved correctly in camera...

As I understand, the D800 can use Bulb mode in USB (it worked with Nikon software)

 

 

Best regards,

ouioui

 

[ouioui01]

Hello Guylain,

Could you tell me which version of SDK are you using for D800? is it the last one?

Best regards,

ouioui

__

Clear skies