Does anybody have an example a video recorded from a camera mounted on the merlin while panning backwards and forwards I would really like to see an example of the smoothness in panning. If you don't have an example could you tell me if it is a completely smooth pan or does it make micro steps that may be picked up if used with a video camera.

Also could you tell me the speed of rotation that is possible on its fastest and slowest settings either in degs per sec or how long it takes to move say 90 degs, just using the controller not papywizard. I have downloaded the manual but it doesn't state the speed.

Thanks for any advice

The speed factor in the manual is based on the sideral rate. At x1 the head moves 15 degrees/hour, x4 = 60degrees/hour etc.

I've done a quick test using the HD video capabiltiy on the Canon 7D and I can't see any evidence of microstepping in the video.

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http://www.photosbykev.com

I use an EX3, I tried also with the 5D (sky at night). I've being shooting all week TL sunrises and sunsets but also just real time tests, with different speeds (4x, 8x etc. as my head for some reason on the 1x speed stops after 45º). I'm pretty sure that is also usable for macro
Until now, being in the rush in the morning, I had to use the handset as the BT connection was sometime fiddling due to the OS 10.6.2 that needs a dongle and sometime is not working immediately (10.5 works without dongle OK). I am very happy with the Merlin mount, PW and the PW BT and all the help I'm getting from this forum and the people behind it, having being a videographer for the past 30 years, I can say that it is very smooth, although sometime can backlash but this would not be a problem in a controlled, repeatable environment. I still have all the footage on the SxS card but I will put it on disk this week.

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Bruno
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Merlin mount, Sony EX3 with Adaptimax and some Nikon lenses, Canon 60D with some Canon & Tokina lenses, etc. PapyWizard on MBP 17" 2.93 GHz, OS 10.6.6

Thanks for the replies

So to confirm my understanding of the speed of pan settings.... the manual says cruise with a slew speed setting of

"fast" is 800x the sidereal rate so... 800 x 15 degs per hour = 12000 degs per hour /60 min = 200 degs per min

"slow" is 64x the sidereal rate so 64 x 15 degs per hour = 960 degs per hour /60min = 16 degs per min

Does this sound like it confirms what you have seen in practice

Thanks again for any information

The "official" figures are:
"Sideral" is 1° every 4 minutes = 15 ° per hours

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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

With Tracking ON i.e press Guide + Slow together, then press Guide only the head tracks at 15 degrees/hour I can confirm this from a 2hr timelapse I shot yesterday. A previous timelapse on x4 did take approx. 1/4 of the time to cover the same angle

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http://www.photosbykev.com

thanks for the replies

With Tracking ON (Guide + Slow together) and a peg keeping one of the arrows down, the speed with guide flashing is twice the sidereal speed: 30º/Hr.

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Bruno
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Merlin mount, Sony EX3 with Adaptimax and some Nikon lenses, Canon 60D with some Canon & Tokina lenses, etc. PapyWizard on MBP 17" 2.93 GHz, OS 10.6.6

"Anacronia", part of a choreographic installation, a timelapse in 2 times done last summer with the Merlin:
http://vimeo.com/15659190

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Bruno
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Merlin mount, Sony EX3 with Adaptimax and some Nikon lenses, Canon 60D with some Canon & Tokina lenses, etc. PapyWizard on MBP 17" 2.93 GHz, OS 10.6.6

Beautifull Bruno !

A little bit long but beautifull !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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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

thanks Claude, yes I know it is long but you need to be relaxed to enjoy it.... now I would like to try the latest version of PW and use a bezier preset for a stop-motion animation video clip, lets see...

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Bruno
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Merlin mount, Sony EX3 with Adaptimax and some Nikon lenses, Canon 60D with some Canon & Tokina lenses, etc. PapyWizard on MBP 17" 2.93 GHz, OS 10.6.6

this is not a TL, I'm using the Merlin here as a "computerized motion control" short clip of Jerusalem view (it's a very compressed file but is visible)
http://vimeo.com/19992800

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Bruno
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Merlin mount, Sony EX3 with Adaptimax and some Nikon lenses, Canon 60D with some Canon & Tokina lenses, etc. PapyWizard on MBP 17" 2.93 GHz, OS 10.6.6