User Manual for the

Self Levelling Mount type SLM6

Delta-T De

SLM6-UM-1

vices 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 © 2003, 2006 Delta-T Devices Limited

Design changes Delta-T Devices Ltd reserves the right to change the designs and specifications of its products at any time without prior notice.

Authors John Wood, Nick Webb.

User Manual Version: 1 Dec 2005

Delta-T Devices Ltd 128 Low Road, Burwell Cambridge CB5 0EJ UK

Tel: +44 1638 742922 Fax: +44 1638 743155 email: sales@delta-t.co.ukweb: www.delta-t.co.uk

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Contents 3

Contents Self Levelling Mount, Type SLM6 4

Features 4 Assembly Instructions 6 Instructions for Use 10

To operate 10 Image alignment in HemiView 11 Setting the Lens Equation in HemiView 12

Using the Nikon Coolpix 8400 Camera 13 Taking Hemiphotos 13

Image size and compression 13 Camera settings 13 Exposure 14 Taking the Picture 15

Downloading images to a PC 16

Warranty and Service 17 Terms and Conditions of Sale 17 Service and Spares 18 Technical Support 18

Contact details: 18

Self Levelling Mount, Type SLM6

Features The self levelling mount SLM6 is intended for use with either a tripod or a monopod. It helps keep a camera and fisheye lens aligned to the horizon and North. This is necessary for taking hemispherical photos for use with Delta-T’s HemiView canopy analysis software. The SLM6 is designed for use with the Nikon Coolpix 8400 digital camera with a Nikon FC-E9 fisheye lens and Nikon UR-E16 adaptor ring.

4 Features SLM6 User Manual v 1

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 flashgun

• Lens protective cover

Tripod socket

Compass

Alignment markers

Inner pivot screw

Bubble level

Flash adapter

Collar Gimbal plate

Fig 1. SLM6 with lens cover removed

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Features 5

6 Assembly Instructions SLM6 User Manual v 1

Assembly Instructions 1. Fix the SLM6 to a tripod for stability, using the tripod socket in its

base (Fig 1). 2. Fit the lens into the collar. Tighten the clamping screw using the 4mm

hex driver supplied (Fig. 2). (If the lens has been supplied as part of a HemiView system it will already have been fitted to the collar).

3. If the flash adapter is already fitted, go to 6. Slide the rear section of the flash adapter (Fig. 1) onto the accessory shoe on the camera.

4. Release the built-in Speedlight flash unit. To do this turn the camera on, and in auto shooting mode toggle the flash button until a flash icon appears, then depress the shutter release button.

5. Screw on the front section of the flash adaptor, to cover the built in flash. (Do not attach the alignment marker fibre optics cables at this stage.)

6. Screw the lens adapter onto the lens, then screw the camera onto the threaded end of the lens adapter.

7. Undo the inner pivot screws a few turns (Fig. 1). Do not unscrew them completely.

8. Tip the gimbals plate slightly (Fig 4) and slacken both the screws which clamp it together.

9. Fit the lens, collar and camera into the gimbals plate (Fig. 3). Do not tighten it yet.

10. Check that the lens edge is about 2mm below the alignment marker shoulders (Fig 7), and the camera is positioned as in Fig 5.

11. Rotate camera and lens away from the balance weights as shown in Fig 1. (It can’t be levelled in other positions).

12. Clamp the assembly by tipping the gimbals plate and tightening the two clamping screws (Fig 4).

13. Tighten the inner pivot screws (Fig 1) until the assembly swings freely but comes to rest quickly. Do not over tighten the pivot screws.

14. Push the two alignment marker fibre optic cables into the holes in the flash adapter (Fig. 6).

15. Adjust the balance weights so that the bubble is within the central circle of the bubble level. Tighten the thumbscrews to lock the weights in position.

16. 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.

Fig. 2 Fitting the lens to the collar

Fig. 3 Fitting the camera and lens to the gimbals plate

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Assembly Instructions 7

Fig. 4 Clamping the collar to the gimbal plate

Fig. 5 Orientation of camera

8 Assembly Instructions SLM6 User Manual v 1

Fig. 6 Fitting the alignment marker cables to the flash unit

Fig. 7 Checking the lens alignment

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Assembly Instructions 9

10 Instructions for Use SLM6 User Manual v 1

Instructions for Use

To operate Remove the lens cover. Level the mount using the balance weights and bubble level. Rotate the mount so that the red end of the compass needle is between the marks on the compass housing. If you are using the mount above your head, make sure you know roughly which way North is, as the two ends of the needle look the same from below. Select appropriate camera settings, see “Camera settings” on page 13 of this manual. Select an appropriate exposure setting with flash enabled, see “Exposure” on page 14 of this manual To avoid camera wobble use the self timer or the remote control, see “Taking the Picture” on page 15 of this manual. Keep the mount as level as possible, otherwise parts of the mount may be visible in the picture. Use the review options in the camera to check the image is OK. Replace the lens cover to protect the lens from dirt or damage.

Image alignment in HemiView Align the horizon circle to the shoulders of the two alignment markers, with the pointed marker at the magnetic north point, as shown below.

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Instructions for Use 11

Setting the Lens Equation in HemiView If the Nikon Coolpix 8400 and FC-E9 fisheye adaptor 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): 183 a1: 0.652140 a2: -0.071500 a3: 0.094850 a4: -0.035410

When you exit HemiView, this lens will be saved in the HemiView lenses.csv file. When using HemiView, specify these lens properties for all hemiphotos taken with the Coolpix 8400 and FC-E9 adapter lens.

12 Instructions for Use SLM6 User Manual v 1

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Taking Hemiphotos 13

Using the Nikon Coolpix 8400 Camera

Taking Hemiphotos The Coolpix 8400 is a very capable camera, and the user has 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. Page numbers refer to the English version of the manual supplied with the camera.

Image size and compression There is a trade-off between image quality and the number of images you can store on a memory card. Keep image size at 3264 x 2448 for maximum spatial resolution. We recommend using Fine image quality. At this setting, a typical hemiphoto will take up about 4 MByte. Normal image quality may be adequate for many canopies, particularly broad-leaved canopies, and will double the number of images you can store. Do a trial comparison on your site to see if the image quality makes any significant difference. See Camera Manual p 33.

Camera settings The optimum setting depends on the nature of the picture. We recommend the following Shooting Menu settings as a starting point for new users (see Camera Manual p 94 onwards):

• White balance Auto

• Metering Matrix

• Image Adjustment Normal

• Saturation Normal

• Image sharpening Normal

• Lens Normal Note: the Fisheye lens setting is not recommended as it gives you a very restricted range of settings, including disabling the flash - which is needed for the alignment marks. On the other hand, temporarily setting the Lens to Fisheye sets the zoom correctly to maximise the diameter of the hemiphoto in the image. You can then change it to “Normal” to let you take pictures using use the flash without losing the correct zoom position. To simplify this procedure move the lens option to the top of your “My Settings” page. Then, with “My Menu” selected using the Menu

14 Taking Hemiphotos SLM6 User Manual v 1

button, change lenses with the command dial. Use of the Normal lens setting and its default zoom position is OK, but it wastes some resolution because the image will be smaller than it needs to be.

• Focus Auto, Single AF

• Zoom Digital Tele Off See notes above about zoom lens

• Speedlight cntrl Int & Ext Active

• Flash Exp Comp -2.0EV to reduce flash brightness. Set the flash to “Anytime Flash” (Fill Flash) using the flash button, see Camera Manual p 38. These settings can be saved in one of the user settings so they can be easily restored, see Camera Manual p 98.

Exposure Getting the exposure right can have a significant effect on how easy it is to classify your image in HemiView, and on the accuracy of your calculations. Your aim is to have areas of sky at the top end of the brightness range, and areas of canopy at the lower end. You can check this on your image by looking at the brightness graph (Camera Manual p 5 & 69). If the image is overexposed, the sky areas will have a tendency to spread in the final image. Underexposure 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.

1 Manual Exposure • With the camera in Programmed Auto exposure mode (Camera

Manual p 45), note the exposure values under a section of canopy with about 50% sky visible. Use the command dial to select the highest f-number consistent with a shutter speed faster than 1/60 second. This is to minimise camera shake, but use the smallest aperture possible to give the greatest depth of field in focus.

• Set the camera to manual exposure, and set the shutter speed and aperture to these values.

• Use this exposure setting for all your hemiphotos, 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 Programmed Auto mode (Camera Manual p 45)

and take your photos using this.

• For more open canopies, over-expose using the exposure compensation setting (p 44), up to the full +2.0EV for very open canopies.

• For more closed canopies, under-expose, up to the full –2.0EV for mostly closed canopies.

• If you have sufficient memory, you can try exposure bracketing (Camera Manual p 107) to take photos with higher and lower exposures. Examine these when you get back to the lab, and choose the image that gives the clearest canopy edges.

Taking the Picture

1 Using Timer • Press the flash button until the Anytime Flash icon shows (Camera

Manual p 37).

• Select a 10 or 3 s delay for the self-timer mode by repeatedly pressing the timer mode button. Check the flash icon is also showing.

• 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.

2 Using the Infrared Remote Control The infrared receiver is mounted on the lower front right of the camera. It has a direct line-of sight range of up to 5m except in bright sunlight.

Use of the infrared remote control is possible using light scattered off the underside of the self levelling mount and fisheye lens. With no modification to the matt black underside of the Self Levelling Mount we found the range is about 1-2 m in overcast conditions. A simple folded piece of aluminium kitchen foil or white paper, tucked under the rods of the counter balance, forming a rough 8 x 16 cm reflector, doubled the effective range to 4 m and helped make the self timer / shot confirmation lamp visible.

remote

self timer & shot

confirmation lamp

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Taking Hemiphotos 15

16 Downloading images to a PC SLM6 User Manual v 1

• Press the flash button until the Anytime Flash icon shows (Camera Manual p 37)

• Select the 3 s delay for the self-timer mode by repeatedly pressing the timer mode button. Check the flash icon is also showing.

• SLM into place, checking it is as level as possible, and pointing to North. Hold it still and press the remote.

Downloading images to a PC There are two ways of downloading images from the camera to a PC: 1. Use a compact flash card reader such as a USB flash card reader

connected to your PC USB port. The memory card will appear as a removable drive in Windows Explorer, and the images can be copied to your hard drive or other storage medium using Windows Explorer. Images can be opened directly from the memory card in HemiView, but this is not recommended, because HemiView does not store the images themselves, only information about them, so the images will be lost when the memory card is removed. Adapters are also available for plugging a compact flash card directly into a PCMCIA card slot, which works in a similar way.

2. Connect the camera direct to your PC USB port (see camera manual p 76). The camera appears as a removable drive in Windows Explorer. Alternatively the images can be viewed and downloaded to your hard drive using the supplied Nikon Picture Project software.

SLM6 User Manual v 1 Terms and Conditions of Sale 17

Warranty and Service

Terms and Conditions of Sale Our Conditions of Sale (ref: COND: 1/00) 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 twelve months 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 our 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, we much prefer to have such returns discussed with us in advance, and we may, at our 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, our 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 our 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.

18 Service and Spares SLM6 User Manual v 1

Service 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 from our works. These can normally be despatched within a few working days of receiving an order. Spare parts and accessories for sensors or other 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 agreement of Delta-T or our distributor. On receipt at Delta-T, the goods will be inspected and the user informed of the likely cost and delay. We normally expect to complete repairs within a few working days 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.

Technical Support Technical Support is available on Delta-T products and systems. Users in countries that have a Delta-T Distributor or Technical Representative should contact them in the first instance. Technical Support questions received by Delta-T will be handled by our Tech Support team. Your initial enquiry will be acknowledged immediately with a “T number” and an estimate of time for a detailed reply. Make sure to quote our T 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 128 Low Road, Burwell, Cambridge CB5 0EJ, UK email: tech.support@delta-t.co.uk web: www.delta-t.co.uk Tel: +44 1638 742922 Fax: +44 1638 743155