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Fanotec MECHA C2 User Manual

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MECHA C2 User's Guide v.01.10
C2 USER'S GUIDE
June 20, 2021
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© 2021 FANOTEC

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  • Page 1 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.01.10 C2 USER’S GUIDE June 20, 2021 © 2021 FANOTEC...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Contents WARNINGS................Simple Mode Introduction............MECHA Controller C2 Features ........... Before First Use........... Get your equipment ready .............11 Related Videos..................13 C2’s Buttons ..................14 Power On and Test ................15 Check the Battery Level..............16 Simple Rotations ................16 Firmware Update Using a Hot-spot........
  • Page 3 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Basic Information About Shooting ..........33 Shooting in Step-by-Step Mode .............34 C2’s Menu Options ..........Preset (P) Menu ..............Config (C) Menu ..............How to Access the UI.......... About the User Interface ............. Set MECHA in AP, STA, or AP+STA Mode at - + ≡ on Display ..43 Access the User Interface (UI) with a Smartphone ..
  • Page 4 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Battery Voltage.................68 More from Server, zLM, Firmware, OLED........72 Technical Details ‒ IP Addresses, FW ..........73 Backup and Restore Data ...............74 Other Updating Methods........Firmware Update Using a Smartphone: Method 2 ..Working with Presets .........
  • Page 5 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 How to Set Both MECHA and Smartphone to Have Internet Access............Panorama Using MECHA’s Buttons...... Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using only the MECHA’s Buttons................ MECHA’s Current Codes ........Current Codes List ..............Appendix MECHA’s S (Shots) Language........
  • Page 6 How to use this User’s Guide Welcome to the MECHA C2 User’s Guide! C2 is our second generation of controllers, with OLED display, external battery, and support for two MECHA rotators.

  • Page 7: Warnings

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 WARNINGS WARNINGS to Dual Axis MECHA Users ● Test MECHA WITHOUT a camera mounted first! ● Please test for camera clearance before running any program. ● Test any preset supplied or adjusted WITHOUT a camera mounted FIRST, especially when the clearance is not enough.

  • Page 8: Simple Mode

    Menu Mode. ● Press the button to switch to Config (C) Menu. ● Press the button to change the first option to SIMPLE MODE. �� https://youtu.be/gBGxE5Q11xI Introducing Simple / Advanced Mode – MECHA C2 © 2021 FANOTEC...

  • Page 9: Introduction

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Introduction You may already know, from the documentation available at this time, that MECHA consists of a rotator (E1, E2, or P1) and a controller (C1), and is generally used to automate the movement of various devices, such...

  • Page 10: Mecha Controller C2 Features

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 The use of an external battery means you can carry spare batteries and quickly refuel MECHA before or during a shooting session. A power cable splitter (optional) is available for using 2 sets of batteries at the same time for extended operation and/or changing batteries without a pause.

  • Page 11: Before First Use

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Before First Use Get your equipment ready Note the numbers 1 and 2 printed on the back of the controller, and then connect the controller to the rotators as follows: ● the end of the cable 1 to the lower rotator ●...
  • Page 12 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 The lower rotator is the rotator mounted under the lower rail of the device, and the upper rotator is the vertical rotator, mounted on the upper rail. Although the controller can be mounted in several ways, we recommend that you mount it on the upper rotator, using its attachment strap, as shown in the image below.

  • Page 13: Related Videos

    Installation Instruction for Dual-Axis MECHA C2-E2 With NN6 (F9922) �� https://youtu.be/iEyR3Jq9j34 Installation Instruction for Dual Axis Mecha C2-E1 With NN3 MK2 (F9920) First Batch �� https://youtu.be/VKEyS24MNgY Installation Instruction for Dual Axis MECHA C2-E1 With NN3 MK3 (F9921) First Batch ��...

  • Page 14: C2'S Buttons

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 C2’s Buttons Here are some of the functions of the buttons, to give you a quick overview, and we will provide more details later when we use the buttons. Minus button — use it to adjust values in edit mode and delete editable presets;...

  • Page 15: Power On And Test

    PANORAMA TEST PARKED option, which tells the MECHA C2 to execute a panorama to the right, as follows: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from parked position.

  • Page 16: Check The Battery Level

    �� https://youtu.be/7X6QS__4KYk Check the Battery Level and Set Low Battery Warnings – MECHA C2 Simple Rotations Power on MECHA as shown above. In the Preset (P) Menu, select – or navigate to – the first option, which is SIMPLE ROTATIONS, then press the button to confirm.
  • Page 17 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 1. For the lower rotator ● For 45° rotations: < ○ Press then quickly press > ○ Press then quickly press , for the opposite direction. ● For 90° rotations: < ○ Press then quickly press >...
  • Page 18 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 When you press the button and the battery percentage is shown on the display, you can also perform simple rotations. Use the button to exit. If the above simple rotations do not work as expected, the rotators in use may not be set correctly (see Set the Rotator Using C2’s Menu), or the intervals 1[-], 2[+] and 3[=] are not the...

  • Page 19: Firmware Update Using A Hot-Spot

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 1. Parked — the most compact position, the upper rail is oriented vertically down. 2. Level — the upper rail is in the horizontal position. 3. Raised — the opposite of parked, the upper rail is oriented vertically upwards.
  • Page 20 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● Press the button for about 3 to 5 seconds to power on MECHA, and wait until MECHA reaches the idle status (and the Preset (P) Menu is shown on C2’s display). ● If MECHA doesn’t reach this status, then please power it off, by pressing button 3 seconds, and contact us at mecha@nodalninja.com.

  • Page 21: C2'S Menu Mode

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 C2’s Menu Mode Using C2’s Menus C2’s current menus are Preset (P) Menu and Config (C) Menu. A preset is a set of instructions and configuration settings, that can be saved and used when needed, to perform specific operations much faster. For example, some presets contain all the information that MECHA needs to execute a whole panorama.
  • Page 22 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Each menu consists of 8 pages, and a page can contain 10 presets or other options. Press the button to display the next option. Press button to display the previous option. > Press the button to go to the next page, and the <...

  • Page 23: Creating A Preset In C2'S Menu Mode

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Creating a preset in C2’s Menu Mode Creating a preset in C2’s Menu Mode is very simple, fast and preferable when you do not want to access the User Interface for various reasons. The preset can be used immediately to shoot a panorama and it can also be edited later or deleted if no longer needed.
  • Page 24 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ○ Coverage area: → 360 180 for a full panorama → or less for a partial panorama ○ Position of the upper rail (when running this preset, the upper rail must be in this position): →...
  • Page 25 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 → N,Z — one nadir + one zenith shot → ZZ — two zenith shots 90° apart → NN — two nadir shots 90° apart → ZZ,N — two zenith shots 90° apart + one nadir shot →...
  • Page 26 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Press the button to cancel and exit edit mode, if necessary. ● A flashing parameter means the value can be adjusted using the buttons (hold down the desired button to speed up the adjustment). ></\ ●...
  • Page 27 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 What happens if the direction of rotation is not specified? If the direction of rotation is not specified when a preset is created, then when launching the preset from the Preset (P) Menu it will ask for direction (ROT.

  • Page 28: Panorama With Automatic Shooting Pattern Using C2'S Menu

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using C2’s Menu This method requires the firmware version (1)2272 or newer, and works for any lens from 4 to 1000mm, including fisheye lenses. MECHA will compute a preset for your lens based on the data it receives when performing the following procedure: ●...
  • Page 29 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● After 10 seconds, MECHA starts to rotate slowly to the right, and you have to press the button when the target object is out of the camera's view, as stated in the message. ● Then MECHA goes back to the initial position and starts to slowly tilt...

  • Page 30: Panorama Using C2'S Menu

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Panorama Using C2’s Menu Power on MECHA and wait until it reaches the idle status. Set the Rotator Using C2’s Menu The following options available in the Config (C) Menu can be used to tell...

  • Page 31: Test Without Camera - Parked Position

    PANORAMA TEST PARKED option: Press the button to confirm. This option tells the MECHA C2 to execute a panorama to the left or right, as follows: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from parked position.

  • Page 32: Test Without Camera - Raised Position

    PANORAMA TEST PARKED option: Press the button to confirm. This option tells the MECHA C2 to execute a panorama to the left or right, as follows: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/- 45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir, starting from raised position.

  • Page 33: Basic Information About Shooting

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Use the test panoramas mentioned above whenever you want to quickly shoot this type of panorama without using the User Interface. As we have already mentioned, a test preset does not require position confirmation when executing it, so make...

  • Page 34: Shooting In Step-By-Step Mode

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Shooting in Step-by-Step Mode ● In Config (C) Menu, find the STEP by STEP is OFF option and activate it pressing the button. ● In Preset (P) Menu, find the preset you want to use and, depending on the preset type, launch it as shown above.

  • Page 35: C2'S Menu Options

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 C2’s Menu Options This chapter briefly describes C2's menu options to give you an idea about what you can do using the menu. First, to be able to use a certain option, find or navigate to that option <>/\...

  • Page 36: Config (C) Menu

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● PANORAMA TEST RAISED — A test preset for a multi-row panorama: 12 shots around, 3 rows ‒ at 0° and +/-45° ‒ plus zenith and nadir. Make sure the upper rail is in the raised position, then press the button to launch the preset.
  • Page 37 Note that this is only possible if the Allow DEGREES - REAL MOVE Switching is enabled on the Configuration page. The REAL MOVE option allows the use of MECHA C2 to control real world devices, such as linear rails – including macro, focus and so on – but also rotational devices, say a MECHA P1 rotator is driving a large turntable using a gearbox with ratio unknown or using belt.
  • Page 38 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 To use REAL MOVE option: ○ Mark a reference point for a REAL device driven by Rotator 1 (or lower rotator), say, on a rail. ○ Switch to DEGREES MOVE if it is not already ON.
  • Page 39 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● CHANGE SENSE LEFT-RIGHT — Press the button to change the sense < > of left/right rotation when it is done manually using the buttons. ● CHANGE SENSE UP-DOWN — Press the button to change the sense of up/down rotation when it is done manually using the buttons.
  • Page 40 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● Default Wi-Fi is AP / STA / AP+STA / OFF — Press either button to enter edit mode and select the desired option. ● KEEP PAGE is ON / OFF — Press the button to switch between the two options.
  • Page 41 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 So now you can set button intervals freely, as there is and and for 90º rotations. Backlash compensation options ● BACKLASH 1 COMPENSATION — Compensation of backlash for the lower rotator. ● BACKLASH 2 COMPENSATION — Compensation of backlash for the upper rotator.
  • Page 42 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Reset options ● RESET CONFIG. TO DEFAULT ! — Resets the configuration settings to their default values, for example: SSID password → 12345678, Password for Configuration page → Mecha, Hot-Spot password for firmware update → 87654321, Default Mode → AP.

  • Page 43: How To Access The Ui

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 How to Access the UI About the User Interface To access the MECHA’s User Interface, a device with an Internet browser needs to be used. It can be a smartphone, or a tablet, or even your own computer.

  • Page 44: Access The User Interface (Ui) With A Smartphone

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 When MECHA is in AP or AP+STA mode, it broadcasts a SSID with a specific name – the default name contains the word "MECHA" in it – to which the smartphone can be connected using a password, which is 12345678 by default.

  • Page 45: Access The User Interface (Ui) On Your Computer Connected To A Wireless Network

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Access the User Interface (UI) on Your Computer Connected to a Wireless Network ● The first step is to access the User Interface (UI) with your smartphone, as shown above, and preferably set the AP+STA mode. After that: ○...

  • Page 46: Test Using The Ui

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Test Using the UI Some tests performed before – using the C2’s Menu – now, in this chapter, we want to perform them using the User Interface, so please access the User Interface with your smartphone, for example, then access the Row page.
  • Page 47 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 To load the preset, tap the [Load] button, if visible, under Presets list. Otherwise, it means the UI complexity is S (Simple) and some buttons and options are not visible, and the selected preset is already loaded.

  • Page 48: Advanced Mode

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Advanced Mode © 2021 FANOTEC...

  • Page 49: User Interface (Ui)

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 User Interface (UI) UI Controls In this chapter, we will explain the functions of the buttons and the options available on the Row page. Ring and Turn pages are quite similar to Row. Access the User Interface as shown in the chapter...
  • Page 50 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● Status Feedback — In the next area, the MECHA’s ID, the Refresh rate of the motor/controller status and the Current lower rotator are displayed, followed by the Current angle position for both rotators, and the Current status (shots remaining, position, repeat set).
  • Page 51 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 MECHA will also offer to download a map.zip file containing three small .png images. The images are the same for any map. A high resolution set is also available here, with Mecha as zip password: https://www.nodalninja.com/MECHA-MAP/map-png.zip...
  • Page 52 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● [Live NPP] button — Displays the instructions for determining the NPP along lens axis using camera live view, as follows: ○ Use two vertical reference points with one far behind the other. Turn on live view mode. Position tripod to line them up at image center.
  • Page 53 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ○ When W delay is negative, B delay is referenced to MCU's clock rather than added delay. For example, in time lapse sessions, for W:-0.001 sec and B:5 sec, the result will be a shot at every 5 seconds. If movements are executed, the value of B needs to be large enough to cover the time taken by the move.
  • Page 54 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 → E: BTN > CT — MECHA will only wait for TRG confirmations with the > button on the controller or NN IR Remote, then it will use the learned delay(s) to finish the preset.
  • Page 55 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● [N x LEFT] button — Shoots & rotates counterclockwise for N positions with the degrees interval specified above, regardless of the number of shots specified in the Shots field. For example, if you want to take 3 shots 45° apart to the left, set the degrees of rotation to 45°, and the number of positions to 3, as in the...
  • Page 56 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 > ○ When MECHA runs a preset and is paused, you can press , or on IR Remote, or [PAUSE/NEXT] on UI, to continue to the next position. < ○ If, instead, is pressed on C2 or on IR Remote, MECHA will continue to the next position and switches on/off the step by step mode.
  • Page 57 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● [Import] button — Imports a preset and displays it in the Presets list, or multiple presets at once, if all_presets(..).mps file is given when importing. ● [Export] button — Exports the selected preset, or exports all the presets, if Presets is selected.
  • Page 58 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● [Reboot] button — Restarts MECHA, similar to restarting a computer. ● Default page at start — MECHA's home page, or start page, can be one of the following pages: Row, Ring, or New (like in our example). Select the desired option from the list.

  • Page 59: Configuration Page

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Configuration Page The Configuration page can be accessed at 192.168.8.1/config, using the following username and password: User: admin Password: Mecha At the top of the Configuration page, there are links to access Ring page (for single axis applications), Row page (for dual axis applications), and Turn page (for turn table applications –...
  • Page 60 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● Password for Configuration page Mecha → ● Hot-Spot password for firmware update 87654321 → ● Default Mode → ● STA Mode no settings → Very useful if you have forgotten the set passwords and cannot access, for example, the Configuration page or the User Interface.

  • Page 61: Sta Mode

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Using — This is the IP of the current device connected to MECHA. In our example, 192.168.2.187. STA Mode Static IP — Remember that the IP address to access the MECHA’s User Interface on your computer is dynamic. Therefore, it changes from time to time.

  • Page 62: Rotator Settings

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Power OFF after — If this field is not empty, then the value specified here tells MECHA to power off if there is no activity a number of seconds equal to this value. The second Power OFF after field — The same as the first field, but it refers to the period of time immediately after powering on MECHA, when no presets are executed.

  • Page 63: Buzzer Pwm And Start Page

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 procedure for a better result, if the conditions to detect the small movements are met. Please see the code 12321< (Backlash compensation calibration) for more details. Rotator 2 — Set the upper rotator in use by selecting an option from the list, or using the following codes: 23131<...
  • Page 64 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Enable Fast Mode — Leave this checkbox checked. Use Nodal Ninja IR Remote — Check this checkbox if you use an NN IR remote control, and connect the receiver to the AUX port. Double press the Nodal Ninja IR Remote Power button for power OFF — Check this checkbox to be able to power off MECHA pressing the power button on the remote control twice.

  • Page 65: Reverse Direction Of Rotations

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Reverse Direction of Rotations Switch the 1 - 2 motor cables — Check this checkbox if, for some reasons, you want to connect the top cable of the controller to the lower rotator, and the bottom cable of the controller to the upper rotator.

  • Page 66: Arrow Buttons

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Usually, the following settings do not need to be changed. If these values are changed, the script on the Row page must be generated again by entering the focal length in the Shots field, via custom, for example: 56mm.
  • Page 67 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 start slowly and accelerates afterwards, if the button is kept pressed. Useful for precise alignment done with the buttons of the controller or IR remote. Arrow buttons Interval 1 [deg] — Rotation angle for <- >-...

  • Page 68: Favorite Codes

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Leveling Amount [deg] — The angle at which the upper rail is rotated after powering on, if you press the button when the display shows . Right after the rotation, this angle can be edited in the C2’s menu, with the...
  • Page 69 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Battery min and Battery MAX — The minimum and maximum values for the battery voltage according to the technical specifications for the batteries you use. For voltage values greater than zero, the battery level will be expressed as percentage on the User Interface.
  • Page 70 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 This is because when you set the Battery min as shown above, MECHA detects the current battery voltage and automatically sets it as Battery MAX, to be able to compute the percentage. Battery Voltage–Capacity Points: optional, 10 voltage values for 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%...90% (empty by default) —...
  • Page 71 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 automatically fill in the fields mentioned above. Then you can edit the entered values, if necessary. Click the [Apply] button to save the new settings. How to test the BATTERY warning? First check the battery level on C2’s display, or find and select the BATTERY...

  • Page 72: More From Server, Zlm, Firmware, Oled

    Start with the Latest Preset Used selected on OLED Menu (checked by default) — If enabled, MECHA C2 will start quickly and show the latest preset used, selected and ready to be executed. Another preset can be selected instead by pressing the arrow buttons on C2 controller.

  • Page 73: Technical Details - Ip Addresses, Fw

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Allow DEGREES – REAL MOVE Switching — If enabled, switching from DEGREE MOVE to REAL MOVE is allowed via the Config Menu. REAL MOVE — The equivalent of the REAL MOVE is ON option in the Config Menu.

  • Page 74: Backup And Restore Data

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Backup and Restore Data [Backup Data] button — Creates a download archive that contains all of MECHA’s settings and files except the firmware. [Restore Data] button — Uploads the archive downloaded with the [Backup Data] button.

  • Page 75: Other Updating Methods

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Other Updating Methods If MECHA is not connected to a Wi-Fi with Internet access, it will ask for a SSID name and password, as a guest asks if Wi-Fi is available in your home, to be able to check something on the Internet, a Wi-Fi the guest will connect the phone to.
  • Page 76 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● When the update is complete, a few beeps are heard, and the new firmware version is displayed at the top of the page. If it is not displayed in 1-2 minutes, refresh the page or reconnect the smartphone to MECHA, if necessary.

  • Page 77: Working With Presets

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Working with Presets Programming a Preset Using Parameters A programming method available starting with firmware version (1)2134. This method of programming, or creating, a preset consists in connecting to the User Interface (see How to Access the UI) and passing some parameters in the url.
  • Page 78 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 In both cases will be a pause of 2 seconds after each shot (p=2). Let's now explain the above examples and see how you can modify them to create your own preset. The parameters passed in the url are as follows: ●...

  • Page 79: How To Create Your Own Presets Using The Ui

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 How to Create Your Own Presets Using the UI Besides the very simple method with buttons only (see Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern), and the url with parameters method (see Programming a Preset Using Parameters), the following is the method using the UI.

  • Page 80: Loading A Preset

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 If the fisheye presets are not available in the Presets list, you may have a firmware version older than (1)2208 installed. To hide all factory presets, uncheck the Show Factory (F) Presets in the Presets List option on the Configuration page.
  • Page 81 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 To find out more about a preset, you can choose a higher level of complexity for the UI from the drop down list next to [info] button, at the top of the page. Select A3, which is the most advanced level.
  • Page 82 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● 1 TRG — 1 trigger, no bracketing. This is the number of camera triggers for each position. Select zero if no trigger is needed. When using automatic exposure bracketing in continuous shooting or self-timer mode, MECHA treats it as 1 trigger.

  • Page 83: Modifying A Preset

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● 6 RPM — Speed denoted by Revolutions Per Minute. ● 16+128 uStep — Micro-stepping value, simple or combined; for example, different values for acceleration + constant speed region. ● Medium Load — Means a profile for an average load. The other options are Light, Heavy, and Ring.

  • Page 84: Preset Power Code

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 1. Tap/click the [Save] button to save the preset with a different name, or with the same name if it is a presets that can be overwritten. The preset name can be preceded by a power code of maximum 7 digits.

  • Page 85: Show Your Own Presets In C2'S Preset Menu

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Show your own presets in C2’s Preset Menu In this section, we are going to show you how to make a preset you created in the User Interface appear in the Preset (P) Menu. Long press the button to enter Menu Mode.

  • Page 86: Using A Preset Name As A Base Name

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Similarly for pages 3-8. For example, if the name of a preset is preceded by a code found in the range 030-039, then this preset is automatically listed on page 3, and so on. In short, to be able to see in C2’s Preset Menu a preset created in the...

  • Page 87: Directional Preset Name

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ○ Press the button to select the preset 020 kit-lens-pano (the power code is shown on the display). ○ Press the button to enter the number for 1 and 2). > < ○ Press either the button to specify the direction of rotation.

  • Page 88: Mecha's Simple Scripting (Mss)

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 MSS scripts are row and column oriented and help you photograph a panorama with few clicks or button presses, without the need to understand the script. You only provide the focal length, and MECHA generates the script.
  • Page 89 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 If we want a pause before a row, we can add P in script, before that row. For example, this will set a pause just before the row at 0°: SP,Z,N,P0x12,45x12,-45x12 In the example above, the pause is infinite, and to continue you need to >...

  • Page 90: Shooting Panorama Made Easy For Dual Axis

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Shooting Panorama Made Easy for Dual Axis Shooting a panorama is made easy by following the steps below. 1. Use the buttons to position the upper rail in level position (see the section Parked, Level, Raised Positions).

  • Page 91: Mss Script Explained

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 When you click/tap the OK button, MECHA creates a script for you to shoot a full panorama, according to the focal length provided: The settings provided by the script have priority over the other settings.
  • Page 92 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 4. a single position at a tilt of -90°, known as Nadir 5. a single position at a tilt of 90°, known as Zenith and assuming the Start Level position, as in the image above, this pattern...

  • Page 93: What Needs To Be Changed, Sometimes, In Real Situations

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 What Needs to be Changed, sometimes, in Real Situations Instead of a single Zenith, more Zeniths may be needed, say, for flare reasons, in which case Z can be replaced with Zx2, for example, which will produce 2 Zeniths 180°...

  • Page 94: Using Pause In Mss Script

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Using Pause in MSS Script Let’s take a pause. Sometimes, to the above, we need a pause, say, before the horizontal row, or before Nadir, to be sure we are out of view. The pause can be added using P, so NN IR 0x12 will mean: at a tilt of 0°, a row of 12 positions, while...

  • Page 95: Let's Take A More Dense Approach With More Photos Toward Gigapixel Imagery

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 If MECHA is in parked position, we need a pause to adjust the camera settings right after MECHA arrives in horizontal orientation for the first horizontal row. SP,P0x1,P0x12,45x10,-45x10,N,ZZ Let's Take a more Dense Approach with more Photos toward Gigapixel Imagery Suppose we want a shooting sequence made out of rows at a tilt of 15°...

  • Page 96: Rewind After Each Row

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 SL,0x36,15x32,30x28,45x24,60x20,-15x32,-30x28, -45x24,-60x20(45) As in the examples above, it can have pause(s) before row(s), or extra 1 position row for clapboard, so on. We can also add 1 Nadir and 1 Zenith with pause, and even use that pause to replace the lens with a fish eye, or change the focal lens to the shortest (widest angle) extent.

  • Page 97: Script For 2 Focal Lengths - Mecha Dual Axis

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 SL,0x18,-28.03x18,-56.06x14,28.03x18,56.06x14, ZZ,NN,HZ Example of partial panorama with explicit intervals for lower rotator (24°) and upper rotator (36°) in Horizontal Zigzag, 4 rows, 8 columns: SL,54x8^24,18x8^24,-18x8^24,-54x8^24,HZ Script for 2 Focal Lengths - MECHA Dual Axis Script for shooting a spherical panorama using 50 mm and 24 mm lenses or...

  • Page 98: Download More Presets From Server

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Download more Presets from Server In short, to download presets from server, make sure MECHA is connected to the Internet, then select the option More from server from the Presets list on the Row page. If the option More from server is not displayed in the list, it means that MECHA is not connected to the Internet.

  • Page 99: How To Set Both Mecha And Smartphone To Have Internet Access

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 How to Set Both MECHA and Smartphone to Have Internet Access In this chapter, we will explain how to set both MECHA and smartphone to have Internet access, and also how to enable the update and use your device for usual Internet browsing at the same time.
  • Page 100 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ○ DNS: 8.8.8.8 (or leave the field blank) 3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap the [Apply] button. 4. Tap the [Connect to Wi-Fi] button at the bottom of the page, then enter (or...

  • Page 101: Panorama Using Mecha's Buttons

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Panorama Using MECHA’s Buttons Panorama with Automatic Shooting Pattern Using only the MECHA’s Buttons This method requires the firmware version (1)2118 or newer, and works for rectilinear lens from 10 to 200 mm (FF equiv).
  • Page 102 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ● Then MECHA will go back to the initial position and start to slowly tilt down and, again, wait for another press of the power button, when the sheet of paper is out of the camera's view.

  • Page 103: Mecha's Current Codes

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 MECHA’s Current Codes The controller buttons allow you to quickly perform some operations, and they can be an alternative to the User Interface, in most cases. See below the equivalence of buttons and characters: <...
  • Page 104 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 2< 2> Executes the Preset 2 to the left or to the right. By default, the Preset 2 consists of 6 shots around, or it is the preset saved with the [Save2] UI button. 3<...
  • Page 105 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 321< Shows the last part of the IP address, starting with a dot, like “.100“. If “AAA“ is shown, MECHA is in AP mode, and the IP address is 192.168.8.1 If “!!!“ is shown, Wi-Fi is OFF.
  • Page 106 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Disabling the motors is useful to prevent MECHA from turning on by accident in some cases, for kids protection, or to simulate the functioning of MECHA for learning purposes, and when you want to be able to rotate the rotators by hand.
  • Page 107 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 232< Disables/Enables all LEDs, useful during night photography. As the power LED is off, don't forget the device is turned on. The LEDs will light however if the buttons are pressed for entering a code, to show the result of a code, or for battery check.
  • Page 108 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 123123< Speed calibration for the lower rotator. The procedure takes 1 hour and is silent, the motor is not moving. Please wait until MECHA turns OFF automatically, and don't use the web interface during this time.
  • Page 109 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 32123< Updates the firmware, if possible. To update the firmware using the 32123< code, MECHA must be in STA or AP+STA mode and connected to a Wi-Fi with Internet access, before entering the code. Depending on Default Mode, it may be necessary to enable temporarily STA or AP+STA at start via buttons, then enter the 32123<...
  • Page 110 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 13132< → SET E2 AS ROTATOR 1 Sets E2 as lower rotator. 13121< → SET P1 AS ROTATOR 1 Sets P1 as lower rotator. 23131< → SET E1 AS ROTATOR 2 Sets E1 as upper rotator.

  • Page 111: Appendix

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Appendix © 2021 FANOTEC...

  • Page 112: Mecha's S (Shots) Language

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 MECHA’s S (Shots) Language The S Language requires the firmware (1)2054 or newer. In this chapter we will explain how to make a script for your desired pattern of shooting. The S language is Shots oriented, and it can be used for both single axis and dual axis applications.
  • Page 113 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 For example, use the buttons to go from raised to parked and back. Parked Level Raised Adjust the position using buttons The naming conventions to match for starting and ending positions the preset for dual axis presets available via before starting More from Server...

  • Page 114: Panorama Of 3 Rows + Nadir + Zenith - Example 1 (Sl)

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Panorama of 3 Rows + Nadir + Zenith ‒ EXAMPLE 1 (SL) The MSS example Panorama of 3 Rows + Nadir + Zenith can be translated in S-Language as follows: S=90, 1=0_0, =_30, 11=45, 12=-45, 12=-90,...
  • Page 115 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 If the start position is raised, S=-90. For the level position, S=0, or S= (S=0 is equivalent to S=). Level Parked Raised Other S=90 S=-90 S=45 After the start position, we have to specify the details for the first position,...
  • Page 116 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 S=90, 1=0_0, =_30, 11=45, Then 11 positions will continue in the same manner, and at the 12th photo the upper rotator should rotate down 45 (-45)°. So we have to add 12=-45, our script, and it becomes:...

  • Page 117: Panorama Using Loop In Script - Example 3 (Sl)

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 Panorama Using Loop in Script ‒ EXAMPLE 3 (SL) S=90, 1=0_0, =10(^3_30, =^3), =10(^-3_30, =^-3), S=90, — Start from parked position. 1=0_0, — The first position is at =0_0 =10(^3_30, — From the next position, we will start a loop (round brackets) 10 times that sets horizontal rotations of 30°...
  • Page 118 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 9=45, — Then, at the 9th shot from the previous change, the tilt becomes 45°, and -10=90, — then, at the 10th shot from the previous change, the tilt becomes 90 for zenith, and =_90, —...

  • Page 119: C2 - C1 Differences And Similarities

    MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 C2 – C1 Differences and Similarities ● C2 can be connected to two rotators, so it can control two rotators simultaneously. ○ C1 can control only one rotator at a time. For dual axis applications, you need either one C2 controller and two rotators or two C1 controllers and two rotators.
  • Page 120 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 ○ The plus button of C2 is the equivalent of the button of C1. It comes pre-programmed with 6 shots around. It can also be used to enter the number 2, or long press it to execute the favorite code 2.
  • Page 121 MECHA C2 User’s Guide v.02.5 → There is no C1 equivalent of the above button. ○ On both C1 and C2, the power button is used to power on/off MECHA, to confirm or cancel some operations, and it is also the equivalent of the number 0 (zero) when power codes are entered.
  • Page 122 Nodal Ninja Youtube Channel https://forum.nodalninja.com/ Nodal Ninja's Panoramic Photography Forum https://www.fanotec.com/ Fanotec International Limited official website Developed and manufactured by Fanotec International Limited. Address: Flat 2, 4/F, Kar Wah Indl. Bldg. 8 Leung Yip Street Yuen Long, Hong Kong © 2021 FANOTEC...

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