*** IMPORTANT ***

[zigazaga]

I would love to dispense with my shutter release cable - if only there was an option to "keep pressed" like there is a physical lock on any shutter release. So that I can more than "fire like crazy" - so that the shutter is constantly down - until I switch off the camera - not necessary but for geeks could have a timer - or maybe could have a reverse wake-up by pressing a(ny) button... Am I making myself clear? It's like the bulb mode but keeps taking 5 or 20 second or whatever length hi rez photos continually. Please forgive and inform me if this is already possible. I would prefer not to use a cable release at all if possible. Is it? For for filming in movie mode I still like to use it - and thanks for making the half shutter press rec. possible. Canon should have given us a "trim off first and last second" option if we were expected to press that awkwardly placed movie record button. You guys should have a flowchart for a ML "quick guide" to the 60D, for example. Like first things worth checking. I'm still puzzling over the options - can I increase the quality of my films and stills is y probably obvious first question. How fast an SD card to buy to justify what ML can do for the 60D. Or am I even correct in thinking that movie quality will be better if pushed by ML???

[kihlbahkt]

I cant really assist with most the questions and comments in your post but I do have some Tips for posting...The subject line should address the feature request you want and the Body should be focused on the request. You also crammed in a bunch of questions. You might get a better response in this forum if you separate out requests and questions into appropriate posts. That being said, you can post however you want, but having been on this forum for awhile, posts like this often don't get very far.

[zigazaga]

Ah, thanks very much! If you are not actually able to answer any of my questions, then for the equal amount of bother it took you to compose your reply to my post, could you not forward it to someone whom you know and who may be able to provide me a competent response. Please!

Let me try again, anyways

Can ML be programmed to emulate the shutter lock on a cable release - as in continuous shutter press.

That's simpler.

[dmilligan]

Can ML be programmed to emulate the shutter lock on a cable release - as in continuous shutter press.

Yes. Set the intervalometer to "like crazy". It will be exactly the same as locking the shutter. It simply takes continuous pictures as fast as it can => same as holding down the shutter.

And I've already told you this.

[Levas]

A piece of chewing gum on the shutter button might also do the trick 

[zigazaga]

Yes. Set the intervalometer to "like crazy". It will be exactly the same as locking the shutter.

It's the first thing I tried having installed ML on my 60D - and it's not exactly the same. I shoot in manual with live view on, and there is a longer delay with "crazy" - i.e. my live view lights up after every exposure before firing again. With a cable attached and button down it doesn't waste any time or battery between exposures, lighting up the live view, not even for a brief moment. I realise it's not much of a delay, but having a "hold down" option would just be more elegant for anyone filming in this manner - e.g. omitting as little time between exposures as possible. I'm sure the live view coming up between each exposure also drains the battery more. I'd rather not have a physical cable if I'm going to mount it on my Honda, and would love to see a tiny little option added for "hold down shutter" in the itervalometer section, it being one of the most basic functions of any intervalometer simply hold it down, without that annoying live view kicking in after every exposure.

[walter_schulz]

Well, I used the following setup on my bike:
Tripod (folded) fixed to bike beyond seats. Lens zoom and focal ring secured by gaffer tape. Mounts secured with more tape. Remote trigger attached to left handle. Button actuated by index finger. Cable extension between trigger and cam. Lots of tape involved.
Works like a charm.
Oh, and don't forget to protect front lens element with a clear glass "filter". And controlling for attached flies ...

[a1ex]

It's the first thing I tried having installed ML on my 60D - and it's not exactly the same.

Proof please (comparison video).

[zigazaga]

Proof please (comparison video).

I swear to speak nothing but the truth, your honour!

Proof that my 60D keeps flashing up live view after each exposure, which doesn't happen with a physical cable release locked down? I can film it, but please just consider adding "hold shutter down" in the intervalometer section - it's the second most basic function of any cable release gadget - it's what the big button can do on any intervalometer - press it and lock it in the down position. It isn't the same as "take pics like crazy" - I can film it for sure, if you really want me to.

[a1ex]

Found the bug. Set "stop after" to some nonzero value and it will work.

[zigazaga]

Well, I used the following setup on my bike:
Tripod (folded) fixed to bike beyond seats. Lens zoom and focal ring secured by gaffer tape. Mounts secured with more tape. Remote trigger attached to left handle. Button actuated by index finger. Cable extension between trigger and cam. Lots of tape involved.
Works like a charm.
Oh, and don't forget to protect front lens element with a clear glass "filter". And controlling for attached flies ...

Tripod fixed beyond seats!? On which bike model? Well, I have a manfrotto super clamp - with a smallish ballhead and bought some steel cables and half-rings to attach to camera for reassurance. I ride a Honda PCX and it attaches perfectly to the chrome handle-bars - can't think of anywhere else. Now I gotta buy another silly overpriced UV filter just for protection, of course. But I have a Z-pro 10x10 filter adapter on my lenses almost permanently, so couldn't I just get some clear material in the art shop to cut to 10x10cm and tape it onto the holder.  Maybe not...

[walter_schulz]

Tripod fixed beyond seats!? On which bike model?

Fixed as fixed for transport (aligned with horizon) with some foam attached to reduce vibrations.
Bike is a Suzuki Bandit GSF650. Those have a single handle behind the seat.

I would buy a B+W 007 (clear glass) XS-PRO with nano coating in 77 mm + some reduction rings. About 65 Euro for the "filter" in Germany.

And for the mounts: Fix *everything* with gaffer tape! Super-clamp? Well ... fix everything *twice*!

[zigazaga]

Found the bug. Set "stop after" to some nonzero value and it will work.

I have it set to "stop after 100" and the frame rate and performance is completely different than when I have a physical cable locked down for continuous shooting. I have filmed it on my cheap and nasty phone and uploading to youtube now for illustration purposes.

Why not have "hold down" as a basic intervalometer function? isn't anyone going to confirm that "take pics like crazy" doesn't work in the same way? I will post youtube link asap if that's what it takes to present my case.

[a1ex]

It works exactly the way you asked.

Proof:

Code Select Expand


        // continuous mode - simply hold shutter pressed
        int f0 = get_shooting_card()->file_number;
        SW1(1,100);
        SW2(1,100);
        while (MOD(f0 + number - get_shooting_card()->file_number + 10, 10000) > 10 && get_halfshutter_pressed()) {
            msleep(10);
        }
        SW2(0,100);
        SW1(0,100);


Tested.

[zigazaga]

It works exactly the way you asked.

Can you please stop telling me that it works! It doesn't!!!!!!

I get a different behaviour and a different frame rate - look! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hnxpOvdui0

[a1ex]

Care to post a valid link and stop shouting?

[walter_schulz]

Link seems to be valid but access permission sucks.

[zigazaga]

ok, i just got back in. they've changed the youtube interface as well... programmers...

http://youtu.be/-hnxpOvdui0

[a1ex]

Make sure you use a recent version, not one that is 2 years old.

http://builds.magiclantern.fm/

[walter_schulz]

Offtopic: http://saynotoverticalvideos.com/

[zigazaga]

Make sure you use a recent version, not one that is 2 years old.

Was presented to me as the last stable build - wasn't told it's 2 years out of date, besides didn't think it would matter for something as basic as emulating the simplest of functions of a basic cable release... But ok, thank you so kindly for the suggestion, you do believe it will fix it, right? Ok, then I will update it again sincerely hoping that the new one really does the one single thing that I can see being of practical use to me.

Unless there is anything else that I'm not aware of for time lapses, which is what I do. I never use an intervalometer so that's of no actual interest to me, but would be interested to see if I can improve live video quality, which often comes out quite clipped...

[zigazaga]

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that many find ML features absolutely dazzling, sophisticated, refined and impressive. But after all that tinkering - so far I've only discovered that it doesn't do the only one simple thing that would be useful to me - please kindly consider the paradoxical aspect of this user's experience, and I don't mean you as a person, I think it's typical of programmers in general... blind to the basic and the obvious while pursuing an increasing level of complexity... sigh... I promise to tell you if the latest build really fixes that...

In other wwords - thank you again - I have one more "geek" question -  I had to specially "bless" my 64gb sd card to make ML run off it using EOSCard utility. Can I just replace the existing files or do i need to use EOSCard again to put this latest build of ML onto this 64gb card with the ancient 2 year old version? I kind of expected EOScard to just put the latest ML on my card off the net, quite frankly... I'm anxious to make my ML experience as painless as possible. thank you so much for your understanding!

[walter_schulz]

Format card using PC/Mac.
Insert card to cam, format again.
Insert card into cardreader (PC/Mac again).
Download latest nightly, extract contents.
Copy extracted contents to card.
Insert card into cam and run firmware update. Follow instruction and don't let the cam unattended because it will remove ML when timeout runs off.

[zigazaga]

Make sure you use a recent version, not one that is 2 years old.

Ok, I got the nightly installed and it works faster now, but only as long as it's set to a value, not when "disabled", like you said - then it still goes 2x slower than my cable release. So far so good. But, let's say, in theory - could there be a simple "hold down shutter" code, rather than take pics like crazy. I'm wary if there are other instances where it wouldn't do exactly what a cable release does due to the code being too sophisticated.

I will keep looking for other features to like about ML. WB expansion is very useful, especially with filters, so that's great. what else do you or anyone else recommend for one making time lapses and a bit of film? Can quality be significantly improved, using this latest build? dynamic range for films and/or stills?

[zigazaga]

Fixed as fixed for transport (aligned with horizon) with some foam attached to reduce vibrations.
Bike is a Suzuki Bandit GSF650. Those have a single handle behind the seat.

I'm struggling to visualise your set-up. Was the camera pointing backwards, a tripod fixed to that rear bar where the passenger holds onto? About foam... I need to think about that, too... It would loosen the grip of my manfrotto clamp... maybe i can live with the vibration - long exposures often cancel it out... So where did you attach the foam...!?

I would buy a B+W 007 (clear glass) XS-PRO with nano coating in 77 mm + some reduction rings. About 65 Euro for the "filter" in Germany.

For that price I can get another 50mm lens :-) + i don't expect many rocks to be flying around the streets of London, god forbid! Lol.

And for the mounts: Fix *everything* with gaffer tape! Super-clamp? Well ... fix everything *twice*!

Always all these things to remember and not lose... BTW - what features have you found the most useful in ML?

[Audionut]

You may want to consider that developers have a very good understanding of the software they development.  So when a developer tells you that something works as expected, but you find that it apparently does not, you may want to consider the possibility that you are missing something, doing something wrong, or otherwise look at yourself for blame, before flying off the handle.

As an example, you could change this quote.

Can you please stop telling me that it works! It doesn't!!!!!!

I get a different behaviour and a different frame rate - look! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hnxpOvdui0

Into something like so.

Hey a1ex, I've tested the functionality you requested, and I am still experiencing issues.  Here is a video showing the issue, can you please advise further?

Notice how much more polite and respectful this is to the developer who spent his free time to develop these wonderful features.



Also, do not flag your threads with useless titles, in all capitals.  This is simply rude.  Read this entire web page before posting here again.

[zigazaga]

it was a simple enough question and i feel i could reasonably expected to have it answered in a much more helpful and much less patronising manner. but thank you.