Cisco Bridges: a new layout concept

[robert3985]

I haven't used Hedgecam because Open Camera works well for me and my old Google Pixel 2 XL.  From what is being written here, about "shaky photos" being taken, if you have a newer Android phone...only four, maybe five years old, the advantage that Open Camera may offer is its near instantaneous ability to take up to 20 shots from your pre-selected near and far focus limits.  This eliminates the need for a "holder" or tripod because when it takes the focus stacking photos, it does it in what seems to be about 1/10th of a second with a single shutter button press.

This feature was one of the two features I was looking for in an app featuring focus stacking, as being forced to press the shutter icon for each and every exposure...even if the software is picking in-between focus points...will induce shaking, and more importantly, a big enough difference in the composition of your photos that Helicon Focus may not accept certain exposures as compatible in your stack.   Up to 20 shots at different focus points in less than 1/10th of a second virtually eliminates composition differences or "shaky" photos.  Open Camera also has a grid and leveling feature for odd locations.

When I looked for a phone a few years ago, I wanted to get one with a camera lens that had a center about a scale 6' (.045") above the side of the camera.  Although several new cell phone cameras were very good, they weren't as close to the side of the camera as was the lens on the Pixel 2 XL...even the smaller Pixel 2's lens was more towards the center of the phone.   What the Open Camera app does for me is eliminate the need for a tripod or custom-made "holder" for my phone, which is going to add greatly to the lenses height above the side of the phone, and I want to be able to set my phone on the track or alongside the track and get photos that look like they've been taken by a railfan holding his/her camera at eye level.

So, what my phone selection means is that I was more interested in the camera than the other features of my phone...although the Pixel 2 XL is a good phone, feature for feature it has a lot of competition...but its camera was located just right for N-scale photography.

If you've got an iOS phone, maybe there are apps available that have a focus stacking feature, but I don't know since iOS is irrelevant for my use.  Google is your friend.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[mark dance]

Very cool Bob!

So I have the focus bracketing working on Open Camera but 20 exposures is taking 10 seconds or so to shoot.  How do I enable the "burst mode" you referred to do you know?

Md

[Scottl]

Thanks Bob, this is great info and will factor into my next phone selection (hopefully years away).  I could not get the focus bracketing to work with Open Camera but I expect there are some variations between phones and operating systems, but the near-instantaneous acquisition of all the shots is a real advantage.  Hedgecam2 allows you to set the time between photos in the stack from 0.5 seconds and up.  I have been using 1 second with a 10 second timer start. 

One advantage of the small cell tripods is that you can place your phone over an n scale forest. 

[Smike]

Love the work you have been doing!

Assuming Helicon Focus is still PC only and not IOS. Since I've move to an iPad pro for all my photo and video work, it would be awesome to see them move it to the IOS platform.

With the ability to shoot RAW on a phone + seamless workflow to an editor in iPad, it would be a no brainier to get this app.

[Scottl]

There is a OS version.  I expect the processing is a little heavy for a tablet or phone for now.

[Bob]

Yes, I use Helicon Focus on my Macintosh - works great!

[robert3985]

Very cool Bob!

So I have the focus bracketing working on Open Camera but 20 exposures is taking 10 seconds or so to shoot.  How do I enable the "burst mode" you referred to do you know?

Md

@mark dance  Hmmmm...I don't think I did anything to enable a "burst" mode.  My scenes are well lit...long exposures may be contributing to taking nearly 1/2 of a second for you between shots...but I'm just guessing.  Or, extra-high quality may be causing your phone to take longer to save the larger files.  I'd try upping the ISO if you can and lowering the resolution to see if that affects your exposure times.  If that doesn't help, there is quite a bit of information online for this app, so a solution might be found there.

Good luck!

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore 

[Smike]

There is a OS version.  I expect the processing is a little heavy for a tablet or phone for now.

Processing power on iPad Pro models would not be an issue, so hopefully they are working on iOS version.

[Scottl]

Working away at the layout and isolation has given me the urge to build the neat MOW footbridge at the Skoonka scene.  I tried a few hand built versions but they were unsatisfactory.  I have settled on etching it in stainless steel (for strength).  I built a scale mock-up of the etches to see how they would assemble and sizing.   

Not too bad, but some lengthening is needed and I have to deal with the vertical offset of the two banks, which I did not consider during scenery construction.  The etched version will not be as obtrusive with open sides.




 The prototype in 2015

[LIRR]

another addition to a great scene...

[CRudeME]

Will you have the bridge be etched in 3 pieces, or as on giant piece that will get folded carefully to fit the shape? I would assume multiple pieces due to the curve, but was curious on your thoughts.

[Scottl]

Thanks!  The bridge will be composed of three main pieces:  two sides and a supporting floor  There are tabs that will fold from the sides and solder onto the floor, and then I will top the floor etch with wooden boards (or simulated, anyway). 

[Scottl]

These are the draft etches printed and mounted on cardstock.  The black is full thickness, red is half etch.  I have to lengthen on end almost 1.5" to span the river gap.  There are more tabs than I have cut out here that fold and secure the sides to the floor.  I just didn't want to cut them all out!  There is also a access door that is made of chain link material that I have drawn up (you can see it in the bottom-center of the photo).

[amato1969]

So cool, but no way would I walk across that bad-boy in real life !!!

   Frank

[Scottl]

Still plugging away on little scenic details and cleaning things up.  I've decided I can live with the difference in bank heights for the MOW swing bridge as raising the east bank would necessitate a complete redo and make the bring suspended unrealistically high.  You can hardly notice the issue from the long view of the river as seen in this picture.

Happy Easter everyone.