My Autopano Pro forum

Jann Lipka wrote:

Got my Merlin from TA -
First impression - it is quite sturdy , the movement seems slow,
bubble leveler on the top is almost completely dried out ...
( air bubble is HUGE and useless ) .

Mine was the same from a different supplier - I think this is common.

Don't forget to put some opaque tape under the bubble level  - from the inside - to avoid bright sunlight from passing through and upsetting the operation of the optical encoders on the vertical axis motor.

I shot my first  pano try today
( will stitch it soon )

I got a BT problem again on my XP EeeePC ( 1000H )
- with built in Bt - hopefully with latest drivers .
Resetting / reboot made it work again .



Her comes dialogs I got (probably not 100% correct  translated  into English )

- dialog -
USB device ( ! ) is not recognized

while clicking on this message i get dialog
USB Device cannot be recognized  and list saying:

USB root Hub ( 2 ports )

- unknwn device
-port not in use


That is exactly the same messages I was fighting with from the beginning ....

I got also some troubles with mirror lockup mode - it didn't work at all on my 5Dmark2

Teh workaround was setting up 2 image bracket
( the mirror goes up on first release- then exposure  )

I'll continue tomorrow .

Last edited by Jann Lipka (2009-06-12 06:15:30)

Did you switch off the camera focus? If not, it may have failed to focus within the delay. But I don't understand why there where multiple shots at the same position... Did you check the logs?

Obviously manual focus (AF off )  , yes I put BLACK tape under bubble level .

I'll see if I can retrieve some log .

Hi Jann,

I your place, I will remove the "hand controler" in order to avoid some possible interference with the BT module ... (possible glitch's), you can plug the BT module directly into the Hand Controler socket !
(normally both sockets , hand-controler and auxiliary connectors are wired in parallel ...)
You can allways command the Merlin via your PC !

I will also make a test without "external battery", in case of disturbancy during the Merlin moves (bad or poor connections ...)
The internal batteries can go "a long-long time" ...
In french, we say "Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien !" (rought translation : "The best is the ennemy of the good")

Have fun !

Last edited by claudevh (2009-06-12 09:54:11)

Yesterady , after like 5days of heavy raining I got my Merlin for a walk ...

Regular batteries, handcontrol removed black tape on the bubble triple checked.

Strange enough on 2 first panos ( 2 rows )  I got the same problem described above .
( It felt like the head was moving somewhat strange ups and downs  and I got missing images / and some erratic iamges much above my goal was shot .

On third time everything went better ( Three  and four rows ) , no strange unneeded extra " up and down - adjustments " plain action :-)


The friction mechanism specially on upper axis is too lose for my taste .
Any way to make it more difficult to move ?
Mounting Canon 5 D with 70-200 on the camera  without counterweight means camera simply fall down ..
I think it would also fall down with 24x70 lens .....




would tightening the large screw on the crown achieve that ?


I'll post my first Merlin pano ( 4 rows x24 images - total 800 MegaPix ) soon ...

( I shot it  10Pm , so the light is mooody ... )

Thanks Paul for your suggestion .
It was an easy task , and I can mount my canon 5D with 24- 70 without it dipping down ....
( I can still  force movement against friction clutch with 1 finger .. )

nice work Jann,

I am so looking forward to getting my own, but I am a bit concerned regarding the weight, as I intend to use a Canon 1D with the 70-200LIS or a 300f/2.8LIS that maybe it is not strong enough

Henrik

Jann Lipka wrote:

3 minute video footage  from this location:

http://www.vimeo.com/5122999

( shot with my hangaround camera canon 500D )

I don't give up ...

Hi Jaan,

where did you find this Spirit (? translation correct ? - the green cube filled with water....) on top of your Canon?
(because my "bubble" is also dry as sahara...;-)

Liebe Gruesse,
Georg

Last edited by gkaefer (2009-06-26 12:19:34)

;-)
ok found.
as example: http://www.hama.de/produkte/fotokamera_ … /index.hsp

Herzlichsten Dank Paul!
Liebe Grüße,
Georg

gkaefer wrote:

;-)
ok found.
as example: http://www.hama.de/produkte/fotokamera_ … /index.hsp

or http://www.digitalstreet.nl/product_inf … s_id=11922 also available at eBay but shipment is rather expensive