So, I'm going to use a Nikon Z8 to shoot a day to Milky Way to day timelapse (tonight, if I can get everything figured out), with my camera on a pan/tilt head and rail controlled by a Black Forest Motion Pine II.
I've been shooting this sort of thing for years, but have always controlled my cameras by hand (and moco with BFM app). I got the Unleashed specifically so I don't have to touch the camera (risking shake, a sequence-killer).
I've tried three times now to use the Unleashed in its simple photo mode, merely to control my Z8's exposure (and let the Pine II's app control exposures and movement). But, for some reason, I either lose connection to the Unleashed, or I can't change parameters while the timelapse is running, and sunrise gets blown out. That's about 30 hours of all-nighter time wasted testing :-(
So I've decided to try a full automated Unleashed setup, with fingers very crossed.
But I'm having trouble finding info on some of the Unleashed functions. I'd be very happy to be pointed to FAQs, Unleashed Community posts, manual pages, or even private blogs/vlogs regarding my questions below, as I've not had any success finding them myself.
1) what are the various "Flex" intervals (Flex, Flex5S, Flex180).
-I could run tests to figure them out, that would be many 10's of hours, better to read what they are!
-I have used an LRT Pro timer to ramp my day to night intervals successfully in the past, so I'm hoping that this is an automated version of that function (but, still, how are they implemented?).
Edit: of course, right after posting I stumbled upon this page which explains the below: https://www.foolography.com/faqs/how-to ... imelapses/
(I'm going to attempt EV24h algorithm, even though I do all my smoothing in LRTimelapse in post)
2) Holy Grail algorithms: which is good for what?
-I used to use qDSLRDashboard with a tablet with my DSLRs (I've been shooting timelapse professionally for about 15 years) and the LRT algorithm, and I loved the automation but also my ability to tweak the sensitivity-to-luminance values during ramping. Perfect results every time. On the Unleashed, using e.g. "LRT Sunset Beta" (or modified Beta), can I do the same tweaks? (can I alter the ramped exposures such that I get perfect exposure of the milky way during the shoot?).
-And what is "EV Smoothing 24h" (since I'm shooting sunset-->MW-->sunrise, I'd love to hear that this is the perfect algorithm to use).
2nd edit: with the help of Moritz at BFM, I found out that your Pine II has to be named "PINE II" (all caps) in order for the Unleashed to see it.
Of course, this is all moot if I can't succeed in connecting them via bluetooth. I'm using this vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjmhbdIPj-8, and the Pine is not showing in "Your Accessories" (firmware on both devices is fully up to date). I've rebooted everything, still no success :-/
3rd edit: almost there, but not quite. The Pine II and Unleashed are connected, Pine App is set correctly (moves have been programmed and it's in slave mode), Unleashed app is set (tested with a simple timelapse sequence), but the motors don't move. Very frustrating!
Challenges and challenges!
how to ramp from day to Milky Way to day? With Pine II motion control
Hey mate I’ve got an unleashed 18” and the 22”
Unfortunately work and dad life means I don’t have much time to tweet run features but I can try help with afew of ya questions.
So the flex options are interval ramping, if you select flex and start with a base interval of say 6 seconds and then set up your min/max shutter speeds-aperture for day/night and ISO for day/night then run it the unleashed will pure inteverval ramp all your settings up and down for sunset/Milky Way/sunrise etc.
So the interval will hard follow your shutter as it ramps up and down
Flex 5S is similar but it gives the camera a 5second added on interval to each photo as it ramps through to allow your cameras image review to show an image if needed.
Flex 180 is supposed to keep the interval exactly or close to double your shutter speed to give a somewhat cinematic look or something along those lines.
I don’t have black magic gear, run all syrp but unfortunately I really haven’t had proper time to test all the gear and auto ramping etc so can’t fully comment there.
Unfortunately work and dad life means I don’t have much time to tweet run features but I can try help with afew of ya questions.
So the flex options are interval ramping, if you select flex and start with a base interval of say 6 seconds and then set up your min/max shutter speeds-aperture for day/night and ISO for day/night then run it the unleashed will pure inteverval ramp all your settings up and down for sunset/Milky Way/sunrise etc.
So the interval will hard follow your shutter as it ramps up and down
Flex 5S is similar but it gives the camera a 5second added on interval to each photo as it ramps through to allow your cameras image review to show an image if needed.
Flex 180 is supposed to keep the interval exactly or close to double your shutter speed to give a somewhat cinematic look or something along those lines.
I don’t have black magic gear, run all syrp but unfortunately I really haven’t had proper time to test all the gear and auto ramping etc so can’t fully comment there.
As for holy grail algorithms, well that will depend on your camera.
With your Z8 I wouldn’t worry about them and just use the 24hr EV
The sunrise/sunset ones I really only found useful for a DSLR as they only ramp one direction, say sunrise only or sunset only etc.
Which works well for a DSLR as their light meter goes haywire at sunset and those ramping algorithms give them a good ramp.
The 24HR EV ramps both directions and works perfect for mirrorless as they have on sensor light metering.
On my Z6 and Z6ii it works perfect so that’s what I use all the time
With your Z8 I wouldn’t worry about them and just use the 24hr EV
The sunrise/sunset ones I really only found useful for a DSLR as they only ramp one direction, say sunrise only or sunset only etc.
Which works well for a DSLR as their light meter goes haywire at sunset and those ramping algorithms give them a good ramp.
The 24HR EV ramps both directions and works perfect for mirrorless as they have on sensor light metering.
On my Z6 and Z6ii it works perfect so that’s what I use all the time