Testing the time-lapse (intervalometer) feature



Load the script 'time_lapse.bas'.
The default parameter settings produce a delay of 10 seconds and then take 3 photos at 5 second intervals.
For these tests we are pressing the shutter button unless stated otherwise.

Single shots, no bracketing.



For the following, make sure camera is in ordinary, single-shot mode.
If not, a warning message will be displayed and the script will end.

A) Default script
Start the script. After 10 sec delay, 3 photos at 5 sec intervals taken.
Press shutter to finish, press ALT button to exit.

B) Endless mode
Set 'endless mode' parameter to '1' and start script.
Press shutter button to stop script and ALT to exit.
Set 'endless mode' parameter to '0'

C) Single shots with screen blank
Set 'blank screen' to '1' and start script.
The initial countdown will be displayed and the screen will blank after the first exposure.
This may not work on all cameras.

D) Single shots with interval longer than 10 secs and with screen blank

Set 'shoot interval second' to 15 and start script.
LED will flash every 10 secs to show script is running.

E) Single shots with auto-shutdown

Set 'blank screen' to '0' and 'shutdown' to '1'. Start script.
Camera will shutdown on completion.
This may not work on all cameras.

F) Single shots with USB start and auto shutdown

This could be used with a kite, model aeroplane or balloon.
Connect your USB switch,set 'shutdown' to '2'and start script.
Press USB switch to start sequence.
Camera will shutdown on completion.
This may not work on all cameras.

G) Single shots with USB start and USB shutdown

This could be used with a kite, model aeroplane or balloon.
Set 'endless mode' parameter to '1' and start script.
Press USB switch to start sequence.
Press USB switch to stop sequence.
Camera will shutdown after next shot is taken.
This may not work on all cameras.

H) Single shots with USB start,USB shutdown and blank screen

This could be used with a kite, model aeroplane or balloon.
Set 'blank screen' to '1' and start script.
Press USB switch to start sequence.
Press USB switch to stop sequence.
Camera will shutdown after next shot is taken.
This may not work on all cameras.
Set 'blank screen','shutdown' and 'endless mode' to '0'.

I) Long exposures

Although it is up to the user to set a suitable interval between shots, SDM enforces a minimum interval if necessary.
For exposures up to 0.5 sec, the minimum one second shooting-interval may be used.
For exposures 0.6 to 1 second, a minimum interval of two seconds is set.
For exposures longer than one second, the minimum interval is 4x the shutter speed.
e.g for 1.3 sec the interval will be 5 seconds (the exposure time is 1.3 + 1.3 for dark correction = 2.6 seconds).


Shots with Tv bracketing (continuous-shooting mode)



In continuous-shooting mode, bracketing is always alternate exposures (not lighter or darker).
You can set 3 to 19 bracketing exposures per shot.
If you enter an even number of bracketing exposures it will be forced to the lower odd number.
If the camera is not set to continuous-shooting, a warning message will be displayed and the script will end.
In all bracketing modes (Tv and focus) you can save the values to a file by setting script parameter 'save stack' to '1'.
If this feature is enabled, the word 'Log' will be displayed on the right of the screen.
Each bracketing sequence is assumed to take at least 2 X number-of-bracketing shots.
i.e. 3 bracketing shots are assumed to take 6 seconds.
If you try to set an interval between shots shorter than this, it will be overriden by the above value.
RAW images may take longer, you should set a suitable minimum interval.

A) Set camera to continuous-shooting mode

Set 'save stack' to '1', 'num of 1/3 EV steps' to '3', 'bracket exposures' to '3', 'single/cont/timer' to '1'.
Start script.
On completion, the approximate time required for one bracketing sequence will be indicated.
This is particularly useful when doing auto focus-bracketing.
In the CHDK/STACKS folder there will be a text file showing the Tv settings used for the bracketing sequence.


Shots with Focus bracketing (continuous-shooting mode)



As well as being in continuous-shooting mode, you have to be in a mode that allows focus override.
On some cameras, that is manual-focusing mode. If necessary, set that mode now.
In order to record the correct aperture-value in the text file, half-press the shutter button.
This is easy to forget !

A) Equal-step focus bracketing

Set 'bracket tv/focus' to '1'.
If you are in a suitable focus-override mode and continuous shooting is set, you will see 'DB' (distance bracketing) and 'CONT' (continuous)
displayed at top left of the screen when the script runs.
The default step-size is set to 50mm so to see any effect (and prove second image is at a different focus to first), you
should now focus on something about 50mm away if using wide-angle or set maximum zoom and focus on about 250mm.
Start script. While the focus-bracketing is taking place, the focused distance is displayed at top right of screen.
In the CHDK/STACKS folder there will be a text file showing the focus settings used for the bracketing sequence.

B) Digiscope bracketing

Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '2'.
This feature really needs testing on a camera attached to a spotting telescope.
The reference focus distance is about 500mm (the location of the virtual image) and fairly small focus-steps are made.
It may be difficult to see the effect of focus change if you simply point the camera at a subject 500mm away.
Start script.
The camera will zoom to the position set in the Advanced/Digiscoping menu.
In the CHDK/STACKS folder there will be a text file showing the focus settings used for the bracketing sequence.
(aperture value is not included in the text file as it cannot be determined after zooming and from a script).

C) Automatic-focus bracketing (single sequence)

Focus on the nearest object and half-press the shutter button to update the aperture value.
This is very important !
If you do not do this, SDM will use the widest-aperture value and the calculated depth-of-field may be very small.
With a wide-angle lens focused at less than 100mm the value could be less than 1mm !
SDM forces a minimum step-size of 1mm.
If you set the wide angle to f8, you can even focus as close as 20mm and the step-size will eventually be greater than 1mm.
For fewer steps, set focus to about 200mm and set aperture to f8.
In this mode, we need to know how long the auto-bracketing will take so set 'number of exposures' to '1' and 'equal/auto/digi' to '1'.
Start script. The focused-distance will be displayed at top-right.
On my A620 with wide-angle at f8 focused at 20mm, focus-step increased by 1mm until 37mm and then started to increase.
At 1/60 sec it took 38 shots in 23 seconds.
If you are stuck with 1mm steps you have forgotten to half-press the shutter button.

D) Automatic-focus bracketing (multiple sequence)

Now that you know how long a stack takes, set 'shoot interval second' to a value about 50% larger.
Set 'number of exposures' to '3' and run the script.
If the interval between the sets of exposures is long enough, you can move the camera to create a stereo pair with two different bases.
Set 'shoot interval second' to '15' before next test.


Shots with Tv bracketing (custom timer mode)



In custom-timer mode, exposure-bracketing is lighter, darker or alternating.
You can take up to 9 bracketed exposures and an odd number should be set.
In Canon menu, set shooting to custom timer, exposures to '3' and delay to '0'.

A) Lighter

Set 'number of exposures' to '3' (same as timer setting), 'single/cont/timer' to '2', 'bracket tv/focus' to '0' and 'light/dark/alternate' to '0'.
Start script.
On completion, examine the text files .. the exposures decrease by 1EV (3 x 1/3 EV) between shots.

B) Darker

Set 'light/dark/alternate' to '1' and repeat above.
On completion, examine the text files .. the exposures increase by 1EV (3 x 1/3 EV) between shots.

C) Alternating

Set 'light/dark/alternate' to '2' and repeat above.
On completion, examine the text files .. the exposures alternate by 1EV (3 x 1/3 EV) between shots.


Shots with Focus bracketing (custom timer mode)



Set camera to a mode where focus can be overriden.

A) Equal-step focus bracketing
Set 'bracket Tv/focus' to '1' and 'equal/auto/digi' to '0'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.

B) Digiscope bracketing
Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '2'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.

C) Automatic-focus bracketing

Focus on the nearest object and half-press the shutter button to update the aperture value.
This is very important !
With the wide-angle at f8 and focused on about 250mm, the third exposure will probably reach infinity.
Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '1'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.



Shots with Focus bracketing (continuous mode) and Tv override.



This mode allows you to create multiple focus stacks, each with a different exposure.
The focus-merged stacks may then be exposure-merged or used for HDR.
As usual, the number of exposures for the focus stack should be between 3 and 19 for equal-step or digiscope bracketing.
It is preferable to use auto-stack option after you have determined how long a single focus + Tv override cycle takes.
You may then enter a suitable shooting interval for multiple shots.
Set camera to a mode where focus can be overriden.
Set camera to continuous-shooting mode.
In script, set 'number of exposures' to '1' , 'single/cont/timer' to '1' and 'focus exposures' to '3'.
In this mode, shutter-speed is an override value that is applied to each separate stack, it is not a bracketing value.
So, 'Tv exposures' can be set to anything, including an even number. For now, set it to '3',
Each shot will consist of a three-exposure stack repeated at three different Tv values = 9 images per 'shot'.
Set 'bracket Tv/focus/both' to '2'.
In continuous mode, exposures are always alternating so the value set in 'light/dark/alternate' is ignored.

A) Equal-step focus bracketing

Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '0' for equal-step focus bracketing.
Exit ALT mode and run the script.
If you enabled saving stacks, in the STACKS folder there will be three text files, one for each exposure.

B) Digiscope bracketing

Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '2'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.

C) Automatic-focus bracketing

Focus on the nearest object and half-press the shutter button to update the aperture value.
This is very important !
With the wide-angle at f8 and focused on about 250mm.
Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '1'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.
Wider apertures and longer focal-lengths will create more images per stack.



Shots with Focus bracketing (custom timer mode) and Tv override



Set camera to custom timer shooting mode and set 3 exposures in timer menu.
That is the number of focus-bracket images per stack regardless of the 'focus exposures' setting.
Nevertheless, set 'focus exposures' to the same value as it is used for certain checks.
Set 'single/cont/timer' to '2'.
'Tv exposures' can be set to anything, including an even number. For now, set it to '3'

A) Equal-step focus bracketing

Set 'bracket Tv/focus' to '1' and 'equal/auto/digi' to '0'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.

B) Digiscope bracketing

Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '2'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.

C) Automatic-focus bracketing

Focus on the nearest object and half-press the shutter button to update the aperture value.
This is very important !
With the wide-angle at f8 and focused on about 250mm, the third exposure will probably reach infinity.
Set 'equal/auto/digi' to '1'.
Start script. On completion, examine text files.
Wider apertures and longer focal-lengths will create more images per stack.