geko5766 wrote:

Hello all,

I really would like to jumo into motorized panoshooting. But there are stll many questions , that maybe you might answer:

I'll try.

1.) Can I use the Papywizard with my Pentax K7 ?

Yes. What is the dimension betwenn the base of the camera and the centre of the lens mount? Depending on this dinmension you may require modifications to mount the camera at the No Parallax Point (NPP).

I note that the K7 works with both IR and wired remotes. You will need a suitable cable (or IR device) to have the Merlin head trigger the shutter under the control of the Paywizard software.

This Chinese clone of the Pentax CS-205 wired remote might work OK since it seems to have a socket on the side to which you could connect the cable that comes with the Merlin head:
http://tiny.cc/BaTGW

Or, if you prefer an IR shutter trigger, then the Pentax F variant of the gentled Jump should work OK:
http://www.gentles.ltd.uk/gentled/options.htm#IRjump

2 Do I need one of these nokia smartphone to use bluetooth (or a notebook)?

The Papywizard software runs on Nokia N800 and N810 Internet tablets (which are NOT phones), Windows 2000/XP and 7, Mac OSX 10.6, and Linux. The Nokia Internet tablets and Windows XP/7 are the easiest to install and configure for a Bluetooth connection between Papywizard and the Merlin head.

3.) Can the Merlin head be programmed and started manually??

I don't understand what you mean. To use the Merlin mount as a motorised pano head it is controlled using the Papywizard software running on any of the platforms mentioned above. The Merlin mount is 'dumb'; all the smarts are in the software.

Sorry to bother you, but the information found can´t help me to clarify these open points.

Does this help?

Last edited by mediavets (2010-01-31 20:05:11)

geko5766 wrote:

Hello Andrew,

thanks for the first reply. Unfortunatelly I am a liitle confused again.

I would like to use IR, because I am not good in soldering. If I get it right, I would have to buy a gentles jump, this item can be connected to the merlin head via cable (as a trigger connected to A) and release the camera via IR. I hope this is good ;-)

With the Chinese clone type wired remote you should not need to have to do any soldering. It seems to have a socket on the side to which you could connect the cable supplied with the Merlin.

But if you feel happier with the IR solution then yes, you have understood correctly. The gentled-Jump is connected to the Merlin head using the cable supplied with the Merlin. I use the Nikon-compatible variant of the gentled-Jump with my D40.
Update Feb 1, 2010: You don't need a special cable or an IR device - you can use the regular camera cable supplied with the Merlin head.

The dimension between base and centre of the lens is 40-43 mm.

The it should fit fine, either with no modification or with a simple mod.

So I do use either a tablet like Nokia, but a laptop works too. I think I shall have to invest in the older model of the nokia ;-)

Yes, you could use either a Nokia tablet, or a laptop/netbook running Windows.
The Nokia N800 is fine for Papywizard. It's an old model now and fairly easy to find on eBay for a reasonable price.

As I understand from the website from the Austrian shop, there seems to be a hadle you can insert data to steer the head ??? That is what I understood, but I might be wrong.

The hand controller can indeed be used to move the head but when using the head for pano photography you remove the hand controller and connect a Bluetooth module in its place.

There are two models of the Merlin head. The original 'basic' model which is just fine for pano shooting with Papywizard, and a more expensive 'Go To' model which has additional capabilities related to astronomy useage which have no value for pano shooting. Be aware that the 'Go To' model is more expensive and lacks the connector for the camera shutter control cable; it can be used with Papywizard but you need a special more costly Bluetooth adapter from Teleskop Austria.

If you choose the 'basic' model of the Merlin I recommend the much less costly Bluetooth adapter from ClaudeVH - the Deltawave PapyMerlin BT module:
http://www.papymerlin.com/

Last edited by mediavets (2010-02-01 11:21:16)

geko5766 wrote:

Hello Andrew,

thanks for the first reply. Unfortunatelly I am a liitle confused again.

I would like to use IR, because I am not good in soldering.

Update Feb 1, 2010: You don't need a special cable or an IR device - you can use the regular camera cable supplied with the Merlin head.

The dimension between base and centre of the lens is 40-43 mm.

Then it should fit fine, either with no modification or with a simple mod.

So I do use either a tablet like Nokia, but a laptop works too. I think I shall have to invest in the older model of the nokia ;-)

Yes, you could use either a Nokia tablet, or a laptop/netbook running Windows.
The Nokia N800 is fine for Papywizard. It's an old model now and fairly easy to find on eBay for a reasonable price.

As I understand from the website from the Austrian shop, there seems to be a hadle you can insert data to steer the head ??? That is what I understood, but I might be wrong.

The hand controller can indeed be used to move the head but when using the head for pano photography you remove the hand controller and connect a Bluetooth module in its place.

There are two models of the Merlin head. The original 'basic' model which is just fine for pano shooting with Papywizard, and a more expensive 'Go To' model which has additional capabilities related to astronomy useage which have no value for pano shooting. Be aware that the 'Go To' model is more expensive and lacks the connector for the camera shutter control cable; it can be used with Papywizard but you need a special more costly Bluetooth adapter from Teleskop Austria.

If you choose the 'basic' model of the Merlin I recommend the much less costly Bluetooth adapter from ClaudeVH - the Deltawave PapyMerlin BT module:
http://www.papymerlin.com/

Last edited by mediavets (2010-02-01 11:19:28)

Hello Georg,

Before that you buy a Hahnel release, you can have a look on the remote connector of your Pentax ...
I believe that tis one is "like" a micro female stereo plug of 2,5 mm diameter   ....

In this case you don't need a Hahnel because the "original cable camera release" of the Merlin will FIT DIRECTLY into your Pentax K7 ...

THX AGAIN!!

Private thx posted already ;-))



Greetings
Georg

claudevh wrote:

Hello Georg

URGENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS CONFIRMED, THE ORIGINAL REMOTE CAMERA RELEASE CABLE OF THE MELIN FIT DIRECTLY TO YOUR PENTAX K7 !!!!

purduephotog wrote:

OK, so if I understand this correctly, in order to start fresh (which is what he's doing with his Pentax) I will need:

1) A Merlin SW-90MAK-MM setup (might as well get the reflector) - 200$ USD
2) A Nokia or other type of bluetooth tablet - 100$ USD
3) Some sort of bluetooth interface-150$ USD
4) ??? mounting plates?  Cost?  Sales locations?

What else am I missing?

I really would like to grab the telescope because at the price it's at it's very inexpensive, and I certainly could use it for some shots- but (as you all can attest to) money is always tight.

Thanks in advance-

So what camera and lens(es) do you hope/plan to use on the Merlin head?

What type of panos do you wish to shoot - sphericals or mosaic (partial) panos?

Where are you located?

claudevh wrote:

Hello "purduephotog",

Welcome on board !

Could-you inform us about :

- Where do-you live ... country ...
- Where do you want to buy the devices for witch you give those references ... so we can have a look and be able to give "practical" inputs ! Mainly " Merlin SW-90MAK-MM" and "bluetooth interface" (URL's)
- Informations as allready asked by "Mediavets"

Don't buy before we become able to give you correct informations !

Have a nice day

PS:
1. If the "Merlin SW-90MAK-MM" come from herafter, this the right one AND this has the right firmware ! but hurry this is the end of a "fall" promotion ... !
http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=12364
2. Please provide anyway the "URL" for the "bluetooth interface" (the price you indicate is "MUCH too HIGH")
and the camera type and lenses you intent to use and for what purpose (Spherical Pano, Gigapixels, both ?)

Hi Claude-

USA here- I've been watching the Merlin at Optcorp- I would buy it right now but we're facing layoffs at work... and 200$ buys food for the family.  So until I know I'm safe, I can't risk it

The bluetooth interface was for the Ursla? module which was listed on their website for approximately that price (I may have converted Euros to USD by 1.5X multiplier)

As for what I shoot- pretty much everything.  I have quite a few different interests- I was just in Little Rock, Arkansas and photographed the inside of the court house by hand. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9 … =866410407

I've never gotten a spherical to stitch in any software package- and when I ran the beta on this one it tanked dozens of times while trying to render some simple panos... so I've sort of avoided APP since then.  I can load up the trial again on the test linux box and see if it does any better this next time.

When I travel for work I usually hit the scenery- but there may not be so much anymore, so I may end up using the head for regular old time lapse photos.

Not too specific am I?

purduephotog wrote:

As for what I shoot- pretty much everything.  I have quite a few different interests- I was just in Little Rock, Arkansas and photographed the inside of the court house by hand. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9 … =866410407

I've never gotten a spherical to stitch in any software package- and when I ran the beta on this one it tanked dozens of times while trying to render some simple panos... so I've sort of avoided APP since then.  I can load up the trial again on the test linux box and see if it does any better this next time.

Can be done by hand - using the AF-fields as markers. I did this one some years ago using an early version of APP:

http://www.klausesser.de/PlatzVR.html  (shockwave/Flash)
http://www.klausesser.de/Platz.mov  (Quicktime)

Canon 20D, manual Nikon 20mm AIs lens, about 52 shots.
Was my first hand-shot spherical pano.

best, Klaus