Hi,

I couldn't find the answer in the previous posts..so I ask it here:

Can the panogear be used for astro photography? I would like to shoot night sky panorama. The panogear will handle the pano part, but will it handle the long exposure? What I mean is that, will the head keep moving to follow the earth rotation? I know that the Merlin head was supposed to do just that when it was built, but I don't know if it's now possible as it has been customized for panography.

Thanks.

I'd like to know this too! I think it would require something like this to be accurate enough for long exposures though:
http://www.ursaminor.hu/bluetooth_interface_en.html

I never could get mine to interface with Stellarium.

At least, Papywizard does not handle this application; triggering shutter is only done after a move, not during a move...

But if you use the original hand controller (which comes with the Panogear as with Merlin/Orion), you can still use the original features.

_________________
Frédéric

Canon 20D + 17-40/f4 L USM + 70-200/f4 L USM + 50/f1.4 USM
Merlin/Orion panohead + Papywizard on Nokia N800 and HP TC-1100

Hi,

So, if I understand correctly; the panogear can be used either for panorama photography, either for astrophotography, but not both at the same time?

Thanks.

The Panogear can - but you need two different controllers. It´s sold as a device for photography.

Klaus

_________________
Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance. Coco Chanel

Hello Nidrig,

All is depending of what you understand as "astrophotography" ...
In principle "astrophotography" is :

"Astrophotography is a specialized type of photography that entails recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky"

The answer to your question according the above definition is YES !

But you must in this case use the hand controler delivered with the Panogear/Merlin head.

Papywizard can help you to shoot some night photography and or night timelapse ...

Have a look on the next subjetc:
http://www.kolor.com/forum/f42-timelapse-and-related-applications

and some real exemples:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nenmhAEjFHs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRv7U-cTDow

_________________
Claude
Merlin + Papywizard on Windows 7 & Nokia 770 § N810 & Acer (Netbook) + PanoramaApp Androïd + Deltawave PapyMerlin BT + Autopano
Spherical Pano (180 x 360) with Canon 40D + Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 Zoom & Pôle Pano with Canon 5D MK2 and shaved Tokina 10-17 3.5-4.5 AF DX Fisheye
Gigapixel photography with Nikon D200 + Sigma 70-200 F 2.8 EX DG APO HSM

Hello,

I try to use the Panogear with the hand controller and I choose speed 1 (Documentation says 1 rotation in 24hour). But in fact, the speed was 1 rotation in 5'. So, it'snt possible to use Panogear as astrophotography. Don't know what Kolor change...

Herafter a exemple of a "Night/Day" timelapse wich has been done with a Merlin head ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0pQ9GJXQuY
In this video, most of the Night timelapse is realized at "sidereal speed"
Have a look on the comments of AirPlay...

To enter sidereal speed (speed 1), you must use Speed 1 BUT with "traking" activated !
Please have a look on page 8 of the manual:
http://www.papymerlin.com/app/download/1719271916/TeleTrack+9441+Rev+C.pdf?t=1245361296

Claude

Hi
anyone tested skysafari with panogear + pappymerlin bluetooth (connected directly without goto hand controller)? I can't connect. Probably papymerlin is not supported.
http://skysafariastronomy.com/products/ ... index.html

But ... here are compatibile scopes http://www.southernstars.com/products/s ... ntrol.html and is described "SkyWatcher mounts with SynScan controllers" Maybe that is the problem.
I connect papymerlin as usually - directly to panogear, but I have also synscan goto controller.
Can I connect goto hand controller to panogear and papymerlin to hand controller like here viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16056 (note it is not papymerlin)?

I think you may need a Buetooth-RS232 device, rather than the Papymerlin which is a Bluetooth-TTL device.

I have been looking for a way to shoot the milky way and may end up buying this device
http://www.vixenoptics.com/mounts/polarie.html
It's yet another device but it's made for this purpose

leifs

The Polarie is a good choice ...

If you can also find a Synscan Hand Controler for the Merlin/Panogear, this will do the job too but this is also expensive (+/- 190Euros) and VERY difficult to find one with the right Merlin/Panogear connector:
exemple :
http://www.astroshop.eu/controls-with-goto/skywatcher-synscan-goto-handcontroller/p,8364

Claude

Last minute update ..

Just coming out ...
A Android application "SkySafari 4 plus just come out"
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simulationcurriculum.skysafari4plus
This one is normaly able to control the Merlin/Panogear via Bluetooth or Wifi.
I will install and test with the Merlin and the PapyMerlin BT module ...
I will come back in 2-3 days with practical results.
Claude

Hello Leif,

Do-you have the hand controler of the Merlin/Panogear ?

Wich one ?
-the small one
-the Az Syinscan (big one with small screen ?

You have simple way to take pictures of the MilkyWay (just with your camera), the only condition is to limit the pose to 30 Sec maximum !
See the next link:
https://improvephotography.com/5955/how-to-photograph-the-milky-way/
or more in details:
http://www.lonelyspeck.com/how-to-make-an-amazing-photo-of-the-milky-way-galaxy/
http://www.lonelyspeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/nightscapes-quick-guide.pdf

Claude

Hi

No, I don't have the hand controller.
I have a Merlin stoved away with the bluetooth adapter from the time I tried to use it with a Nokia N900. I gave up and bought me a Seitz VRdrive2.
The VRdrive is superb but it can't do astrophotography (afaik).

I'm also gearing up for the total solar eclipse on Ferøyane 20th march 2015
Polarie can do that too.

Leif

Claude - did you test it?

Yes Mateusz but I get problems ...
The program say "BT connexion is established, but the head doesn't respond to the program".
I suspect some wiring problems with the BT module who use a unique wire for the TX and RX signals ... (half duplex communication)
This give no problems with Papywizard and PandroidWiz.
I should take some time to modify the BT wiring of my PapyMerlin BT, but I have no this time at the moment...

Sorry, I will come back with some results when availlable.

Claude