Astrotracer with D-70 and Manual Lens

JimCase · 01-19-2021, 06:58 PM

With a manual 180 mm lens on my D-70 and the O-GPS1 unit, I notice that the shake reduction feature is grayed out and set to off. I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work?

**ramseybuckeye** · 01-19-2021, 07:09 PM

Originally posted by JimCase

With a manual 180 mm lens on my D-70 and the O-GPS1 unit, I notice that the shake reduction feature is grayed out and set to off. I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work?

I believe that Astrotracer uses the shake reduction hardware to work.

photoptimist · 01-19-2021, 07:40 PM

Although both shake reduction and astrotracer use the same sensor motion system, they cannot be used at the same time.

Astrotracer depends on the camera being mounted on a very stable platform (a high quality solid tripod and not too much wind) so that the sensor can carefully and slowly track the motion of the stars.

Although it would be nice if astrotracer + SR could compensate for any errant vibrations in the camera, two serious obstacles prevent using them together. First, the accelerometers and gyrosensors used in the camera to detect shake are not accurate enough to track vibration over the minutes-long astrotracer process. Noise and error in those sensors would cause erroneous shifting of the sensor. Second, the shake reduction system is actually NOT compatible with tripods -- the motions of the sensor that compensate for vibration can set up resonating feedback loops in a tripod-mounted camera. That is, the SR system can make the vibration worse and, in some cases, the camera will buzz like an angry bee and totally blur the image.

TL;DNR: shake reduction feature will be grayed out during astrotracer -- that's normal.

JimCase · 01-19-2021, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by photoptimist

Although both shake reduction and astrotracer use the same sensor motion system, they cannot be used at the same time.

Astrotracer depends on the camera being mounted on a very stable platform (a high quality solid tripod and not too much wind) so that the sensor can carefully and slowly track the motion of the stars.

Although it would be nice if astrotracer + SR could compensate for any errant vibrations in the camera, two serious obstacles prevent using them together. First, the accelerometers and gyrosensors used in the camera to detect shake are not accurate enough to track vibration over the minutes-long astrotracer process. Noise and error in those sensors would cause erroneous shifting of the sensor. Second, the shake reduction system is actually NOT compatible with tripods -- the motions of the sensor that compensate for vibration can set up resonating feedback loops in a tripod-mounted camera. That is, the SR system can make the vibration worse and, in some cases, the camera will buzz like an angry bee and totally blur the image.

TL;DNR: shake reduction feature will be grayed out during astrotracer -- that's normal.

Thanks! I can not wait to take this out on the next clear night to try a test drive.

**Larrymc** · 01-19-2021, 08:32 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by JimCase

With a manual 180 mm lens on my D-70 and the O-GPS1 unit, I notice that the shake reduction feature is grayed out and set to off. I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work?

You do mean K-70 instead of D-70 don't you??

Aaron28 · 01-19-2021, 08:46 PM

Originally posted by JimCase

I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work?

the aperture ring engaged or not has no effect....the proper focal input is!! i believe astrotracer only becomes active when in bulb mode......you can set manually or green button and the camera will set the exposure time

JimCase · 01-19-2021, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by Larrymc

You do mean K-70 instead of D-70 don't you??

Yes. My typo

JimCase · 01-19-2021, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by Aaron28

the aperture ring engaged or not has no effect....the proper focal input is!! i believe astrotracer only becomes active when in bulb mode......you can set manually or green button and the camera will set the exposure time

I needed to.set the aperture ring to allow me to get prompted to set the focal length of the manual lens when the camera is turned on. Yes bulb mode is required.

01-19-2021, 06:58 PM	#1
JimCase New Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 4	Astrotracer with D-70 and Manual Lens With a manual 180 mm lens on my D-70 and the O-GPS1 unit, I notice that the shake reduction feature is grayed out and set to off. I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work?

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01-19-2021, 07:09 PM	#2
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,294	Originally posted by JimCase With a manual 180 mm lens on my D-70 and the O-GPS1 unit, I notice that the shake reduction feature is grayed out and set to off. I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work? I believe that Astrotracer uses the shake reduction hardware to work.

01-19-2021, 07:40 PM	#3
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,127	Although both shake reduction and astrotracer use the same sensor motion system, they cannot be used at the same time. Astrotracer depends on the camera being mounted on a very stable platform (a high quality solid tripod and not too much wind) so that the sensor can carefully and slowly track the motion of the stars. Although it would be nice if astrotracer + SR could compensate for any errant vibrations in the camera, two serious obstacles prevent using them together. First, the accelerometers and gyrosensors used in the camera to detect shake are not accurate enough to track vibration over the minutes-long astrotracer process. Noise and error in those sensors would cause erroneous shifting of the sensor. Second, the shake reduction system is actually NOT compatible with tripods -- the motions of the sensor that compensate for vibration can set up resonating feedback loops in a tripod-mounted camera. That is, the SR system can make the vibration worse and, in some cases, the camera will buzz like an angry bee and totally blur the image. TL;DNR: shake reduction feature will be grayed out during astrotracer -- that's normal.

01-19-2021, 08:07 PM	#4
JimCase New Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by photoptimist Although both shake reduction and astrotracer use the same sensor motion system, they cannot be used at the same time. Astrotracer depends on the camera being mounted on a very stable platform (a high quality solid tripod and not too much wind) so that the sensor can carefully and slowly track the motion of the stars. Although it would be nice if astrotracer + SR could compensate for any errant vibrations in the camera, two serious obstacles prevent using them together. First, the accelerometers and gyrosensors used in the camera to detect shake are not accurate enough to track vibration over the minutes-long astrotracer process. Noise and error in those sensors would cause erroneous shifting of the sensor. Second, the shake reduction system is actually NOT compatible with tripods -- the motions of the sensor that compensate for vibration can set up resonating feedback loops in a tripod-mounted camera. That is, the SR system can make the vibration worse and, in some cases, the camera will buzz like an angry bee and totally blur the image. TL;DNR: shake reduction feature will be grayed out during astrotracer -- that's normal. Thanks! I can not wait to take this out on the next clear night to try a test drive.

01-19-2021, 08:32 PM - 1 Like	#5
Larrymc Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Mississippi, USA Posts: 5,252	Originally posted by JimCase With a manual 180 mm lens on my D-70 and the O-GPS1 unit, I notice that the shake reduction feature is grayed out and set to off. I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work? You do mean K-70 instead of D-70 don't you??

01-19-2021, 08:46 PM	#6
Aaron28 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Huntsville, Al Posts: 7,131	Originally posted by JimCase I have engaged the aperture ring and manually set the focal length when the camera is turned on with the manual lens. Does the shake reduction feature need to be on to make the Astrotracer work? the aperture ring engaged or not has no effect....the proper focal input is!! i believe astrotracer only becomes active when in bulb mode......you can set manually or green button and the camera will set the exposure time

01-19-2021, 09:31 PM	#7
JimCase New Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Larrymc You do mean K-70 instead of D-70 don't you?? Yes. My typo

01-19-2021, 10:57 PM	#8
JimCase New Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Aaron28 the aperture ring engaged or not has no effect....the proper focal input is!! i believe astrotracer only becomes active when in bulb mode......you can set manually or green button and the camera will set the exposure time I needed to.set the aperture ring to allow me to get prompted to set the focal length of the manual lens when the camera is turned on. Yes bulb mode is required.