Nikon D300 DUSB and direct USB problem

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jpallison
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Nikon D300 DUSB and direct USB problem

Post by jpallison » Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:43 pm

Hi,

I purchased the DSUSB and the DSCBL-11 cable to connect my Nikon D300 to the Backyard Nikon camera control software for astronomy.
I believe the DSUSB and the cable are working properly in that I tested them with the DSUSB Check program and it seems to work.

My problem is that as soon as I plug in a direct USB cable from the camera into the laptop I am using, the DSUSB no longer works (both in the DSUSB check program and in Backyard Nikon). I tried it with another laptop and it does the same thing.

So I believe my problem may lie in some setting in the D300 itself.

Any thoughts in this matter? Thanks

Jay

dpanderson
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Re: Nikon D300 DUSB and direct USB problem

Post by dpanderson » Sun Aug 30, 2015 5:31 pm

When the camera's USB cable is plugged in, is there some software that is putting the camera into an unintended operating mode? Make sure the camera is in Bulb exposure mode and that any autofocusing is disabled.
Doug Anderson
Shoestring Astronomy
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jpallison
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Re: Nikon D300 DUSB and direct USB problem

Post by jpallison » Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:29 pm

Thanks for the reply. I do have it in BULB mode and all autofocus off. It stays in BULB mode also when I plug in the standard USB cable.

I was wondering if it actually still might be the DSUSB cable. On the Check program I push the Assert AF then open shutter and it appears to do such but it will not close the shutter when prompted to. I know all cameras are different but does that give you any additional information? Also, this is silly but is the light on the DSUSB supposed to glow red :-). That showes you how little technical savvy I am. Thanks again. Jay

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Re: Nikon D300 DUSB and direct USB problem

Post by dpanderson » Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:33 pm

Try de-asserting both the Shutter and Wakeup signals. Most cameras require this.

Yes, the LED is red unless you tell it to go green with DSUSBCheck. The control of the LED is left up to individual program developers' preferences.
Doug Anderson
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jpallison
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Re: Nikon D300 DUSB and direct USB problem

Post by jpallison » Mon Aug 31, 2015 7:44 am

I seem to be able to get the shutter open with DSUSB Check but not closed. Here are the steps I have taken:

1) Assert
2) Open Shutter - LIVE VIEW comes on my camera monitor and shutter opens and stays open
3) DeAssert
4) Close Shutter - nothing happens...shutter still open

now something new happens

as soon as i plug in the 10 pin cable, Live VIEW comes on my camera monitor. So I tried these steps:

1)Assert
2) Open Shutter - the camera takes a picture - live view goes off the monitor

This second occurence is strange because I have done the procedure dozens of times and it always worked like the sequence above.

Either way once I put the standard USB in, DSUSB Check does not respond at all

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Re: Nikon D300 DUSB and direct USB problem

Post by dpanderson » Mon Sep 07, 2015 7:07 pm

Try DSLR Shutter (http://stark-labs.com/page26/DSLR_Shutter.html) and see if that gives you success.
Doug Anderson
Shoestring Astronomy
http://www.ShoestringAstronomy.com

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