User Manual for the Self Levelling Mount

type SLM9

For the Canon 80D

SLM9-UM-3.0

Delta-T Devices Ltd

Notices Copyright All rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, this manual may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Delta-T Devices Ltd. Under the law, copying includes translation into another language. Copyright © 2016 Delta-T Devices Limited. Design Changes Delta-T Devices reserves the right to change the designs and specifications of its products at any time without prior notice. Author: Nick Webb

User Manual Version: 3.0 Dec 2016

Tel: +44 1638 742922 Delta-T Devices Ltd Fax: +44 1638 743155 130 Low Road, Burwell email: [email protected] Cambridge CB25 0EJ [email protected] UK web: www.delta-t.co.uk Contents

Introduction 4 Features 4 Overview 4 Instructions 6 Assembly Instructions 6 Quick Summary of Operation 6 Assembly of HemiView System Parts 7 Using the Canon EOS 80D 11 Taking Hemiphotos 11 Image Size and Compression 11 Camera Settings 12 12 Taking the Picture 15 Options 15 Use of Canon Remote Controls 15 Use of Smart Phones 15 Use via Wi-Fi 15 Use via USB cable 17 GPS 18 Trouble Shooting 18 Image Alignment in HemiView 19

Setting the Lens Equation in HemiView 20

Warranty and Service 21 Terms and Conditions of Sale 21 Service, Repairs and Spares 22 Technical Support 22 Contact Details: 22

SLM9 User Manual v3 Contents  3

Introduction

Features The self-levelling mount SLM9 is intended for use with either a or a monopod. It helps keep a camera and aligned to the horizon and North. This is necessary when taking hemispherical photos for use with Delta-T’s HemiView canopy analysis software. The SLM9 is designed for use with a Canon 60D, 70D or 80D digital SLR fitted with a Sigma EX DC 4.5mm F2.8 circular fisheye lens. This manual version (3) is written for the 80D. For ease of use, the mount is equipped with the following features:  Bubble level and adjustable levelling weights  Compass for North/South alignment, viewable from above or below  Markers used to align hemispherical photos in HemiView, illuminated by the camera  Optional rugged carrying case  Optional monopod or tripod

Remote image capture and Optional rugged, waterproof upload via a USB cable or carrying case via WiFi.

4  Introduction SLM9 User Manual v3 Overview

North Bubble Sigma South Gimbals marker level EXDC lens marker

Flash Fibre optics Canon Compass Tripod adapter light pipe EOS 60D

Mounting the camera Levelling adjustments

1) Locate pin 2) Tighten bolt Balance weights

SLM9 User Manual v3 Introduction  5

Instructions

Assembly Instructions Complete HemiView systems supplied by Delta-T come with camera, memory card, lens, flash assembly and self-levelling mount pre-assembled. A USB cable with an A to mini-B connector is provided for connection to a PC running the HemiView software Charge up and insert the camera battery. Mount the self-levelling mount to a camera tripod or monopod. The system is now assembled. See also Assembly of HemiView System Parts on page 7

Quick Summary of Operation 1. Mount system on a tripod or monopod. 2. Orient it to North using the compass. 3. Level it using the bubble level and balance weights. 4. Select appropriate camera settings. 5. To avoid camera wobble with the Canon 80D use the built in WiFi to remote control image capture from your PC or mobile device. 6. Use the live preview and review options in the camera, PC or mobile device, to check the image is OK. 7. Replace the cover after use. 8. Open, review, annotate, classify and sort images on your PC in Canon ZoomBrowser software, as required. 9. Process and analyse selected images in the HemiView software on your PC. For step 9 refer also to the HemiView User Manual and online help.

See also  HemiView User Manual  Canon 80D Basic Instruction Manual  Canon EOS 80D Wireless Function Instruction Manual  Canon EOS Utility Instruction (Manual for Windows)

6  Instructions SLM9 User Manual v3 Assembly of HemiView System Parts 1. If you have a tripod, attach the SLM9 Self Levelling Mount to the tripod for stability, using the tripod socket in its base. 2. Attach the Sigma EX DC fisheye lens to the camera as described in the camera and lens manuals. 3. Charge and install the camera battery as described in the camera manual. 4. Fit a memory card as described in the camera manual. 5. Set the lens to Manual and focus ring to Infinity as described in the camera and lens manuals. 6. Release the built-in flash (see the EOS 80D Manual) and slide the SLM9 flash adapter clip over it.

SLM9 User Manual v3 Instructions  7

7. Attach the camera base to the self-levelling mount 8. Remove all (i.e. both parts) of the lens cap 9. When attaching the camera, ensure that the gold line on the lens is parallel to the surface of the inner gimbal ring.

10. Push the two alignment marker fibre optic cables into the holes in the flash adapter.

8  Instructions SLM9 User Manual v3

Levelling adjustments 11. Adjust the balance weights so that the bubble indicator is within the central circle of the bubble 3 level. Tighten the thumbscrews to lock the weights (1) 1 2 and/or (2) in position.

Unlock & slide weights (1) and/or (2)

Adjust both gimbal screws (3) together to move the inner ring

3

Further adjustment in the East- 2 West direction can be made by 1 adjusting both of the inner gimbal screws (3) together. 3

SLM9 User Manual v3 Instructions  9

12. Rotate the mount to point North.

NORTH

13. Re-check the mount is level whenever you change the balance of the camera, e.g. change the battery or flashcard, or reposition the monitor.

Also check the lens alignment (see 9 above) if the camera receives a knock.

10  Instructions SLM9 User Manual v3 Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera

This is a great camera with great software. So spend some time familiarising yourself with it. The manuals can be downloaded from the Canon website.

Taking Hemiphotos The Canon EOS 80D is very capable, giving you a lot of control over the settings. This does mean that getting the right settings can be complicated. It is well worth taking some time to learn how the camera works before using it in the field. The following notes will point you towards the appropriate sections of the camera manual.

Image Size and Compression There is a trade-off between image quality and the number of images you can store on a memory card, but HemiView work usually demands the best available resolution. Using the largest image size at 6000 x 4000 a typical hemi-photo may occupy 28.9 MB if saved to file in the native Canon RAW format, which would allow you about 240 shots on an 8GB card. Lower image quality and/or image compression will increase the number of images you can store. Saving as a JPEG will give you about 940 shots. Do a trial comparison on your site to see if the image quality makes any significant difference.

Note that HemiView does not directly accept the native Canon RAW image file format, but you can convert it to a bitmap on your PC using the Canon software provided. See also the EOS 80D manual.

SLM9 User Manual v3 Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera  11

Camera Settings The optimum setting depends on the nature of the picture. We recommend the following as a starting point for new users (see Canon 80D Manual, Image Settings).

Setting Sigma Lens Manual *1 Image Quality ISO Speed *3 Auto Picture Style *3 F Faithful White Balance *3 Daylight * 2 Exposure M: Manual *3 Evaluative Expo. Comp / AEB *3 0 / none HDR Off Flash Mode M Manual * 1: Manually focus the lens to infinity, unless under a very low canopy. * 2: Varying this to find the best contrast between sky and canopy. * 3: Only available in Creative Modes P/M/Tv/Av/B Saving Settings You may fine tune your settings and save the configuration on the camera, using the camera controls. You can also configure it from your PC or mobile device using the Canon software. See also the Canon 80D User Manual and EOS software manuals

Exposure Getting the exposure right can have a significant effect on how easy it is to classify an image in HemiView, and on the accuracy results. Aim to have areas of sky at the top end of the brightness range, and areas of canopy at the lower end. Check this on your image by looking at the brightness histograms. On the Camera, select to play back the image onto the LCD monitor and toggle the INFO button to display image information, including a histogram. (It may be easier to inspect histograms on your PC, mobile or tablet using the Canon EOS software) If the image is over-exposed, the sky areas will have a tendency to spread in the final image. Under-exposure is less of a problem, but will reduce the amount of visual detail of the canopy. The camera’s automatic exposure will tend to adjust the exposure too much for very open and very closed canopies. We suggest two approaches to dealing with this.

12  Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera SLM9 User Manual v3 1 Manual Exposure

 Select the Tv: Priority AE exposure mode. Set the to, say, 1/80 second to minimise camera shake. Note the exposure values under a section of canopy with about 50% sky visible. Use the smallest hole size possible (i.e. largest f/number) to give the greatest in focus.  Set the camera to manual exposure, and set the shutter speed and aperture to these values.  Having decided on an exposure setting, (as in 1 above) press the <> button to lock the exposure. All the hemi-photos you now take will be at the same exposure setting.  Use this exposure setting for all your hemi-photos, as long as lighting conditions remain the same. The exposure meter will indicate over- exposure for open canopy, and under-exposure in closed canopies.

2 Auto Exposure

 Set the camera to Program AE (Auto Exposure) mode P.  For more open canopies, over-expose using the setting, up to the full +5.0EV for very open canopies1. See also Canon 80D user manual  For more closed canopies, under-expose, up to the full -2.0EV for mostly closed canopies.  If you have sufficient memory, try exposure bracketing to take photos with higher and lower exposures. Choose the image that gives the clearest canopy edges. Note: In the Canon 80D you have to disable the flash for AEB auto exposure bracketing to work, so the N-S markers will not light up. This is not such a problem because the North indicator is always at 9 o’clock in the image. Provided the camera is stable you can use auto-exposure bracketing (AEB) to take multiple shots (see Canon 80D user manual.) The Canon 80D also has a HDR High Dynamic Range function, and functions, which may be worth exploring – but we have little experience of their usefulness for canopy analysis. It would be necessary for the camera and canopy to be quite still.

1 This seems wrong at first. Why would you do you want to make a light picture lighter and a dark picture darker? The reason is that in auto-exposure mode the camera will compensate, darken a picture of all bright sky, and brighten a picture of an all dark canopy. That is why it is better to work in fixed, manual exposure mode if you can – but that option depends on the light being stable – which, of course, is not always so!

SLM9 User Manual v3 Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera  13

Example of 3 hemi-photos taken using auto-exposure bracketing and displayed in Canon’s versatile ZoomBrowser software. Underneath each picture the corresponding brightness histogram (for the whole image) and shooting information are given.

Note the time stamp and the auto-exposure setting changes. Incidentally, the dark evergreen tree (lower left) dominates the dark end of these histograms. Depending on your objectives, you might want to edit it out (in Photoshop, say) before using HemiView.

14  Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera SLM9 User Manual v3 Taking the Picture To ensure the camera is level it is often easiest to use the timer or a remote control to take a picture. Options  Canon Remote control switch  Wi-Fi to Android or iOS mobile device using Camera Connect app  Wi-Fi to PC using EOS software  USB cable to PC using EOS software  Timer Use of Canon Remote Controls Provided the camera is within range, a remote control may help eliminate camera shake. The following may be obtained from reputable camera suppliers: Canon Remote Switch types RC-6, RC-1 and RC-5. See Canon 80D User Manual. Use of Smart Phones You can use a smartphone running iOS or Android with the Canon app “Camera Connect” available from App Store and Google Play - to do the following:  Take a picture  Change settings  View images on camera  Send images to smartphone. The functionality may change with different versions of this app and camera firmware. See the EOS 80D Wi-Fi Instruction Manual. Note the HemiView software requires a Windows PC. Use via Wi-Fi The Canon 70D can be remotely controlled from a PC via Wi-Fi (or USB cable) using the Canon EOS utility software. Use of a USB cable is recommended for transferring large image files quickly. Some functions e.g. multiple exposures, are not available via the EOS utility.

See also the EOS 80D Wi-Fi Instruction Manual.

SLM9 User Manual v3 Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera  15

Use of Timer See Self-Timer Operation on page 140 of the Canon 80D Instruction Manual

1 Press the DRIVE button. 2 Look at the LCD panel, rotate the dial Select the two or ten second timer 3 Press the shutter release and move the camera and SLM into place, checking it is as level as possible, and pointing to North. Hold it still until the timer completes. The beeper will sound, the self-timer lamp will blink, and the shot will be taken.

16  Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera SLM9 User Manual v3 Use via USB cable As an alternative to using the timer or Wi-Fi you may control the Canon 80D remotely via the USB serial cable connected to a notebook PC. This has the advantage of allowing you to immediately inspect the image at high resolution, take another if necessary, and if you wish, analyse the canopy on the spot using HemiView.

1 Install Canon and HemiView software Plug camera into PC USB port. 2 3 Turn on camera. 4

5

6 Camera is detected by PC Select Camera Settings/ Canon EOS Remote Shooting Utility runs 7

Click & browse to set a location for uploading image files to on your PC Click button to take picture. Image file is uploaded to PC, 8 10 then sent to HemiView, which opens Set camera options, (note the Remote Live View shooting option)

9 To send photo direct to HemiView: select Preferences, Linked Software, and browse to HemiView.exe 11

Select View, Zoom, 25% in HemiView to see the whole image

Illustration of image acquisition and analysis process being controlled from a PC in the field via a USB cable, using the Canon EOS Software and then HemiView. Use of Wi-FI instead essentially replaces steps 2-4.

SLM9 User Manual v3 Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera  17

But to do this we recommend use of a ruggedized notebook or tablet PC. See the Canon EOS Software Instruction Manual.

GPS The Canon 80D’s Wi-Fi capability means that the one dedicated USB connector available on, say, the Surface Pro 4, PC could be used by a suitable GPS device. However please note that the HemiView software does not currently support the automatic addition of GPS data. So each location would need to be entered manually via the Settings, Site, Properties when processing images in HemiView.

Trouble Shooting Refer to the Trouble Shooting section of the Canon EOS Software Instructions Manual.

18  Using the Canon EOS 80D Camera SLM9 User Manual v3 Image Alignment in HemiView

In HemiView use File, Open to load an image Align the horizon circle to the shoulders of the two alignment markers, with the pointed marker at the magnetic North point, as shown below. Note: with the SLM9 the camera orientation is fixed All images are aligned with North-South horizontal and North on the left. (Note: earlier versions of the self-levelling mount held directly onto the lens itself and not the camera - and for that reason the camera orientation, and therefore the location of North, was previously undefined in Hemiphotos.) HemiView software needs to be told where North is, by dragging the north indicator to the North marker cone on the left. To define the horizon correctly, drag the white horizon line to intercept the flat top of the rim of each of the North and South markers, as shown.

For full instructions refer to the HemiView manual and its online help.

1 - Select 1 the North Indicator

2 - Drag the North indicator around to align it with 3 the white North marker cone

3 - Drag and 2 position the horizon circle to intersect the top rim of North and South markers

SLM9 User Manual v3 Image Alignment in HemiView  19

Setting the Lens Equation in HemiView

If the Sigma EX DC 4.5mm fisheye lens does not appear in the standard list of lenses installed with HemiView, you will have to enter the correct coefficients in HemiView. Create a new lens with the following settings: (Settings, Lens, New) Enter the coefficients in the Lens Properties dialog as shown below. Field of View (deg): 180.0 a1: 0.706900 a2: -0.032900 a3: 0.025600 a4: -0.021097

60D

When you exit HemiView, this lens will be saved in the HemiView lenses.csv file. When using HemiView, specify these lens properties for all hemi-photos taken with Canon EOS 50D, 60D,7-D or 70D cameras with a Sigma 4.5mm EX DC lens.

20  Setting the Lens Equation in HemiView SLM9 User Manual v3 Warranty and Service

Terms and Conditions of Sale Our Conditions of Sale (ref: COND: 1/07) set out Delta-T's legal obligations on these matters. The following paragraphs summarise Delta T's position but reference should always be made to the exact terms of our Conditions of Sale, which will prevail over the following explanation. Delta-T warrants that the goods will be free from defects arising out of the materials used or poor workmanship for a period of two years from the date of delivery. Delta-T shall be under no liability in respect of any defect arising from fair wear and tear, and the warranty does not cover damage through misuse or inexpert servicing, or other circumstances beyond their control. If the buyer experiences problems with the goods they shall notify Delta-T (or Delta-T’s local distributor) as soon as they become aware of such problem. Delta-T may rectify the problem by replacing faulty parts free of charge, or by repairing the goods free of charge at Delta-T's premises in the UK during the warranty period. If Delta-T requires that goods under warranty be returned to them from overseas for repair, Delta-T shall not be liable for the cost of carriage or for customs clearance in respect of such goods. However, Delta-T requires that such returns are discussed with them in advance and may at their discretion waive these charges. Delta-T shall not be liable to supply products free of charge or repair any goods where the products or goods in question have been discontinued or have become obsolete, although Delta-T will endeavour to remedy the buyer’s problem. Delta-T shall not be liable to the buyer for any consequential loss, damage or compensation whatsoever (whether caused by the negligence of the Delta-T, their employees or distributors or otherwise) which arise from the supply of the goods and/or services, or their use or resale by the buyer. Delta-T shall not be liable to the buyer by reason of any delay or failure to perform their obligations in relation to the goods and/or services if the delay or failure was due to any cause beyond the Delta-T’s reasonable control.

SLM9 User Manual v3 Warranty and Service  21

Service, Repairs and Spares Users in countries that have a Delta-T distributor or technical representative should contact them in the first instance. Spare parts for our own instruments can be supplied and can normally be despatched within a few working days of receiving an order. Spare parts and accessories for products not manufactured by Delta-T may have to be obtained from our supplier, and a certain amount of additional delay is inevitable. No goods or equipment should be returned to Delta-T without first obtaining the return authorisation from Delta-T or our distributor. On receipt of the goods at Delta-T you will be given a reference number. Always refer to this reference number in any subsequent correspondence. The goods will be inspected and you will be informed of the likely cost and delay. We normally expect to complete repairs within one or two weeks of receiving the equipment. However, if the equipment has to be forwarded to our original supplier for specialist repairs or recalibration, additional delays of a few weeks may be expected. For contact details see below.

Technical Support Users in countries that have a Delta-T distributor or technical representative should contact them in the first instance. Technical Support is available on Delta-T products and systems. Your initial enquiry will be acknowledged immediately with a reference number. Make sure to quote the reference number subsequently so that we can easily trace any earlier correspondence. In your enquiry, always quote instrument serial numbers, software version numbers, and the approximate date and source of purchase where these are relevant.

Contact Details: Tech Support Team Delta-T Devices Ltd 130 Low Road, Burwell, Cambridge CB25 0EJ, UK email: [email protected] repairs: [email protected] web: www.delta-t.co.uk Tel: +44 1638 742922 Fax: +44 1638 743155

22  Warranty and Service SLM9 User Manual v3