Introduction To The Mx3 Camera Cycle; Controlling Exposure On The Camera - Dynamic Perception MX3 User Manual

6.2. Introduction to the MX3 Camera Cycle

To understand how the MX3 controls your camera, it is important to know the activities that
occur during an exposure cycle. These activities occur on each exposure cycle, and can be
either automatically controlled, or manually controlled.
The following events occur during each basic exposure cycle, and happen at the triggering of the
intervalometer:
Focus Control -> Exposure Time -> Exposure Delay -> Motor Movement -> Repeat
Focus Control activates the focus line of the camera, and holds it activated for the period of
time specified. If no focus control is configured, this takes no time.
Exposure Time activates the shutter line of the camera, and holds it activated for the period of
time specified. In Camera Control Exposure, this time is set to a fixed time of ¼ second, and in
Bulb Control Exposure, it is set by the user.
Exposure Delay has no outputs active, and no other activity will occur on the MX3 during this
period (unless in continuous motion mode - the motors will be moving). This prevents actions
from happening during the exposure. In Camera Control Exposure, this time is set by the user,
and in Bulb Control Exposure, it is set to a fixed time of ¼ second.
Motor Movement if the MX3 is in Shoot-Move-Shoot mode the motor movement happens after
the exposure delay. The sum of all four parameters above becomes the minimum interval time. If
there is any excess time left in the interval cycle it will cycle after the motor movement.
These times are additive and if you set them longer than your interval time, your
interval time will automatically be increased to compensate for the difference.

6.3. Controlling Exposure on the Camera

For most time-lapse videos, it is best to let the camera control the exposure time. In this case,
we simply need to know how long the exposure is set for. The MX3 will signal the camera to
trigger a shutter cycle, and the camera will time the exposure.
To let the camera control exposure, set the camera to Manual exposure mode, and set the
correct exposure time. Then, on the MX3 go to the Camera Control screen and use the
All Contents licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 License
Page 17 of 45
Copyright © 2013 Dynamic Perception LLC
dynamicperception.com
[Right]